General Information On Working With A/C Service Station

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 and 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Various manufacturers currently have R744 A/C Service Stations as well as R1234yf and R134a A/C Service Stations for draining and filling refrigerant available on the market for cleaning the refrigerant circuits on vehicle A/C systems.
Only certain R1234yf and R134a A/C Service Stations (with appropriate additional equipment and different adapters if necessary) can be used to clean (flush) the refrigerant circuit. Refer to REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT, CLEANING .
When handling A/C Service Stations and draining devices for refrigerant R744, the labor protection laws and industrial safety regulations must be observed. Refer to LAWS AND REGULATIONS .
The A/C Service Stations and draining devices used in motor vehicle workshops are draining and filling systems not requiring a permit, but which are only to be operated by qualified personnel. Instructions for device operation and maintenance can be found in the relevant manufacturer's documentation. Refer to the A/C Service Station Owner's Manual.
Refrigerant R744 is released into the surrounding air by an A/C Service Station and then the workshop ventilation system dilutes it accordingly into the surrounding area, or the workshop extraction system extracts it from the workshop (and does not put it in a compressed-gas canister).

NOTE:

If it is suspected that chemicals to seal leaks (leak stop additives) were added to a refrigerant circuit that has refrigerant to be discharged, do not connect the A/C Service Station to this refrigerant circuit and do not discharge the refrigerant via the A/C Service Station.

The chemical materials (leak stop additive) for sealing leaks in the refrigerant circuit offered on the market are not approved by Volkswagen/Audi.

Chemical materials to seal leaks in the refrigerant circuit react with air or the moisture in the air and form deposits in the refrigerant circuit (and the A/C Service Station) that lead to malfunctions in the valves and other components that come into contact with such chemicals. These deposits cannot be removed completely from the components, even by flushing.

It is not possible to recognize chemical substances to seal leaks in the refrigerant circuit (leak stop additives) from the outside and the labels that are supposed to come with them are usually not there. Therefore be careful when working with a vehicle if its service history is unknown.

If the refrigerant circuit on a vehicle was filled with a chemical (stop leak additives) to seal any leaks (or if there is suspected) and repairs to the A/C system refrigerant circuit are necessary, inform the customer of the following:

The A/C system refrigerant cannot be extracted using an A/C Service Station because the added chemicals (leak stop additives) would damage the A/C Service Station.
It will be necessary to replace any refrigerant circuit components that have come in contact with the stop leak additive in order to repair the A/C system properly. Certain refrigerant circuit components may already be damaged by the stop leak additive, or will become damaged if they are used over again and will fail after a short amount of time. In addition to this, if there is any stop leak additive deposits still on the refrigerant circuit components, they could come loose at a later point and cause the A/C system to fail again (currently it is not possible to clean these components with any workshop tools).

Important information when working with A/C Service Station

Pay attention to the following when running the A/C Service Station (currently available A/C Service Station. Refer to Special Tools and Equipment Catalog.)

The installed filters and dryers must be replaced, at the latest, when the service life specified in the relevant operating instructions has been reached.
If a R1234yf or R134a A/C Service Station is also used to clean (flush) the refrigerant circuit, the installed dryer and filter must be replaced in shorter intervals. Refer to the appropriate service information or REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT, CLEANING ).
In the reservoir exclusive use is to be made of refrigerant oils which have been approved for the vehicle-specific refrigerant circuit (if necessary, fill refrigerant oil directly into refrigerant circuit). Refer to Parts Information.
Depending on the version of the A/C Service Station and the work procedures to be performed, there must be a certain minimum amount of refrigerant and refrigerant oil in the respective reservoirs on the A/C Service Station. Refer to the A/C Service Station Owner's Manual.