GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

REPETITIVE INOP A/C COMPRESSOR FLUSHING PROCEDURE REVISED

ALL WITH AIR CONDITIONING . "Please discard bulletin 87-1-2, dated 11186. This bulletin is being revised to change the refrigerant to be used to refrigerant 11 not 12."

The use of air conditioning flushing to prevent a repetitive inoperative condition of the compressor after an internal compressor malfunction has received recent attention.

After a compressor has become inoperative internally, the expansion (orifice) tube assembly should be removed and checked for contamination of the filter screens. If contamination is noted, flush the system with refrigerant 11 (R-11), following the procedure outlined in the 1987 Service Manual on page 1B-20.

On cars where the expansion tube assembly is remote from the evaporator inlet, the same flushing procedure should be followed and the expansion tube assembly checked for contamination. Repeat the flushing procedure, if required, until the screens on the expansion tube assembly do not indicate new contamination. An in-line filter is being developed for use with remote expansion tube assembly locations.

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.