Refrigerant Recovery

Special Tools


WARNING:
^ R-134A IS CLASSIFIED AS A SAFE REFRIGERANT, BUT MISUSE CAN MAKE IT DANGEROUS. THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS MUST BE OBSERVED.
^ ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES WHEN REPAIRING AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.
^ AVOID CONTACT WITH LIQUID REFRIGERANT R-134A. R-134A VAPORIZES AT APPROXIMATELY -25°C (-20°F) UNDER ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND IT WILL FREEZE SKIN TISSUE.
^ NEVER ALLOW REFRIGERANT R-134A GAS TO ESCAPE IN QUANTITY IN AN OCCUPIED SPACE. R-134A IS NON-TOXIC, BUT IT WILL NOT FURNISH THE OXYGEN NEEDED TO SUPPORT LIFE.
^ NEVER USE A TORCH IN AN ATMOSPHERE CONTAINING R-134A GAS. R-134A IS NON-TOXIC AT ALL NORMAL CONDITIONS, BUT WHEN IT IS EXPOSED TO HIGH TEMPERATURES, SUCH AS A TORCH FLAME, IT DECOMPOSES. ONE OF THE PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL BREAKDOWN IS A PHOSGENE GAS, WHICH IS HIGHLY TOXIC.
^ DO NOT ALLOW ANY PORTION OF THE CHARGED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM TO BECOME TOO HOT. THE PRESSURE IN AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM RISES AS THE TEMPERATURE RISES AND TEMPERATURES OF APPROXIMATELY 85°C (200°F) CAN BE DANGEROUS.

NOTE: Ford Motor Company supports the efficient use, recovery, and recycling of R-134a used in car and truck air conditioners. Ford Motor Company recommends the use of a UL approved recovery/recycling device such as an R-134a service center that meets SAE Standard J1991 during any A/C system repair and recharge procedure that requires the A/C system to be discharged.

1. Analyze and identify the refrigerant in the A/C system.

CAUTION: The A/C refrigerant of all vehicles must be identified and analyzed prior to refrigerant charging. Failure to due so can contaminate the shop bulk refrigerant and other vehicles.

2. Connect the R-134a service center hoses to the vehicle A/C service gauge ports.

NOTE: The hoses should have shutoff devices or check valves within 305 mm (12 inches) of the hose end to minimize the introduction of non-condensable gases (air) into the recycling station and to minimize the amount of refrigerant released when the hoses are disconnected.

NOTE: Some R-134a service centers require the use of an A/C manifold gauge set.

3. Recover the refrigerant until the R-134a service center pressure goes into a vacuum. Refer to the equipment manufacturer's procedures and instructions for the use of the R-134a service center.

4. Shut off the pump.

NOTE: Some R-134a service centers have a low pressure switch in the electrical circuit to automatically shut off the pump. On other service centers, the pump may have to be shut off manually.

5. Close the service center inlet valve (if so equipped).
6. Turn the R-134a service center power off.
7. Allow the vehicle A/C system to remain closed for approximately two minutes and observe the A/C system vacuum.
^ If the system does not lose vacuum, disconnect the service center hoses.
^ If the system loses vacuum, then repeat steps 2-5 until the vacuum remains stable for two minutes.

8. Perform the required repairs. Evacuate and recharge the A/C system. Evacuation