SERVICE ISSUES FOR VEHICLES WITH R12 OR R134A A/C SYSTEMS. Chevrolet Astro

SUBJECT: SERVICE ISSUES FOR VEHICLES WITH R12 OR R134A AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS

MODELS: ALL 1997 AND PRIOR PASSENGER CAR AND LIGHT TRUCK MODELS

PRODUCTION OF R12 REFRIGERANT CEASED ON DECEMBER 31, 1995. ALTHOUGH R12 IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED, A RESERVE SUPPLY OF R12 HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR GM DEALERS. THIS RESERVE, ALONG WITH STRICT ADHERENCE TO PROPER A/C REFRIGERANT RECYCLING PROCEDURES, SHOULD ASSURE CONTINUED AVAILABILITY TO MEET CUSTOMER NEEDS.

R12 SYSTEM RETROFITTING TO R134A -

R12 CAN AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE USED TO SERVICE VEHICLES BUILT WITH R12 A/C SYSTEMS AS LONG AS IT IS AVAILABLE. IF R12 IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE OR AFFORDABLE, A SYSTEM RETROFIT UTILIZING R134A IS RECOMMENDED. R134A IS THE ONLY SUBSTITUTE REFRIGERANT RECOMMENDED BY GM FOR USE IN GM VEHICLE A/C SYSTEMS, AND THEN ONLY AFTER FOLLOWING THE PROPER RETROFIT PROCEDURES FOR THE MODEL. FOR COMPLETE RETROFIT INSTRUCTIONS, REFERENCE CORPORATE SERVICE BULLETIN #43-12-07E, DATED JANUARY, 1997.

ALTHOUGH RETROFITTING R12 VEHICLES TO R134A HAS BEEN MINIMAL UP TO THIS POINT, SIGNIFICANT PRICE INCREASES IN R12 IS MAKING THIS MORE ATTRACTIVE. THIS TREND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE. GM OFFERS A SIMPLE, LOW COST R12 TO R134A RETROFIT ON MANY LATE MODEL GM VEHICLES. DEALERS SHOULD DISCUSS THIS CAPABILITY WITH OWNERS OF THESE SPECIFIC MODELS WHENEVER A/C SYSTEM REPAIRS ARE NEEDED. EARLY RETROFIT OF THESE MODELS WILL AID IN PROLONGING AVAILABILITY OF THE R12 SUPPLY AND PROVIDE DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPER PROCEDURES FOR PERFORMING A RETROFIT.

SERVICING R134A RETROFITTED VEHICLE SYSTEMS -

VEHICLES RETROFITTED FROM R12 TO R134A USE CONVERSION FITTINGS ON THE HIGH AND LOW SIDE R12 SERVICE PORTS WHICH ALLOW CONNECTION TO YOUR R134A RECOVERY EQUIPMENT. WHEN SERVICING A PREVIOUSLY RETROFITTED VEHICLE, THERE IS CONCERN THAT IF ALL OF THE R12 WAS NOT REMOVED DURING THE RETROFIT PROCEDURE, YOUR R134A EQUIPMENT AND RECOVERY TANK WILL BECOME CONTAMINATED.

R12 AND R134A REFRIGERANTS ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE AND CANNOT BE MIXED!

MIXING DIFFERENT REFRIGERANTS DURING SERVICE WILL RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE INCREASE IN THE VEHICLE A/C SYSTEM AND IN YOUR RECOVERY EQUIPMENT. RECOVERY OF EVEN SMALL AMOUNTS OF R12 OR ANY SUBSTITUTE REFRIGERANT IN YOUR R134A SERVICE EQUIPMENT CAN RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING A/C SERVICE CONCERNS:

CONTAMINATION OF PREVIOUSLY RECOVERED REFRIGERANT.

INCREASED REPAIR COSTS AND DOWN TIME TO R134A RECOVERY/RECYCLING EQUIPMENT.

LONGER RECOVERY TIME AND/OR RECOVERY EQUIPMENT SHUTTING OFF PRIOR TO COMPLETE RECOVERY.

REFRIGERANT LOSS AS CONTAMINATED REFRIGERANT WILL ACTIVATE AUTOMATIC AIR PURGE SYSTEM.

SPREAD OF CONTAMINATED REFRIGERANT TO OTHER VEHICLES.

DISSATISFIED CUSTOMERS AND COMEBACKS FOR CONCERNS OF INSUFFICIENT COOLING, COMPRESSOR NOISE, SYSTEM LEAKS, DURABILITY AND OTHER CONDITIONS RESULTING FROM HIGHER SYSTEM PRESSURES.

