Safety regulations
Caution: These general precautions must be observed in all cases.
1. Wear protective gloves and goggles to eliminate any risk of frostbite.
2. Do not work with liquid refrigerant near open flames or hot objects (like a lit cigarette), to avoid the risk of excreting poisonous llamas.
3. It is necessary to work in a ventilated area.
4. Handle the used oil drained from the compressor with care as the latter may contain acids.
Caution: Compressor lubricants are very hygroscopic; when carrying out work, use new operating materials.
Precautions to be taken when opening the circuit
1. Plug all piping immediately to prevent moisture from entering (plug kit (-).1701-HZ).
2. New parts must warm up to ambient temperature to avoid condensation.
3. The plugs of the fittings of the parts must be removed at the last moment before installation.
Attention: It is forbidden to install parts with holes that are not closed with plugs.
4. The condenser must not remain in contact with the outside air for more than five minutes, even if it is connected to the circuit (moisture risk).
5. If the circuit has remained in contact with atmospheric air for a long time, it is necessary to replace:
- Capacitor.
- Compressor oil.
Precautions to be taken when connecting fittings
1. Use only new seals.
Caution: Lubricate the seals with compressor oil.
2. Tighten union nuts to the required torque, using a second holding wrench if possible.
General circuit protection
Attention:
- It is forbidden to turn on the air conditioning system when the refrigerant is drained from its circuit.
- It is forbidden to remove the compressor oil fill plug when the circuit is filled with refrigerant.
Electrical checks
1. Before connecting any connector, check:
- Status of all terminals (for deformation, oxidation, etc.).
- The presence of a sealing gasket.
- Presence and condition of mechanical interlock
2. When checking the electrical circuit:
- The battery must be fully charged.
- It is forbidden to use a voltage source more powerful than 12 V.
- Never use a test lamp.
- Avoid sparks.
3. Do not disconnect:
- battery with the engine running.
- Control unit with the ignition on.
Attention: For the liquid refrigerant drain-fill operation, refer to the instructions of the specialized stations.
General Precautions When Handling Refrigerant
1. Avoid open ventilation of the air conditioning circuit and do not expose the oil to steam or moisture. The discharge may irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. For venting HFC-134a refrigerant system (R-134a) Use only approved refrigerant recycling/replacement equipment. If a refrigerant leak occurs, thoroughly ventilate the area before proceeding. Additional health and safety information is available from refrigerant and lubricant manufacturers.
2. Do not release refrigerant into the atmosphere. Use approved refrigerant recovery/replacement equipment to capture refrigerant while it is being discharged from the system.
3. When working with any refrigerants or any air conditioning systems, always wear safety goggles and gloves to protect your eyes and hands.
4. Do not heat the refrigerant container (including storage) up to temperatures above 52°C.
5. Do not expose the refrigerant container to an open flame; if the container needs to be heated, place the bottom of the container in a bucket of hot water.
6. Do not intentionally throw, pierce or burn the refrigerant container.
7. Keep refrigerant away from open flame. Combustion of the refrigerant produces poisonous gas.
8. Refrigerant displaces oxygen and should be handled in a well ventilated area to prevent asphyxiation.
9. During the repair work, do not check the tightness of the service equipment and (or) vehicle air conditioning systems, as well as checking for HFC-134a refrigerant leaks (R-134a) using compressed air. In some proportions, a mixture of air and refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) becomes combustible at high pressure. If ignited, this mixture can cause injury and serious damage. Additional health and safety information can be obtained from refrigerant manufacturers.
Precautions when detecting leaks with dye
1. The air conditioner contains a fluorescent dye used to detect refrigerant leaks. The test will require ultraviolet (UV) lamp to illuminate the dye.
2. Always wear special goggles that protect your eyes and allow you to better see the fluorescent dye.
3. This leak detection method does not replace the use of an electrical leak detector (special tool). Fluorescent dye leak detection should be done in conjunction with an electrical refrigerant leak detector test (special tool) to determine the leak point.
4. For safety and quality assurance purposes, read all manufacturer's operating instructions and safety precautions before starting work.
5. Compressor shaft oil seal does not need to be repaired when painted with fluorescent dye. The compressor shaft seal must only be replaced if a leak is detected using an electrical leak detector (special tool).
6. Always remove traces of dye from leaks after repairs to prevent future diagnostic errors.
7. Avoid contact of the dye with painted body panels and interior details. If colorant is spilled, immediately clean the stained area with an approved cleaner. Fluorescent dye left on the surface for a long time cannot be removed.
8. Do not allow fluorescent dye cleaner to come into contact with hot surfaces (engine exhaust manifold, etc.).
9. Do not fill more than one bottle of refrigerant dye (7.4 cm3) to one air conditioning system.
10. The properties of the fluorescent dye at leaks can be maintained for more than three years, in the absence of a compressor malfunction.
Note: Vehicles filled with fluorescent dye at the factory have a green decal. Vehicles not filled with fluorescent dye at the factory have a blue decal.