Information on GM ACR2000 (J-43600) and New Refrigerant Recovery Recharging Equipment Standard SAE J2788 (07-01-38-004)

Publication date: 2007-06-27
Reference number: 07-01-38-004

Information on GM ACR2000 (J-43600) and New Refrigerant Recovery Recharging Equipment Standard SAE J2788

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

Reference Number(s): 07-01-38-004, Date of Issue: June 27, 2007

Affected Model(s):

2008 and Prior GM Passenger Cars and Light Duty Trucks (Including Saturn); 2008 and Prior HUMMER H2, H3; 2005-2008 Saab 9-7X

Attention:

This bulletin is being issued to prevent any confusion about the Refrigerant Recovery Recharging Equipment currently in your dealership and available from GM Dealer Equipment. The new SAE standard DOES NOT make your current equipment obsolete. Servicing and support for the current ACR2000 will continue. The new requirements are minimum guidelines that equipment manufacturers must meet in order to produce new refrigerant recovery machines in the future that are even more environmentally friendly and accurate while in service. All of the details of the new standard are described below.

SERVICE INFORMATION

IMPORTANT: The information contained in this bulletin is applicable to U.S. dealers only at this time. The bulletin may be revised at a later date to include additional information regarding Canadian regulations.

New SAE Refrigerant Recovery Standard J2788

A new SAE standard approved for R134a Refrigerant Recovery Recharging Equipment (SAE J2788) replaces SAE J2210 as the standard covering all mobile refrigerant recovery recharge equipment. SAE J2788 contains several mandates that enhance vehicle A/C service for two key reasons. The standard reduces the amount of refrigerant that can be lost to the atmosphere due to growing concerns over global warming and greenhouse gas emissions. The standard also more tightly controls the equipment accuracy for recharging due to OEM vehicle system refrigerant capacities becoming smaller, which requires a more accurate charge for peak operating performance. SAE J2788 will supersede J2210 in December 2007. At this time, manufacturers will no longer be able to produce J2210 equipment.

IMPORTANT: This new standard does not affect equipment already produced before December 2007.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently in the process of rewriting the Federal Registry, which will likely prohibit sale of SAE J2210 equipment at the end of March 2008.

The EPA does not currently have a plan to ban the use of J2210 equipment.
Current J2210 equipment can continue to be used by service locations for the useful life of the equipment.
Purchase of new compliant equipment is not a requirement of SAE J2788 or the EPA.

IMPORTANT: You DO NOT have to replace the equipment that you are currently using in your service center.

What Does the New SAE J2788 Standard Mean?

The following are SAE J2788 specifications that new equipment must meet:

Refrigerant recovery efficiency of 95% in 30 minutes or less.
Refrigerant recovery accuracy of +/- 1 oz.
Refrigerant charge accuracy +/- 0.5 oz.
Less than 1% oil cross contamination between charges.
Indicates moisture filter replacements. (Fails to Continue to Operate)
Method for scale calibration check by user.

For comparison, the current ACR2000 meets or exceeds the following:

Refrigerant recovery efficiency of at least 75% with no time limit.
Refrigerant recovery accuracy +/- 2 oz.
Refrigerant charge accuracy +/- 1 oz.
Oil cross contamination is not rated.
Displays a warning to change filter. (Continues to Operate)
No user accessible method for scale calibration.

New equipment built after December 2007 will meet or exceed the new SAE J2788 standards. An ACR2000 upgrade meeting the new standard will be announced at a later date.

IMPORTANT: The ACR2000 upgrade meeting the new SAE J2788 standards WILL NOT be shipped essential to GM Dealerships.