Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Specified Values
High-pressure side:
Increasing from initial pressure (when connecting the pressure gauges) to a maximum of 20 bar.
Low-pressure side:
Decreasing from initial pressure (when connecting pressure gauges) to the value in the graph.
A -
High pressure in bar
B -
Low pressure in bar
C -
Permissible tolerance range
| Possible deviation from specification | Possible cause of fault | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
|
Not enough refrigerant in circuit or expansion valve malfunctioning. | -- Extract refrigerant from the refrigerant circuit
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|
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If no malfunction can be found and the function of the A/C system is not correct after repeating the test, flush (clean) refrigerant circuit with refrigerant R134a, refer to REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT, FLUSHING (CLEANING) WITH REFRIGERANT R134A . If that is not possible in this workshop, flush the refrigerant circuit with compressed air and remove moisture with nitrogen, refer to REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT, FLUSHING WITH COMPRESSED AIR AND NITROGEN .
| Possible deviation from specification | Possible cause of fault | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
|
|
-- Run hand over refrigerant circuit to check for differences in temperature
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If the function is not correct after flushing the refrigerant circuit, the expansion valve must be replaced.
| Possible deviation from specification | Possible cause of fault | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
|
|
-- Examine expansion valve for dirt or corrosion; replace if necessary.-- Flush refrigerant circuit with compressed air and nitrogen.-- Replace receiver/dryer.-- Repeat test if function is not OK.-- Flush (clean) refrigerant circuit, refer to REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT, FLUSHING (CLEANING) WITH REFRIGERANT R134A .-- Charge the refrigerant circuit.-- Repeat the test. |
Always replace receiver/dryer in case of this malfunction.
| Possible deviation from specification | Possible cause of fault | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
|
|
-- Extract refrigerant from the refrigerant circuit
|
If the function of the A/C system is not correct when the test is repeated, re-install old expansion valve and flush refrigerant circuit with compressed air and nitrogen. Then replace A/C compressor and receiver/dryer.
| Possible deviation from specification | Possible cause of fault | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
|
|
-- Flush (clean) refrigerant circuit, refer to REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT, FLUSHING (CLEANING) WITH REFRIGERANT R134A .-- Replace A/C compressor and receiver/dryer. |
| Possible deviation from specification | Possible cause of fault | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
|
|
-- Replace expansion valve-- Charge the refrigerant circuit.-- Repeat the test. |
If A/C system function is not OK when the test is repeated, flush (clean) refrigerant circuit, refer to REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT, FLUSHING (CLEANING) WITH REFRIGERANT R134A . Then replace A/C compressor and receiver/dryer.
With this malfunction, evaporator may ice up although quantity of refrigerant in circuit is OK.
| Possible deviation from specification | Possible cause of fault | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
|
To much refrigerant oil in the circuit. | -- Discharge the refrigerant circuit.-- Flush (clean) refrigerant circuit, refer to REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT, FLUSHING (CLEANING) WITH REFRIGERANT R134A . |
|
Overfilling with refrigerant oil can occur in the event, for example, the compressor has been replaced without adjusting the quantity of refrigerant oil.
If the A/C compressor is not replaced, the refrigerant oil should be drained from the A/C compressor via the oil drain plug. Out of the entire quantity of refrigerant oil (refer to vehicle-specific Repair Information), 50 grams should be put in the A/C compressor and the rest in the refrigerant circuit.
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.