Handling Refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Suzuki Aerio. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Always wear goggles to protect your eyes.
Avoid you direct contact to liquid refrigerant.
Do not heat refrigerant container higher than 40°C (104°F).
Do not discharge refrigerant into atmosphere.
Do not allow liquid refrigerant to touch bright metals. Refrigerant combined with moisture is corrosive and will tarnish surfaces of bright metals including chrome.
Refrigerant Line

Fig 1: Identifying Handling Refrigerant HFC-134A
Courtesy of SUZUKI OF AMERICA CORP.
Never use heat for bending pipes. When bending a pipe, try to make its bending radius as slight as possible.
Keep internal parts of air conditioning free from moisture and dirt. When disconnecting any line from system, install a blind plug or cap to the fitting immediately.
When connecting hoses and pipes, apply a few drops of compressor oil (refrigerant oil) to seats of coupling nuts and O-ring.
When tightening or loosening a fitting, use two wrenches, one for turning and the other for support.
Tighten flared nuts by the following specified torque.
Tightening torque

8 mm pipe: 13 N.m (1.3 kg-m, 9.5 Ib-ft)

12 mm pipe: 23 N.m (2.3 kg-m, 16.6 Ib-ft)

14.5 mm pipe: 33 N.m (3.3 kg-m, 23.8 Ib-ft)
Route drain hose so that drained water does not make any contact to vehicle components.
If pipes or hoses are replaced, replenish specified amount of compressor oil to compressor suction side by referring to "OPERATION PROCEDURE FOR REFRIGERANT CHARGING ".