Dodge Durango (HB). Manual - part 1567

CAUTION: The oil used in the Denso 10S20 A/C compressor is ND-8 PAG R-134a refrigerant oil. Only refrig-
erant oil of the same type should be used to service the A/C system. Do not use any other refrigerant oil.
The oil container should be kept tightly capped until it is ready for use and then tightly capped after use to
prevent contamination from dirt and moisture. Refrigerant oil will quickly absorb any moisture it comes in
contact with, therefore, special effort must be used to keep all R-134a system components moisture-free.
Moisture in the refrigerant oil is very difficult to remove and will cause a reliability problem with the A/C
compressor.

NOTE: Most reclaim/recycling equipment will measure the lubricant being removed during recovery. This
amount of lubricant should be added back into the system. Refer to the reclaim/recycling equipment man-
ufacturers instructions.

It will not be necessary to check the oil level in the A/C compressor or to add oil, unless there has been an oil loss.
An oil loss may occur due to a rupture or leak from a refrigerant line, a connector fitting, a component, or a com-
ponent seal. If a leak occurs, add 30 milliliters (1 fluid ounce) of refrigerant oil to the refrigerant system after the
repair has been made. Refrigerant oil loss will be evident at the leak point by the presence of a wet, shiny surface
around the leak.

Refrigerant oil must be added when a receiver/drier, A/C evaporator or A/C condenser is replaced. See the Refrig-
erant Oil Capacities chart. When an A/C compressor is replaced, the refrigerant oil must be drained from the old
compressor and measured. Drain all of the refrigerant oil from the new A/C compressor, then fill the new compres-
sor with the same amount of refrigerant oil that was drained out of the old compressor.

REFRIGERANT OIL CAPACITIES

Component

fl oz

Total System Fill - Front A/C only

150

5.07

Total System Fill - Front and Rear A/C

220

7.4

Receiver/drier

Front Evaporator

Rear Evaporator

A/C Condenser

A/C Compressor

Drain and measure the oil from the old compressor - see
text.

PLUMBING - FRONT

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RECEIVER/DRIER-A/C

DESCRIPTION

The receiver/drier (1) is mounted in a bracket (2)
secured to the right front frame rail (4) in the engine
compartment. The receiver/drier is connected between
the front section of the liquid line (3) and the rear sec-
tion of the liquid line (5) between the condenser outlet
and the evaporator inlet.

OPERATION

The receiver/drier performs a filtering action to prevent foreign material in the refrigerant from contaminating the A/C
expansion valve. Refrigerant enters the receiver/drier as a high-pressure, low temperature liquid. Desiccant inside
the receiver/drier absorbs any moisture which may have entered and become trapped within the refrigerant system.
In addition, during periods of high demand operation of the A/C system, the receiver/drier acts as a reservoir to
store surplus refrigerant.

The receiver/drier cannot be repaired. If the receiver/drier is faulty or damaged, or if the refrigerant system has been
contaminated or left open to the atmosphere for an indeterminable period or if the A/C compressor has failed, it
must be replaced.

REMOVAL

WARNING: Refer to the applicable warnings and cautions for this system before performing the following
operation (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT - WARNINGS) and (Refer to 24
- HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT - CAUTIONS). Failure to follow the warnings and cau-
tions could result in possible personal injury or death.

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PLUMBING - FRONT

1. Recover the refrigerant from the refrigerant system

(Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/
PLUMBING - FRONT - STANDARD PROCEDURE
- REFRIGERANT SYSTEM RECOVERY).

2. Remove the front and the rear sections of the liquid

line (1 and 4) from the receiver/drier (2) (Refer to
24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING
- FRONT/LINE-A/C LIQUID - REMOVAL).

3. Remove the two bolts (3) that secure the receiver/

drier and bracket to the right front frame rail (5).

4. Remove

the

receiver/drier

from

the

engine

compartment.

INSTALLATION

NOTE: If the A/C receiver/drier is being replaced, add 30 milliliters (1 fluid ounce) of refrigerant oil to the
refrigerant system. Use only the refrigerant oil of the type recommended for the A/C compressor in the
vehicle.

1. Position the receiver/drier and bracket (2) into the

engine compartment.

2. Install the two bolts (3) that secure the receiver/

drier to the right front frame rail (5). Tighten the
bolts to 6.8 N·m (60 in. lbs.).

3. Install the front and rear sections of the liquid line

(1 and 4) to the receiver/drier (Refer to 24 - HEAT-
ING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT/
LINE-A/C LIQUID - INSTALLATION).

4. Evacuate the refrigerant system (Refer to 24 -

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
FRONT - STANDARD PROCEDURE - REFRIGER-
ANT SYSTEM EVACUATE).

5. Charge the refrigerant system (Refer to 24 - HEAT-

ING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT -
STANDARD PROCEDURE - REFRIGERANT SYS-
TEM CHARGE).

REFRIGERANT-A/C

DESCRIPTION

The refrigerant used in this air conditioning system is a HydroFluoroCarbon (HFC), type R-134a. Unlike R-12, which
is a ChloroFluoroCarbon (CFC), R-134a refrigerant does not contain ozone-depleting chlorine. R-134a refrigerant is
a non-toxic, non-flammable, clear, and colorless liquefied gas.

Even though R-134a does not contain chlorine, it must be reclaimed and recycled just like CFC-type refrigerants.
This is because R-134a is a greenhouse gas and can contribute to global warming.

PLUMBING - FRONT

24 - 463

OPERATION

R-134a refrigerant is not compatible with R-12 refrigerant in an A/C system. Even a small amount of R-12 refrigerant
added to an R-134a refrigerant system will cause A/C compressor failure, refrigerant oil sludge or poor A/C system
performance. In addition, the polyalkylene glycol (PAG) synthetic refrigerant oils used in an R-134a refrigerant sys-
tem are not compatible with the mineral-based refrigerant oils used in an R-12 refrigerant system.

R-134a refrigerant system service ports, service tool couplers and refrigerant dispensing bottles have all been
designed with unique fittings to ensure that an R-134a refrigerant system is not accidentally contaminated with the
wrong refrigerant (R-12). There are also labels posted in the engine compartment of the vehicle and on the A/C
compressor to identify that the A/C system is equipped with R-134a refrigerant.

VALVE-A/C EXPANSION

DESCRIPTION

The A/C expansion valve controls the amount of refrig-
erant entering the A/C evaporator and is of a thermo-
static

expansion

valve

(TXV)

design.

The

A/C

expansion valve consists of an aluminum H-valve type
body (1) with an integral thermal sensor (2) and is
located at the dash panel between the A/C refrigerant
lines and the A/C evaporator.

OPERATION

The A/C expansion valve controls the high-pressure, low temperature liquid refrigerant from the liquid line and con-
verts it into a low-pressure, low-temperature mixture of liquid and gas before it enters the A/C evaporator. A mechan-
ical sensor in the A/C expansion valve monitors the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant leaving the A/C
evaporator through the suction line, and adjusts the orifice size at the liquid line port to let the proper amount of
refrigerant into the A/C evaporator to meet the vehicle A/C cooling requirements. Controlling the refrigerant flow
through the A/C evaporator ensures that none of the refrigerant leaving the A/C evaporator is still in a liquid state,
which could damage the A/C compressor.

The A/C expansion valve is factory calibrated and cannot be adjusted or repaired and, if faulty or damaged, it must
be replaced.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

A/C EXPANSION VALVE - FRONT

NOTE: The A/C expansion valve should only be tested following testing of the A/C compressor.

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PLUMBING - FRONT

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