Heating and Air Conditioning: Service Precautions
A/C System CautionCAUTION: The air conditioning system of this vehicle uses refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a).
None of refrigerant, compressor oil and component parts is interchangeable between two types of A/C/: one using refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) and the other using refrigerant CFC-12 (R-12).
Be sure to check which refrigerant is used before any service work including inspection and maintenance. For identification between these two types, refer to "Refrigerant Type Construction:".
When replenishing or changing refrigerant and compressor oil and when replacing parts, make sure that the material or the part to be used is appropriate to the A/C installed in the vehicle being serviced. Use of incorrect one will result in leakage of refrigerant, damage in parts or other faulty condition.
A/C System Note
NOTE: For basic servicing method of the air conditioning system that is not described, refer to "Air conditioning basic manual (Part number: 99520-02130)".
Precaution for Charging
The charging refrigerant must be performed according to "Operation Procedure for Refrigerant Charging:". Also, the refrigerant amount checking must be performed according to "Quick Checking of Refrigerant Charge:" or "A/C System Performance Inspection:".
Because, in the sub-cool system, the point at which bubbles disappear is before the stable cooling performance region. If the charging of the refrigerant is stopped at the point in which bubbles disappear, it will be in insufficient charged region. Also, overcharging causes air-conditioning ability and fuel consumption aggravation.
Precautions on Servicing A/C System
WARNING:
- When refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) strike your eye(s), consult a doctor immediately.
- Do not use your hand to rub affected eye(s). Instead, use quantities of fresh cold water to splash it over affected area to thus gradually raise its temperature above the freezing point.
- Obtain proper treatment as soon as possible from a doctor or eye specialist. Should liquid refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) get on your skin, such affected part should be treated in the same manner as when skin is frostbitten or frozen.
Handling Refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a)
- Always wear goggles to protect your eyes.
- Avoid you direct contact to liquid refrigerant.
- Do not heat refrigerant container higher than 40 °C (104 °F).
- Do not discharge refrigerant into atmosphere.
Refrigerant Line:
- Do not allow liquid refrigerant to touch bright metals. Refrigerant combined with moisture is corrosive and will tarnish surfaces of bright metals including chrome.
- Never use heat for bending pipes. When bending a pipe, try to make its bending radius as slight as possible.
- Keep internal parts of air conditioning free from moisture and dirt. When disconnecting any line from system, install a blind plug or cap to the fitting immediately.
- When connecting hoses and pipes, apply a few drops of compressor oil (refrigerant oil) to seats of coupling nuts and O-ring.
- When tightening or loosening a fitting, use two wrenches, one for turning and the other for support.
- Tighten flared nuts by the following specified torque.
Tightening Torque
8 mm pipe: 13 N.m (1.3 kg-m, 9.5 lb-ft)
12 mm pipe: 23 N.m (2.3 kg-m, 16.6 lb-ft)
14.5 mm pipe: 33 N.m (3.3 kg-m, 23.8 lb-ft)
- Route drain hose so that drained water does not make any contact to vehicle components.
- If pipes or hoses are replaced, replenish specified amount of compressor oil to compressor suction side by referring to "Replenishing Compressor Oil" in "Operation Procedure for Refrigerant Charging:".