5 - Service and repair

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the various procedures used for air-conditioning (A/C) service and repair, and on the importance of safe working practice. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has clear standards covering the safe handling and use of refrigerants. The chapter presents various precautionary measures while handling refrigerants, when liquid refrigerant gets in the eyes or on the skin, while replacing parts on refrigerant line, and while tightening connecting parts. The refrigerant used in a vehicle can easily be identified, as every vehicle with an A/C system has a sticker located on the bonnet lock panel indicating the refrigerant used. Most A/C machines are separate units combined into a refrigerant management system (RMS), which contains a recovery machine, vacuum pump, electronic scales, and an LCD control panel. The units include simple programs allowing a technician to select automatic recovery, recycle, evacuation, and charging procedures. The units also have a database on the oil quantities for different manufactured vehicles, which is updatable. The units can flush A/C systems using appropriate adapters as well..