Air Conditioning (A/C) System Performance Test: Notes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Pontiac Vibe. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Important: Record the ambient temperature conditions and the relative humidity at the time of the test.
- Park the vehicle inside or in the shade. The ambient temperature must be at least 21°C (70°F).
- Open the windows in order to ventilate the interior.
- Vent the engine exhaust.
- Open the hood and install the high and low side pressure gauges of the J 39183-C .
- Route the pressure gauge hoses and close the hood to the safety latch position.
- Record the ambient temperature outside.
- Record the relative humidity.
- Turn the A/C on, set the mode to the VENT position, the temperature to the coldest position, the fresh/recirc to recirculation, the blower speed to high and open the windows.
- Open the A/C air outlet deflectors.
- Place a J 6742-03 thermometer in the left center A/C outlet.
- Place the transaxle in PARK and start the engine, stabilize the engine at 1500 RPM.
- Run the A/C system about 5 minutes or until the outlet air reaches the lowest temperature.
- Record the outlet air temperature and the high side and the low side pressures.
- Turn the engine off and compare the readings with the data in the A/C Performance Table. A normally operating A/C system should not exceed levels shown. If the readings exceed the table limits, refer to TXV Air Conditioning (A/C) System Diagnosis (Insufficient Cooling) or TXV AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS (REFERENCE TABLE) . Also refer to SYMPTOMS - HVAC SYSTEMS - MANUAL in HVAC Systems - Manual.