Ai
r Conditionin g Syste m
You r vehicle' s ai r conditionin g is a
seale d system . An y majo r mainte -
nance , suc h a s recharging , shoul d b e
don e b y a qualifie d mechanic . Yo u
ca n d o a coupl e o f thing s t o mak e
sur e th e ai r conditionin g work s
efficiently .
Periodicall y chec k th e engine' s
radiato r an d ai r conditionin g
condense r fo r leaves , insects , an d
dir t stuc k t o th e fron t surface . Thes e
bloc k th e ai r flo w an d reduc e coolin g
efficiency . Us e a ligh t spra y fro m a
hos e o r a sof t brus h t o remov e them .
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
AI
R CONDITIONIN G CONDENSE R
Ru n th e ai r conditionin g a t leas t onc e
a wee k durin g th e col d weathe r
months . Ru n it fo r a t leas t te n
minute s whil e yo u ar e drivin g a t a
stead y spee d wit h th e engin e a t
norma l operatin g temperature . Thi s
circulate s th e lubricatin g oi l con -
taine d in th e refrigerant . I
f th e ai r conditionin g doe s no t ge t a s
col d a s before , hav e you r deale r
chec k th e system . Recharg e th e
syste m wit h Refrigeran t HFC-134 a
(R-134a) . (Se e Specification s o n pag e
279 .)
Whenever you have the air conditioning
syste m 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
NOTIC
E
NOTIC E
I
f You r Engin e Overheat s
Th e pointe r o f you r vehicle' s
temperatur e gaug e shoul d sta y in
th e midrang e unde r mos t conditions .
I t ma y g o highe r i f yo u ar e drivin g u p
a lon g stee p hil l o n a ver y ho t day . I f
i t climb s t o th e re d mark , yo u shoul d
determin e th e reason .
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.
You r vehicl e ca n overhea t fo r severa l
reasons , suc h a s lac k o f coolan t o r a
mechanica l problem . Th e onl y
indicatio n ma y b e th e temperatur e
gaug e climbin g to o r abov e th e re d
mark . O r yo u ma y se e stea m or
spra y comin g fro m unde r th e hood .
I n eithe r case , yo u shoul d tak e
immediat e action .
1
. Safel y pul l t o th e sid e o f th e road .
Pu t th e transmissio n in Neutra l o r
Par k an d se t th e parkin g brake .
Tur n of f th e heatin g an d coolin g
syste m an d al l othe r accessories .
Tur n o n th e hazar d warnin g
indicators .
2 . I f yo u se e stea m and/o r spra y
comin g fro m unde r th e hood , tur n
of f th e engine . 3
. I f yo u d o no t se e stea m o r spray ,
leav e th e engin e runnin g an d
watc h th e temperatur e gauge . I f
th e hig h hea t i s du e t o overloadin g
(climbin g a long , stee p hil l o n a
ho t da y wit h th e A/ C running , fo r
example) , th e engin e shoul d star t
t o coo l dow n almos t immediately .
I f i t does , wai t unti l th e tempera -
tur e gaug e come s dow n t o th e mid -
poin t the n continu e driving .
4 . I f th e temperatur e gaug e stay s a t
th e re d mark , tur n of f th e engine .
5 . Wai t unti l yo u se e n o mor e sign s
o f stea m o r spray , the n ope n th e
hood .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E
Stea
m an d spra y fro m a n
overheate d engin e ca n
seriousl y scal d you .
D o no t ope n th e hoo d i f stea m
i s comin g out .
