A/C R-134A REFRIGERANT (INFORMATION)

Subject: AIR CONDITIONING R-134A REFRIGERANT (INFORMATION)

Model and Year: 1984-93 ALL PASSENGER CARS AND TRUCKS

General Motors is now introducing R-134a into new vehicle production as quickly as possible. In 1993, the F car, U Van, and the G Van were built with R-134a. For 1994, the majority of the remaining GM platforms will be converted to R-134a.

Most dealers now have the required equipment and training for servicing these R-134a vehicles. The dealers remaining will be equipped this summer. If any additional tools are required to handle R-134a, we will notify you.

NOTICE: R-12 and R-134a are not interchangeable! R-134a cannot be added to fill a low R-12 system, nor can R-12 be used in an R-134a system. For example, the combination of the two materials will cause high system pressures, which can cause damage to system components as well as loss of the refrigerant into the atmosphere.

R-12 can and should continue to be used to service vehicles built with R-12 as long as it is available. At this time, we fully expect there will be supplies of R-12 available for this purpose. If R-12 is no longer available or affordable, a system retrofit must be done for the R-12 system to operate properly utilizing R-134a refrigerant. R-134a is the only approved substitute refrigerant for which GM anticipates recommendation. NONE of the blend refrigerants currently available are approved for use in GM vehicles.

Details for retrofitting R-12 vehicles to R-134a are now being developed, and we expect to publish instructions in 1994. We will have instructions for ALL GM vehicles back to 1988, and for most other GM vehicles back to 1984.

At this time it appears that, for some GM vehicles, the retrofit procedure should require minimal changes to the existing system. Other vehicles may need additional parts and/or procedures to provide acceptable performance and/or durability. Our testing has shown that vehicles that have undergone recommended retrofit procedures, in most climatic conditions, will be minimally affected in terms of A/C performance.

Basic service policy will be as follows:

During Warranty - If an R-12 equipped vehicle A/C system must be repaired or recharged under warranty, repairs will be completed using R-12. If R-12 is unavailable or unaffordable, GM will pay for the repair and the retrofit to R-134a.

NOTE: If a customer requests that an in-warranty vehicle be converted to R-134a, and the R-12 system is functioning properly, the customer will be expected to pay for the conversion.

Out of Warranty - The cost of the conversion will be the responsibility of the customer.

We will publish more information as it becomes available.

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.