Air conditioner refridgerant charge check (Every 12 000 miles (20 000 km) or 12 months)
1 If applicable, remove the radiator grille being careful not to damage the condenser fins.
2 Check the refrigerant charge as follows.
The engine should be cold and the ambient temperature should be between 64° and 77°F (18° and 25°C).
3 Start the engine and allow it to idle.
Observe the refrigerant sight glass (see illustration)
26.3 Air conditioning system refrigerant sight glass (arrowed)
and have an assistant switch on the air conditioning to fan speed III. A few bubbles should be seen in the sight glass as the system starts up, but all bubbles should disappear within 10 seconds. Persistent bubbles, or no bubbles at all, mean that the refrigerant charge is low. Switch off the system immediately if the charge is low and do not use it again until it has been recharged.
4 Inspect the refrigerant pipes, hoses and unions for security and good condition. Refit the radiator grille.
5 The air conditioning system will lose a proportion of its charge through normal seepage typically up to 100 g (4 oz) per year - so it is as well to regard periodic recharging as a maintenance operation.
See also:
Steering and suspension security check (Every 12 000 miles (20 000 km) or 12
months)
1 Check the shock absorbers by bouncing
the vehicle up and down at each corner in
turn. When released, it should come to rest
within one complete oscillation. Continued
movement, or squeaking and ...
Maintenance - upholstery and carpets
Mats and carpets should be brushed or
vacuum cleaned regularly to keep them free of
grit. If they are badly stained remove them from
the vehicle for scrubbing or sponging and make
quite sure they ...
Starter motor brushes - renewal
1 Starter motor brush renewal is a relatively
difficult procedure, requiring skill in the use of
a soldering iron. It should also be borne in
mind that if the starter motor has been in
service lon ...