Service procedures

Refrigerant oil level

When an air conditioning system is assembled at the factory, all components except the compressor are refrigerant oil free. After the refrigerant system has been charged and operated, the refrigerant oil in the compressor is dispersed throughout the refrigerant system. The evaporator, filter-drier, condenser, and compressor will each retain a significant amount of the needed refrigerant oil.

It is important to have the correct amount of oil in the refrigerant system. This ensures proper lubrication of the compressor. Too little oil will result in damage to the compressor. Too much oil will reduce the cooling capacity of the air conditioning system.

It will not be necessary to check the oil level in the compressor or to add oil, unless there has been an oil loss. An oil loss may occur due to a rupture or leak from a refrigerant line, a connector fitting, a component, or a component seal. If a leak occurs, add 30 milliliters (1 fluid ounce) of refrigerant oil to the refrigerant system after the repair has been made.

Refrigerant oil loss will be evident at the leak point by the presence of a wet, shiny surface around the leak.

Refrigerant oil must be added when a filter-drier, evaporator coil, or condenser are replaced. See the Refrigerant Oil Capacities chart. When a compressor is replaced, the refrigerant oil must be drained from the old compressor and measured. Drain all of the refrigerant oil from the new compressor, then fill the new compressor with the same amount of refrigerant oil that was drained out of the old compressor.

Refrigerant recovery

WARNING: REVIEW THE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS IN THE GENERAL INFORMATION SECTION NEAR THE FRONT OF THIS GROUP BEFORE RECOVERING REFRIGERANT.

A R-134a refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging station that meets SAE Standard J2210 must be used to recover the refrigerant from an R-134a refrigerant system. Refer to the operating instructions supplied by the equipment manufacturer for the proper care and use of this equipment.

Refrigerant system charge

WARNING: REVIEW THE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS IN THE GENERAL INFORMATION SECTION NEAR THE FRONT OF THIS GROUP BEFORE CHARGING THE REFRIGERANT SYSTEM.

After the refrigerant system has been tested for leaks and evacuated, a refrigerant charge can be injected into the system. See Refrigerant Charge Capacity in the Service Procedures section of this group for the proper amount of the refrigerant charge.

A R-134a refrigerant recovery/recycling/charging station that meets SAE Standard J2210 must be used to charge the refrigerant system with R-134a refrigerant. Refer to the operating instructions supplied by the equipment manufacturer for the proper care and use of this equipment.

REFRIGERANT CHARGE CAPACITY

The R-134a refrigerant system charge capacity for this vehicle is: Single Unit: 0.793 kilograms (28 ounces), Dual Unit: 0.907 kilograms (32 ounces).

Refrigerant system evacuate

WARNING: REVIEW THE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS IN THE GENERAL INFORMATION SECTION NEAR THE FRONT OF THIS GROUP BEFORE EVACUATING THE SYSTEM.

If the refrigerant system has been open to the atmosphere, it must be evacuated before the system can be charged. If moisture and air enters the system and becomes mixed with the refrigerant, the compressor head pressure will rise above acceptable operating levels. This will reduce the performance of the air conditioner and damage the compressor.

Evacuating the refrigerant system will remove the air and boil the moisture out of the system at near room temperature. To evacuate the refrigerant system, use the following procedure:

(1) Connect a R-134a refrigerant recovery/recycling/ charging station that meets SAE Standard J2210 and a manifold gauge set to the refrigerant system of the vehicle.

(2) Open the low and high side valves and start the charging station vacuum pump. When the suction gauge reads 88 kPa (26 in. Hg.) vacuum or greater, close all of the valves and turn off the vacuum pump.

(a) If the refrigerant system fails to reach the specified vacuum, the system has a leak that must be corrected. See Refrigerant System Leaks in the Diagnosis and Testing section of this group for the procedures.

(b) If the refrigerant system maintains the specified vacuum for five minutes, restart the vacuum pump, open the suction and discharge valves and evacuate the system for an additional ten minutes.

(3) Close all of the valves, and turn off the charging station vacuum pump.

(4) The refrigerant system is now ready to be charged with R-134a refrigerant. See Refrigerant System Charge in the Service Procedures section of this group.