Refrigerant Lines and Fittings
NOTE: The use of proper wrenches when loosening or making connections is important. A backup wrench should be used on the brazed or welded fitting to prevent distortion of A/C lines.NOTE: Never use alcohol in the refrigeration system to remove moisture. Damage to the system components may occur.
IMPORTANT:
Handle refrigerant and fittings carefully.
- Before you open the refrigeration system, ensure that the area is well ventilated. Do not complete any welding or steam-cleaning operations on or near the refrigeration system lines or other air conditioning components on the vehicle.
- Keep all of the metal tubing lines free from dents or kinks in order to prevent the loss of system capacity due to line restriction.
- Do not bend the flexible hose lines to a radius of less than four times the diameter of the hose.
- Do not allow the flexible hose lines to come within 6.5 mm (2.5 in) of the exhaust manifold.
- Regularly inspect the flexible hose lines for leaks or brittleness. Replace the hose lines if you find leaks or brittleness.
- Recover all of the Refrigerant-134a when you disconnect any fitting in the refrigerant system. Proceed cautiously regardless of the gauge readings. Open the fitting slowly. Keep your face and hands away in order to prevent injury. If you notice pressure when you loosen a fitting, allow the pressure to bleed off slowly.
- If a refrigerant line is opened to the atmosphere, cap the line immediately in order to prevent the entrance of moisture and dirt. Moisture and dirt cause the following conditions:
- Internal compressor wear
- Plugged condenser lines
- Plugged evaporator core lines
- Plugged expansion (orifice) tube lines
- Plugged compressor inlet screen lines
- Remove the sealing caps from the subassemblies just before you make the connections for the final assembly. Use a small amount of clean 525 viscosity refrigerant oil on all of the tubes and the hose joints. The oil aids in assembly and helps provide a leakproof joint. Ensure that the O-ring seals and the seats are in perfect condition. A burr or a piece of dirt can cause a refrigerant leak.
Use the proper wrenches when you make connections on the O-ring seal fittings. Improper wrenches may damage the connection. Use a wrench in order to backup the opposing fitting in order to prevent distortion of the connecting lines or the components. When you connect the flexible hose connections, use three different wrenches hold the following components at the same time in order to prevent the fitting from turning and damaging the seat:
- The swaged fitting
- The flare nut
- The attached coupling
Important
Before opening the refrigeration system, make sure the work area is well ventilated. Welding or steam-cleaning operations should not be done on or near refrigeration system lines or other air conditioning parts on the vehicle.
All metal tubing lines should be free of dents or kinks to prevent loss of system capacity due to line restriction.
* The flexible hose lines should never be bent to a radius of less than four times the diameter of the hose.
* The flexible hose lines should never be allowed to come within a distance of 6.5 mm (2.5 inches) of the exhaust manifold.
* Flexible hose lines should be inspected regularly for leaks or brittleness. Replace with new lines if deterioration or leaking is found.
* When disconnecting any fitting in the refrigerant system, recover all Refrigerant-134a. However, proceed very cautiously, regardless of the gauge readings. Open very slowly, keeping your face and hands away so that no injury can occur. if pressure is noticed when a fitting is loosened, allow it to bleed off very slowly.
NOTE: Never use alcohol in the refrigeration system to remove moisture. Damage to the system components may occur.
* If any refrigerant line is opened to the atmosphere, cap it immediately to prevent the entrance of moisture and dirt. These can cause internal compressor wear or plugged lines in the condenser and evaporator core and expansion (orifice) tubes or compressor inlet screens.
* Remove sealing caps from subassemblies just before making connections for final assembly. Use a small amount of clean 525 viscosity refrigerant oil on all tube and hose joints. Use new O-ring seals dipped in 525 viscosity refrigerant oil when assembling joints. The oil will aid in assembly and help to provide a leakproof joint. O-ring seals and seats must be in perfect condition. A burr or a piece of dirt can cause a refrigerant leak.