MACS publishes survey on refrigerant use

Motor,  Dec 2002  by Nash, Tom

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The Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide has compiled results from a recent survey of its members on refrigerant use in independent service facilities. Five questions covering servicing a/c systems and three regarding service equipment were answered by 109 independent shops. The results revealed tl te following:

*74% of the systems serviced were R-134a, while he remaining 26% contained R-12.

*12.7% of the refrigerant systems were found to be contaminated.

*Hydrocarbon contamination was found in 6.4% of the vehicles serviced.

*Only 31.6% of the systems had been properly retrofitted prior to service at responding shops. Moreover, only 10% of the shops in the survey indicated that every system arriving for service had the required EPA service fittings, label and high-pressure cutout switch.

*49.4% of the vehicles were older than 1995 models. (The phase-out of R-12 a/c systems began in 1992 and was completed in the 1995 model year.)

*86% of the responding shops said they use a refrigerant identifier.

*76% of the shops reported they own a diagnostic tool.

*Of those shops owning a diagnostic tool, 68% responded that the tool has been helpful in mobile alc service.

MACS notes that while the majority of a/c systems on the road today are of the R-134a type, most of these vehicles are being serviced at dealerships under existing new-car warranties, not at independent repair shops.

Copyright Hearst Business Publishing Dec 2002
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