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This warranty is in place of all other warranties of quality. There are no other warranties
either oral, written, express, implied or statutory. IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS
FOR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY ARE EXCLUDED. This warranty and your
remedies thereunder are solely as stated in this manual. In no event shall Spectronics
Corporation be liable for special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages, nor for any
damages arising out of delay in shipment or production.
Special Information for Automotive Technicians
The PRO-Alert™ Refrigerant Leak Detector is design certified by MET Laboratories, Inc.
to meet SAE J1627, "Rating Criteria for Electronic Refrigerant Leak Detectors" for R-12,
R-22 and R-134a. The PRO-Alert™ is even more sensitive to R-1234yf. The following SAE
Recommended Practice applies to this instrument and to the use of generally available
electronic leak detection methods to service motor vehicle passenger compartment air
conditioning systems.
1. The electronic leak detector shall be operated in accordance with these operating
instructions.
2. Leak test with the engine not in operation.
3. The A/C system should be charged with sufficient refrigerant to have a gauge pressure
of at least 50 PSI (340 kPa) when not in operation. At temperatures below 59°F (15°C)
leaks may not be measurable, since this pressure may not be reached.
4. Take care not to contaminate the detector probe tip if the part being tested is
contaminated. If the part is particularly dirty, it should be wiped off with a dry shop
towel or blown off with shop air. No cleaners or solvents should be used, since
electronic detectors are sensitive to their ingredients.
5. Visually trace the entire refrigerant system and look for signs of air conditioning
lubricant leakage, damage and corrosion on all lines, hoses and components. Each
questionable area should be carefully checked with the detector probe as well as all
fittings, hose-to-line couplings, refrigerant controls, service ports with caps in place,
brazed or welded areas, and areas around attachment points and hold-downs on lines
and components.
6. Always follow the refrigerant system around in a continuous path so that no areas of
potential leaks are missed. If a leak is found, always continue to test the remainder of
the system.
7. At each area checked, the probe shall be moved around the location at a rate no more
than 1 to 2 inches/second (25 to 50 mm/second) and no more than 1/4 inch
(5 mm) from the surface completely around the position. Slower and closer
movement of the probe greatly improves the likelihood of finding a leak.
8. An apparent leak should be verified at least once by blowing shop air into the area of
the suspected leak, if necessary, and repeating the check of the area. In cases of very
large leaks, blowing out the area with shop air often helps locate the exact
position of the leak.
9. Leak testing of the evaporator core while in the air conditioning module should be
accomplished by turning the air conditioning blower on high for a period of
15 seconds minimum, shutting it off, then waiting for the refrigerant to accumulate in
the case for the time specified in step 10, then inserting the leak detector probe into
the blower resistor-block or condensate drain-hole if no water is present, or into the
closest opening in the HVAC case to the evaporator, such as the heater duct or a vent
duct. If the detector emits an alarm signal, a leak apparently has been found.
10. The accumulation time for evaporator testing is 13 minutes.
11. Following any service to the refrigerant system of the vehicle, and any other service
which disturbs the refrigerant system, a leak test of the repair and of the service ports
of the refrigerant system should be done.
