Contents: Safety rules 🠛 Precautions to take when opening the…🠛 Precautions to be taken when…🠛 General circuit protection 🠛 Electrical checks 🠛 General precautions when working…🠛 Precautions when detecting leaks…🠛
Safety rules
Caution: These general precautions must be observed in all cases.
1. Wear protective gloves and glasses to eliminate any risk of frostbite.
2. Do not work with liquid refrigerant near open flames or very hot objects (for example, a lit cigarette), to avoid the risk of releasing toxic llamas.
3. It is necessary to work in a ventilated area.
4. Handle used oil drained from the compressor with care as it may contain acids.
Note: Compressor lubricants have very high hygroscopicity; when performing work, use new operating materials.
Precautions to take when opening the circuit
1. Immediately plug all pipelines 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.
Caution: It is prohibited to install parts with holes that are not closed with plugs.
4. The condenser must not remain in contact with atmospheric air for more than five minutes, even if it is connected to the circuit (risk of moisture saturation).
5. If the circuit has been 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 the union nuts of the fittings to the required torque, using a second holding wrench if possible.
General circuit protection
Attention:
- It is prohibited to turn on the air conditioning system when the refrigerant has been drained from its circuit.
- It is prohibited to remove the oil filler plug from the compressor if the circuit is filled with refrigerant.
Electrical checks
1. Before connecting any connector, check:
- Status of all terminals (for deformation, oxidation, etc.).
- Presence of a sealing gasket.
- Presence and condition of mechanical lock
2. When checking the electrical circuit:
- The battery must be fully charged.
- It is prohibited to use a voltage source more powerful than 12 V.
- Do not use the test lamp under any circumstances.
- Avoid sparking.
3. Do not disconnect:
- The battery with the engine running.
- Control unit with ignition on.
Caution: For the operation of draining and filling liquid refrigerant, refer to the instructions of specialized stations.
General precautions when working with refrigerant
1. Avoid open ventilation of the air conditioning circuit and do not expose the oil to steam or moisture. Emissions may cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. Use only approved refrigerant recycling/exchange equipment to bleed HFC-134a (R-134a) refrigerant from the system. If refrigerant leaks occur, ventilate the area thoroughly before continuing. Additional health and safety information can be obtained from the refrigerant and lubricant manufacturers.
2. Do not release refrigerant into the atmosphere. Use approved refrigerant recovery/replacement equipment to capture refrigerant as it is released from the system.
3. When working with any refrigerants or any air conditioning systems, always use safety glasses and gloves to protect your eyes and hands.
4. Do not heat the container with refrigerant (including during storage) to temperatures above 52°C.
5. Do not expose the refrigerant container to 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, puncture or burn the container with refrigerant.
7. Keep refrigerant away from open flame. Combustion of refrigerant produces toxic gas.
8. The refrigerant displaces oxygen, so to prevent suffocating effects, it is necessary to work with it in a well-ventilated area.
9. In the course of repair work, do not check the tightness of the service equipment and (or) the air conditioning system of the vehicle, as well as checking for leaks of refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) using compressed air. In some proportions the mixture of air and HFC-134a (R-134a) refrigerant becomes flammable at high pressure. If ignited, this mixture can cause personal injury and serious damage. Further information regarding health and safety can be obtained from the refrigerant manufacturers.
Precautions when detecting leaks using dye
1. The air conditioner contains a fluorescent dye used to detect refrigerant leaks. When checking, you will need an ultraviolet (UV) lamp to illuminate the dye.
2. Always wear special glasses that protect your eyes and allow you to better see the fluorescent dye.
3. This method of detecting leaks does not replace the use of an electrical leak detector (special tool). Fluorescent dye leak detection should be performed in conjunction with an electrical refrigerant leak detector test (special tool) to determine the leak point.
4. For safety purposes and to ensure high quality work, read all manufacturer's instructions for carrying out work and safety precautions before starting work.
5. The compressor shaft seal does not need to be repaired when painted with fluorescent dye. The compressor shaft seal is subject to replacement only when a leak is detected using an electric leak detector (special tool).
6. Always remove traces of dye from the leak site after repair to prevent future diagnostic errors.
7. Avoid contact of dye with painted body panels and interior parts. If dye is spilled, clean the painted area immediately 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 add more than one bottle of refrigerant dye (7.4 cc) to one air conditioning system.
10. The properties of the fluorescent dye in leak areas can be maintained for more than three years, provided there is no compressor malfunction.
Note: Vehicles filled with fluorescent dye at the factory have a green plate. Vehicles not filled with fluorescent dye at the factory have a blue plate.