Air Conditioning (A/C) System Flushing. General Procedures

Special Service Tools / General Equipment

Materials

Flushing

NOTICE: Use refrigerant identification equipment before recovering any refrigerant from the vehicle. Failure to do so risks contaminating shop refrigerant. If the vehicle A/C refrigerant is contaminated, contact the service center that performed the last A/C service. If the customer wishes to pay the additional cost, use A/C recovery equipment designed to recover contaminated A/C refrigerant. All contaminated A/C refrigerant must be disposed of as hazardous waste in accordance with all federal, state and local regulations. For all equipment, follow the equipment manufacturer's procedures and instructions.

NOTICE: Before flushing the A/C system, remove the receiver-drier or receiver-drier element, the front Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TXV), the rear TXV (if equipped), and the hoses with mufflers. The internal plumbing of these components makes it impossible to completely remove the flushing agent. These components are usually discarded after A/C system contamination. Hoses without mufflers can be reused if they are clogged with foreign material. 3.8 L Motorcraft® A/C engine. The A/C System Flush Solvent (YN-23) and filter FL1-A used for flushing A/C systems and the Purge Service Unit are intended for use on one vehicle only. They may be used to flush either the A/C condenser core or the A/C evaporator core on a single vehicle, but under no circumstances should they be used on more than one vehicle.

NOTICE: Only the A/C Flush and Purge Service Unit and Motorcraft® A/C System Flush Solvent (YN-23) are approved for use on Ford vehicles. No other flushing device or solvent is approved for flushing heat exchangers (A/C condenser, A/C evaporator). Use of any other flusher or solvent may damage the A/C system and the service unit.

• Circulate flushing solvent through the heat exchanger in the reverse direction of normal refrigerant flow (back flush). Particulates collected during flushing are filtered from the returning solvent before the solvent is returned to the reservoir for continuous circulation.

• Remove flushing solution from the heat exchanger. In this step of the procedure, compressed air at 621-862 kPa (90-125 psi), connected to the service unit, is used to push and evaporate residual flushing solvent from the heat exchanger.

1. 1
   Recover the refrigerant. Refer to Air Conditioning (A/C) System Recovery, Evacuation and Charging Procedure in Group 412.
2. 2
   Disconnect the refrigerant lines from the heat exchanger(s) (A/C condenser, A/C evaporator) that need to be flushed. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 412 for the procedure.
3. 3
   Use the appropriate adapters with the Rotunda-approved A/C Flush and Purge device to flush the heat exchanger.
   

   • 357-405 80004 00 Mahle - ACF-3100 - A/C Component Flush and Purge System

   • 258-40001 Dual Tank A/C Flush Machine with SoundSilence™ Technology

   • 219-00082 — ACF-3000 — 33-piece Adapter Kit — revised first-issue 44-piece kit

   • 219-00083 A/C Flush Adapter Kit 2 of 3 (formerly 'Addendum A', second released kit)

   • 219-00084 A/C Flush Adapter Kit 3 of 3
     Use common equipment: A/C Flush and Purge Service Unit.
     Use common equipment: A/C Adapter Kit
4. 4
   Flush the heat exchanger for a minimum of 15 minutes.
   Material: Motorcraft® A/C System Flush Solvent / YN-23
5. 5
   Supply compressed air at 621–862 kPa (90–125 psi) to the service unit and purge the component for a minimum of 30 minutes. A 30-minute purge time is required to force out and evaporate all residual solvent from the A/C system component. Failure to remove all residual solvent from inside the component may cause system damage when reconnected and operated. Dispose of used flushing solvent and filter in accordance with local, state and federal regulations.
6. 6
   Install a new TXV (if equipped) on any vehicle serviced for an internal A/C compressor or receiver-drier failure. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 412 for the procedure.
7. 7
   Install new refrigerant hoses with mufflers on any vehicle serviced for an internal A/C compressor or receiver-drier failure. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 412 for the procedure.
8. 8
   Install a new receiver-drier (if equipped) or receiver-drier element (if equipped) on any vehicle serviced due to an internal A/C compressor or receiver-drier failure. For the procedure, refer to the appropriate Group 412 section.
9. 9
   Connect the heat exchanger(s) (A/C condenser, A/C evaporator) that were serviced. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 412 for the procedure.
10. 10
    If a new A/C compressor is not being installed, lubricate the refrigerant system with the correct amount of clean PAG oil. Refer to the appropriate Refrigerant Oil Addition procedure in Group 412.
11. 11
    If a new A/C compressor is not being installed, evacuate, leak test and charge the A/C system. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 412 for the procedure.
12. 12
    If a new A/C compressor is being installed, install the A/C compressor. For the procedure, refer to the appropriate Group 412 section.