Air Conditioning (A/C) System Performance Test
| Air Conditioning (A/C) System Performance Test |
| Testing the Refrigerant System |
If you suspect a problem in the refrigerant system, check for the following conditions:
| 1. |
Check the outer surfaces of the radiator and the condenser cores to be sure that the airflow is not blocked by dirt, leaves, or other foreign material. Check between the condenser and the radiator, as well as all outer surfaces.
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| 2. |
Check for restrictions or kinks in the condenser core, the hoses, and the tubes.
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| 3. |
Check the operation of the blower fan.
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| 4. |
Check all the air ducts for leaks or restrictions. Low airflow rate may indicate a restricted evaporator core.
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| 5. |
Check for slippage of the compressor clutch.
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| 6. |
Check the drive belt tension.
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| Insufficient Cooling "Quick Check" Procedure |
Perform the following "hand-feel" procedure to get a quick idea of whether the A/C system has the proper charge of refrigerant. The air temperature must be above 21°C (70°F) for most models.
| 1. |
Warm up the engine. Engine idling.
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| 2. |
Open the hood and all the doors.
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| 3. |
Turn the A/C switch ON.
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| 4. |
Set the temperature control to the full cold position.
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| 5. |
Set the blower speed switch on the maximum speed setting.
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| 6. |
"Hand-feel" the temperature of the evaporator outlet pipe. The pipe should be cold.
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| 7. |
Check for other problems.
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| 8. |
Leak check the system. Refer to
Leak Testing
. If you find a leak, discharge the system and repair the leak as required. After completing the repair, evacuate the system and charge it.
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A/C Performance Table
| Ambient Air Temperature | Relative Humidity | Service Port Pressure | Maximum Left Center Discharge Air Temperature | |
| Low Side | High Side | |||
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13-18°C (55-65°F)
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0-100%
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158-254 kPa (23-37 psi)
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881-1288 kPa (128-187 psi)
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18°C (64°F)
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19-24°C (65-75°F)
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Below 40%
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151-227 kPa (22-33 psi)
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923-1329 kPa (134-193 psi)
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15°C (59°F)
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Above 40%
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172-275 kPa (25-40 psi)
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1047-1460 kPa (152-212 psi)
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20°C (68°F)
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25-29°C (75-85°F)
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Below 35%
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158-241 kPa (25-35 psi)
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1157-1481 kPa (168-215 psi)
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18°C (63°F)
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35-50%
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186-254 kPa (27-37 psi)
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1233-1522 kPa (179-221 psi)
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19°C (66°F)
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Above 50%
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199-282 kPa (29-41 psi)
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1281-1598 kPa (186-232 psi)
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23°C (72°F)
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30-35°C (85-95°F)
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Below 30%
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179-254 kPa (26-37 psi)
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1336-1667 kPa (194-242 psi)
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20°C (68°F)
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30-50%
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192-268 kPa (28-39 psi)
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1378-1708 kPa (200-248 psi)
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22°C (70°F)
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Above 50%
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213-296 kPa (31-43 psi)
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1440-1770 kPa (209-256 psi)
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24°C (75°F)
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36-41°C (95-105°F)
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Below 20%
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199-268 kPa (29-39 psi)
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1550-1867 kPa (225-271 psi)
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23°C (73°F)
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20-40%
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206-282 kPa (30-41 psi)
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1570-1887 kPa (228-274 psi)
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24°C (75°F)
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Above 40%
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220-296 kPa (32-43 psi)
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1612-1908 kPa (234-277 psi)
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25°C (77°F)
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42-46°C (105-115°F)
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Below 20%
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220-289 kPa (32-42 psi)
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1777-2053 kPa (258-298 psi)
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25°C (77°F)
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Above 20%
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227-296 kPa (33-43 psi)
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1791-2060 kPa (260-299 psi)
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27°C (79°F)
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47-49°C (115-120°F)
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Below 30%
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248-310 kPa (36-45 psi)
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1970-2218 kPa (286-322 psi)
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28°C (82°F)
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