Air conditioners in most motor vehicles manufactured before Al 994 use a refrigerant called CFC- 1 2, which is a chlorofluo- rocarbon (CFC). CFCs damage the ozone layer, which protects the earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. As a result, the United States and all other developed nations have agreed under an inter-national treaty to ban the production of CFCs.

While this ban does not mean you have to replace your air conditioner's refrigerant, you may want to discuss this option with your service technician if your air conditioner needs repairs. To accommodate an alternative refrigerant, your air conditioning system must be adapted or retrofitted. It may be more cost-effective to retrofit in conjunction with routine maintenance.

You can ask your service technician the following questions to determine if your car uses CFC-1 2, and what you can do about it:

• Does my air conditioner currently use CFC-1 2?
• Can you repair my air conditioner and recharge it with CFC-1 2?
• How much wi I I it cost if I choose to stay with CFC -1 2, now and in the future?
• If I decide to change refrigerants, what other refrigerants are available?
• What is involved in retrofitting my car?
• How much will retrofitting my car cost, now and in the future?
• Will a retrofit affect the performance of my air conditioning system?
• If I need to repair the system in the future, will I be able to find the some refrigerant
• I used to replace the CFC-1 2?