Air Conditioner
Your car's air conditioner is a sealed
system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualified technician. There are
a couple of things you can do to make
sure the air conditioner works
efficiently.
Periodically check the engine's radia-
tor and air conditioning condensers
(located in the openings below the
parking lights) for leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling
efficiency. Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft brush to remove them.
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
Run the air conditioner at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil, con-
tained in the refrigerant, through the
air conditioning system.
If the air conditioner does not get as
cold as before, it is probably because
some of the refrigerant has leaked
from the system. Have your dealer
check the system for leaks and
recharge the system with 33.5-35 oz.
(950-1000 g) of Refrigerant 12 (R-12).
Whenever you have the air condition-
ing system serviced, make sure the
service facility uses a refrigerant
recycling system. This system
captures the refrigerant for reuse.
Releasing refrigerant into the atmos-
phere can damage the environment.
Maintenance
NOTICE
