Refrigerant Recovery/Recycling

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 15 other vehicles, including the 1997 Mercury Tracer, 1997 Mercury Sable, 1997 Mercury Mystique, 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis, and 1997 Mercury Cougar. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

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.

CAUTION: 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.

Connect approved recovery/recycling equipment hoses to high-side and low-side service valves. See SERVICE VALVE LOCATIONS under SYSTEM SERVICE VALVES.
Turn refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment on. Allow unit to run until vacuum is obtained. Once vacuum reading is obtained, close inlet valve (if equipped) on refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment. Shut refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment off.
NOTE: On some applications, refrigerant recovery/recycling system will automatically shut off through the use of a low pressure switch. On other applications, refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment must be manually shut off.
Allow system to remain closed for about 2 minutes while observing pressure readings on the refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment.
If pressure reading remains at zero, disconnect hoses from service ports. If pressure reading is greater than zero, repeat steps 2) and 3).