FixVault
Home › Buick › 1994 › Roadmaster Base › Repair and Diagnosis › Heating, Ventilation & A/C (HVAC) › General Servicing › A/C System General Servicing › Refrigerant Recovery/Recycling

Refrigerant Recovery/Recycling

NOTE: The use of recovery/recycling equipment is required by law.

Refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment is used to remove refrigerant from vehicle's A/C system without polluting atmosphere. To remove and recycle refrigerant, ALWAYS follow instructions provided with the refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment being used.

The removed refrigerant is filtered, dried and stored in a tank within the recovery/recycling equipment until it is ready to be pumped back into the vehicle's A/C system.

NOTE: Separate sets of hoses, gauges and refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment MUST be used for R-12 and R-134a systems. DO NOT mix R-12 and R-134a refrigerants, as their refrigerant oils and desiccants are NOT compatible.
  1. Close both valves on manifold gauge set. Connect manifold gauge set to high-side and low-side service valves. See SERVICE VALVE LOCATIONS under SYSTEM SERVICE VALVES.
  2. Connect center hose on manifold gauge set to inlet port on Refrigerant Recovery/Recycling Equipment (J-39500). Start engine. Turn A/C on for about 2 minutes.
    NOTE: Operating A/C for 2 minutes warms refrigerant, allowing greater recovery of refrigerant from system.
  3. Shut engine off. Open both valves on manifold gauge set. Simultaneously open both valves on refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment storage tank.
  4. Turn refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment on. Depress compressor START switch. Ensure the compressor ON light is activated.
  5. The refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment will shut off when manifold gauge indicates vacuum reading of 17 in. Hg. Vacuum should remain at 17 in. Hg for at least 2 minutes.
  6. Run recovery/recycling equipment one complete cycle. If vacuum reading is greater than zero after one complete cycle, some refrigerant still remains in vehicle's A/C system. Depress compressor START switch, and operate refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment through another cycle.
  7. Once refrigerant is recovered, open accumulator pressure valve on the refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment for 15 seconds. This will pressurize the oil separator so refrigerant oil can be drained.
  8. Open oil drain valve on refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment, and drain refrigerant oil into a container. Measure exact amount of oil to be added when system is put back in service.
About FixVault