“Air conditioning systems are going through an unprecedented transformation,” says ASE President Timothy Zilke. “What was once a simple creature comfort for upscale motorists, air conditioning systems of today are true thermal management systems, providing not only occupant comfort, but also providing essential cooling to battery packs and onboard computers in hybrid vehicles.”

R-1234yf, tabbed the replacement for R-134a, has been in service now for a few years on certain models of vehicles from FCA and GM to several European models. R-1234yf is installed on an estimated 35 million vehicles worldwide. The EU has already banned R-134a as of January 2017, and the U.S. will follow suit by 2020. While most independent shops haven’t had to deal with it yet, you will start seeing it soon, so you should be prepared to service them by getting the right tools.

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