Air Conditioning System - Inspection

PROCEDURE

1. Warm up the engine to normal operating temperature.
2. Turn the A/C on to maximum cooling. Select the highest fan speed. Open the doors to prevent recirculation of air in the passenger compartment.
3. Once the system temperature reaches its operating value, feel the two lines connected to the evaporator on the engine compartment bulkhead.

4. The thinner line running to the evaporator from the condenser outlet fitting should feel sufficiently cold. The thicker line running from the evaporator outlet fitting back to the compressor should be slightly colder still (by 2 to 6 degrees). If the outlet line feels noticeably warmer than the inlet line, the system needs recharging. Insert a thermometer into the outlet air duct through the center instrument panel vent. With the A/C on, the temperature of the air coming out of the vent should be 19 to 22 degrees lower than the ambient temperature (down to a value of 4.5°C). In very hot weather (+40°C), an outlet temperature rise up to 15.6°C is permissible, but no higher.

5. If the requirements listed in the previous paragraph are not met, the system needs to be charged. For a more detailed diagnosis of the system condition, take the vehicle to a specialized repair shop. Performing certain on-board diagnostic checks will help determine the nature of the damage and the scope of the required repair work.