Your car's air conditioning is a
sealed system. Any major
maintenance, such as recharging,
should be done by a qualified
technician. You can do a couple
of things to make sure the air
conditioning works efficiently.
Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser 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 conditioning at least
once a week during the cold
weather months. Run it for at least
10 minutes while you are driving
at a steady speed with the engine
at normal operating temperature.
This circulates the lubricating oil
contained in the refrigerant.
If the air conditioning does not
get as cold as before, have your
dealer check the system.
Recharge the system with
Refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a).
See
Specifications
on page
193
.
Whenever you have the air
conditioning system serviced,
make sure the service facility
uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere
can damage the environment.
Maintenance
Air Conditioning
AIR
CONDITIONING
CONDENSER
NOTICE
NOTICE
