WD Catalog 2018

877 / 1003

Service Tools and Their Use
• Safety & Safety Equipment
• Air Conditioning System Service Tools
• Other Equipment
• Chapter Review
The basic air conditioner and heater service tools include some special tools
and test equipment as well as normal tool chest items. In this section we
describe and explain the use of basic tools, test and other equipment, and
safety. Some of the special equipment described is expensive but is often
justified in a busy shop. Actual system test and service procedures are covered
in Chapter 8 and Chapter 10.
Safety is important to you as well as to others in your working environment.
The air conditioner and heater system are as safe or safer to work on as other
vehicle systems, engines, etc.—but they are a little different. We will stress
safety in this chapter and have used CAUTIONS and WARNINGS in bold
print all through the manual to alert you to potential hazards.
Safety & Safety Equipment
• In servicing HVAC systems you will be exposed to high pressures,
temperatures and several chemical hazards. Moving belts and pulleys
are normal shop hazards.
• In addition to exercising caution in your work, ALWAYS WEAR
SAFETY GOGGLES OR A FACE SHIELD when you are using
refrigerant or a Halide leak detector, adjusting service valves or the
manifold gauge set connectors. Safety goggles or a transparent face
shield are practical safety items. ONE OR THE OTHER IS ABSO-
LUTELY REQUIRED.
• Refrigerant inside a container and in parts of the AC system is a
liquid under pressure. When refrigerant escapes or is released to the
air, ITS TEMPERATURE DROPS INSTANTLY. If it spills on your
skin or in your eyes, flood the area with cool water and SEEK
MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.
• The compressor creates pressure when it runs. If pressures get too
high in the system, the weakest point may separate or blow out. A
system restriction, too much refrigerant, or improper charging proce-
dures are all potentially dangerous.
• Someone else may have serviced the system before you and put too
much refrigerant in the air conditioner. The only way to know how
much refrigerant is in the system is to take it all out. Then evacuate
the system and charge it with a weighed amount of refrigerant your-
self, based on manufacturer specs. If too much refrigerant is in the
system for proper cooling, and you add more, you may have a poten-
tially ruptured component and serious injury.
• Keep in mind the fact that R-12 refrigerant becomes a poison gas
when it burns. DO NOT SMOKE AROUND REFRIGERANT.
6
Chapter
6-1
Click on any of these
subject headings to go
directly to the page