J-41810 PUREGUARD 2 R134A REFRIGERANT MONITOR -

A NEW R134A REFRIGERANT PURITY TESTER SIMILAR TO THE PUREGUARD R12 REFRIGERANT MONITOR YOU NOW USE WILL BE SHIPPED AS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO ALL GM DEALERS IN 1997. THIS NEW TOOL MOUNTS TO THE ACR4, R134A RECOVERY RECYCLE AND RECHARGE CART AND TESTS REFRIGERANT DURING RECOVERY. CONTAMINATION FROM ANY REFRIGERANT CURRENTLY KNOWN WILL BE DETECTED RESULTING IN THE IMMEDIATE SHUT DOWN OF THE RECOVERY PROCESS.

THE J-41810 PUREGUARD 2 ALSO TESTS FOR AIR CONTAMINATION IN REFRIGERANT AND THE ACR4 RECYCLE TANK. AIR CONTAMINANT IS DETRIMENTAL TO A/C SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. RESEARCH HAS INDICATED HIGH LEVELS OF AIR IN THE RECOVERY TANKS ON R12 AND R134A RECOVERY CARTS. AIR CONTAMINATION IS CAUSED BY IMPROPER RECOVERY PROCEDURES AND SHORT-CUTTING REFRIGERANT RECYCLING TIMES.

MANY FEATURES OF THE NEW PUREGUARD 2 ARE DESCRIBED BELOW:

PROTECTS YOUR R134A RECOVERY/RECYCLING EQUIPMENT AND REFRIGERANT SUPPLY.

AUTOMATICALLY TESTS ALL R134A REFRIGERANT AS IT IS BEING RECOVERED FROM THE VEHICLE. IF CONTAMINATION IS DETECTED, AN ALARM SOUNDS AND THE RECOVERY PROCESS IS STOPPED. THE TYPE AND PERCENT OF CONTAMINATION IS DISPLAYED.

AUTOMATICALLY MONITORS THE ACR4 RECOVERY TANK FOR CONTAMINATION AND INDICATES THE CONDITION ON THE CONTROL PANEL.

ACCESS PORT TO TEST R12 REFRIGERANT FROM VEHICLES OR PREVIOUSLY RECOVERED R12 FOR REFRIGERANT OR AIR CONTAMINATION.

TOTALLY AUTOMATIC, NO TECHNICIAN INTERACTION OR TRAINING REQUIRED.

UNIVERSAL PRINTER PORT ALLOWS TEST DATA TO BE PRINTED.

LCD DISPLAY INDICATES PERCENTAGE OF: AIR, R134A, R12, R22, AND HYDROCARBONS.

LOW MAINTENANCE, SIMPLE FILTER CHANGE AS INDICATED BY RED INDICATORS.

AUDIBLE ALARM AND RECOVERY CART POWER INTERRUPTION WHEN CONTAMINATED R134A DETECTED.

EASILY INSTALLED, REQUIRES NO DISASSEMBLY OR MODIFICATION OF ACR4 RECOVERY/RECYCLING EQUIPMENT.

INCLUDES R12 TEST FUNCTION TO EVALUATE R12 SYSTEMS OR TANKS FOR AIR OR REFRIGERANT CONTAMINATION.

TWO YEAR WARRANTY.

TO SUMMARIZE GM'S A/C SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. SERVICE R12 VEHICLES WITH HIGH QUALITY NEW OR RECYCLED AND TESTED R12.

2. PURCHASE R12 FROM A RELIABLE SUPPLIER. TEST R12 FOR PURITY PRIOR TO USE. GM SPO HAS A SUPPLY OF HIGH QUALITY R12 AVAILABLE. DEALERS ARE REQUESTED TO USE ONLY R12 SUPPLIED BY SPO FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS. THIS HIGH QUALITY REFRIGERANT WILL INSURE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND AVOID THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING CONTAMINATED MATERIAL INTO THE CUSTOMER'S A/C SYSTEM.

3. CAREFULLY TEST RECOVERED R12 USING THE PUREGUARD MONITOR. ON RECOVERY EQUIPMENT NOT PROTECTED BY THE PUREGUARD, ALWAYS TEST THE RECOVERY CYLINDER PRIOR TO RECHARGING A VEHICLE'S A/C SYSTEM.

4. DISCUSS THE R12 TO R134A RETROFIT OPTION WITH OWNERS OF GM VEHICLES WHEN A/C SYSTEM REPAIRS ARE REQUIRED. PROVIDE THE OWNER WITH A COPY OF THE PAMPHLET, "CONVERTING YOUR AUTO AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM TO USE THE NEW REFRIGERANT".

5. BECOME FAMILIAR WITH RETROFIT PROCEDURES AND EXERCISE CARE IN THE HANDLING OF DISSIMILAR REFRIGERANTS TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.

6. INSTALL THE PUREGUARD 2 ON YOUR R134A REFRIGERANT RECOVERY CART AND CAREFULLY TEST RECOVERED R134A ESPECIALLY WHEN SERVICING VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY RETROFIT FROM R12.

7. ESTABLISH A REGULAR PROCEDURE USING PUREGUARD 2 FOR TESTING FOR HIGH LEVELS OF AIR IN YOUR R12 AND R134A RECYCLED REFRIGERANT RESERVES.

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GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.