Lexus SC300 / Lexus SC400. Manual — part 950

DATE:

NOVEMBER 29, 1996

Title

ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS AND A/C RETROFIT

Page 1 of 2

Effective January 1, 1996, the E.P.A. has officially banned the manufacture of Refrigerant 12 (Freon).
As a result, surplus supplies of R–12 will begin to dwindle over the next several years until, eventually,
R–12 will no longer be available.

This uncertainty about the availability of R–12 has caused significant concerns for Lexus dealers when
servicing HVAC systems not using R–134a refrigerant. Similarly, the reduced availability of R–12 has
prompted demands for R–134a retrofit kits and/or alternate refrigerants. This TSB will clarify Lexus’s
current recommendations for servicing and retrofitting HVAC systems on Lexus vehicles using R–12
refrigerant.

ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS:

Previously, the E.P.A. has endorsed other alternative refrigerants. These endorsements, combined with
the uncertain future availability of R–12, have lead to a limited acceptance of using alternative refrigerants
when servicing or retrofitting R–12 HVAC systems. Use of these refrigerants can lead to several service
related problems, including:

D

Poor system performance and leak detection capabilities.

D

Contamination of R–12 and R–134a during refrigerant recovery and recycling.

Recently the E.P.A. released a statement clarifying that approval of alternative refrigerants relates only
to the toxicology, flammability, ozone depletion and global warming characteristics. The approval does
not imply acceptability of alternative refrigerants use with respect to serviceability or performance.

TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A. ENDORSES THE USE OF R–134a AS THE ONLY

ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE REFRIGERANT FOR VEHICLES USING R–12.

R–12 AVAILABILITY:

It is estimated that existing R–12 supplies will meet market demand in 1996. Beyond that, Lexus will
supply R–12 to it’s dealers from a strategic reserve. These strategic reserves are allocated specifically
for distribution to Lexus dealers for repair of their customers’ R–12 HVAC systems. TMS projects these
reserves may meet dealer demand through early 1998. After that, we believe R–12 will no longer be readi-
ly available and dealers will begin to retrofit customer vehicles with R–134a.

REF

:

HEATING & AIR
CONDITIONING

NO:

AC007–96

MODEL:

ALL MODELS

ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS AND A/C RETROFIT

Page 2 of 2

RETROFIT ISSUES:

Lexus has completed development of retrofit parts for all later model Lexus vehicles using R–12 refrigerant.
These parts will be produced in harmony with market demand, based on R–12 availability.

The parts necessary for a typical retrofit will generally include:

D

Receiver Dryer

D

O–Rings

D

Fittings

D

Labels

D

Oil

A TSIB outlining retrofit procedures will be released when the retrofit kits become available.

For additional information, contact the Environmental Assistance Network Hotline at 1–800–542–3914.

ALTERNATIVE REFRIGERANTS

Page 1 of 1

Beginning with the Montreal Protocol signed in April 1988, auto manufacturers world–wide
committed to phase–out the use of ozone damaging Refrigerant R–12, also known as Freon.
All automobile manufacturers are re–designing new production vehicles to use non-ozone depleting
R–134a which is the only universally approved replacement refrigerant for R–12.
All 1994 and newer Lexus use R–134a.

Several independent companies have begun marketing alternative refrigerants which they claim can
replace R–12 when servicing vehicles in the dealership. These R–12 replacements commonly
referred to as blends or hydrocarbon based refrigerants, have the potential to cause damage to
Lexus AC systems and in some cases can cause personal injury to the service technician or the
end–user. Lexus strongly discourages the use of these refrigerants in Lexus vehicles.

Furthermore, dealer technicians should be cautious of vehicles that may be labeled or otherwise
identified to contain such refrigerants. Servicing these vehicles can contaminate your AC
refrigerant recovery equipment causing refrigerant stored in the recovery machine to be rendered
unusable. Also, if the contaminated refrigerant equipment is then used on subsequent repairs, the
dealer may unknowingly contaminate other owner’s vehicles.

For all Lexus models and years that are designed to operate on R–12, continue to service with
R–12 as long as it is available which is expected to be two or more years. When research is
complete and R–12 becomes difficult to acquire, Lexus will provide parts and procedures to properly
retrofit an R–12 vehicle to non–ozone depleting R–134a.

HEATING & AIR
CONDITIONING
AC94–001
MARCH 25, 1994
ALL MODELS

DATE:

NOVEMBER 29, 1996

Title

ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS AND A/C RETROFIT

Page 1 of 2

Effective January 1, 1996, the E.P.A. has officially banned the manufacture of Refrigerant 12 (Freon).
As a result, surplus supplies of R–12 will begin to dwindle over the next several years until, eventually,
R–12 will no longer be available.

This uncertainty about the availability of R–12 has caused significant concerns for Lexus dealers when
servicing HVAC systems not using R–134a refrigerant. Similarly, the reduced availability of R–12 has
prompted demands for R–134a retrofit kits and/or alternate refrigerants. This TSB will clarify Lexus’s
current recommendations for servicing and retrofitting HVAC systems on Lexus vehicles using R–12
refrigerant.

ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS:

Previously, the E.P.A. has endorsed other alternative refrigerants. These endorsements, combined with
the uncertain future availability of R–12, have lead to a limited acceptance of using alternative refrigerants
when servicing or retrofitting R–12 HVAC systems. Use of these refrigerants can lead to several service
related problems, including:

D

Poor system performance and leak detection capabilities.

D

Contamination of R–12 and R–134a during refrigerant recovery and recycling.

Recently the E.P.A. released a statement clarifying that approval of alternative refrigerants relates only
to the toxicology, flammability, ozone depletion and global warming characteristics. The approval does
not imply acceptability of alternative refrigerants use with respect to serviceability or performance.

TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A. ENDORSES THE USE OF R–134a AS THE ONLY

ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE REFRIGERANT FOR VEHICLES USING R–12.

R–12 AVAILABILITY:

It is estimated that existing R–12 supplies will meet market demand in 1996. Beyond that, Lexus will
supply R–12 to it’s dealers from a strategic reserve. These strategic reserves are allocated specifically
for distribution to Lexus dealers for repair of their customers’ R–12 HVAC systems. TMS projects these
reserves may meet dealer demand through early 1998. After that, we believe R–12 will no longer be readi-
ly available and dealers will begin to retrofit customer vehicles with R–134a.

REF

:

HEATING & AIR
CONDITIONING

NO:

AC007–96

MODEL:

ALL MODELS