Audi Q3: Refrigerant Lines, Disconnecting and Connecting at A/C Compressor

Special tools and workshop equipment required

• Wrench - Door Adjusting - Joint -3320/1-
• Engine Bung Set -VAS6122-

  WARNING

Danger due to refrigerant coming out under pressure.

Danger of frost bite to skin and other parts of the body.

• Extract the refrigerant and immediately open the refrigerant circuit after that.
• If the refrigerant was extracted more than 10 minutes in the past and the refrigerant circuit was not opened, extract the refrigerant again. Pressure in the refrigerant circuit is caused by evaporation.

Removing

- Discharge the refrigerant circuit. Refer to → Refrigerant R134a, Servicing; Rep. Gr.87; Refrigerant Circuit (Refrigerant R134a, Servicing; Refrigerant Circuit, Using Service Station).

- Remove the noise insulation. Refer to → Body Exterior; Rep. Gr.66; Noise Insulation, Removing and Installing.

  Caution

Risk of damaging refrigerant lines and hoses.

Do not stretch, kink or bend refrigerant lines and hoses.

Vehicles with 5-Cylinder Engine (Audi RS Q3)

- Remove the A/C compressor from the bracket. Refer to → Chapter "A/C Compressor, Removing and Installing from Bracket, 5-Cylinder Engine (Audi RS Q3)".

- Move the A/C compressor toward the right wheel housing.

  Note

For vehicles with a 5-cylinder engine (Audi RS Q3), the refrigerant lines are not accessible from above.

All Vehicles

- Remove the bolts -2 and 4- using the Wrench - Door Adjusting - Joint -3320/1- and remove the refrigerant lines -1 and 3-.

- Seal the open lines and connections with clean plugs from the Engine Bung Set -VAS 6122-.

  Caution

Risk of damaging the A/C compressor.

• The A/C compressor is always driven when engine is running; there is no magnetic clutch. Engine is therefore not to be started unless refrigerant circuit has been properly assembled.
• For example; if the refrigerant lines are not connected to A/C compressor and the connections are sealed, the A/C compressor may heat up so much when the engine is running that the A/C compressor will be damaged by internal heat generation.

Installing

Installation is done is reverse order, observe the following:

- Replace the O-ring seals. For the correct version, refer to the Parts Catalog.

- If applicable, inspect the alignment pin -4- for damage and check that it is seated correctly.

- Inspect the guide ring -2- on the refrigerant line connection for damage.

- Insert the O-ring seal -3- into the groove -arrow- on the refrigerant line connection -1-.

  Note

• Do not use the O-rings from the shipping caps that are installed on the connections of replacement A/C compressor when installing lines.
• Coat the O-ring seals lightly with refrigerant oil prior to installation. Refer to → Chapter "Refrigerant Circuit Seals".
• Check O-ring seals for proper seating in groove -arrow- of the respective refrigerant line.
• For the routing and securing the refrigerant lines, refer to → Chapter "Routing and Securing Lines".

- Insert the refrigerant lines -1 and 3- into the respective connection on the A/C compressor.

- Tighten the bolts -2 and 4- using the Wrench - Door Adjusting - Joint -3320/1-.

- Evacuate the refrigerant circuit and fill it. Refer to → Refrigerant R134a, Servicing; Rep. Gr.87; Refrigerant Circuit (Refrigerant R134a, Servicing; Refrigerant Circuit, Using Service Station).

- Operate the A/C system after filling the refrigerant circuit. Refer to → Chapter "A/C System, Starting Operation after Filling Refrigerant Circuit".

- Check the Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) memory and erase any displayed entries using the Vehicle Diagnostic Tester in the "Guided Fault Finding" function.

A/C Compressor, Removing and Installing

Special tools and workshop equipment required

• Engine Bung Set -VAS6122-

  Note

The A/C compressor can also be removed from the mount without having to open the refrigerant circuit. Refer to → Chapter "A/C Compressor, Removing and Installing".

Removing

- Remove the refrigerant lines from A/C compressor. Refer to → Chapter "Refrigerant Lines, Disconnecting and Connecting at A/C Compressor".

Vehicles with a TDI Engine:

- Remove the air duct hose and the hose clamps -1- and -2-.

- Seal the open lines and connections with clean plugs from the Engine Bung Set -VAS6122-.

For All Vehicles:

- Remove the ribbed belt. Refer to → Engine Mechanical, Fuel Injection and Ignition; Rep. Gr.13; Cylinder Block, Belt Pulley Side; Ribbed Belt, Removing and Installing.

- Disconnect the connector -2- from the A/C Compressor Regulator Valve -N280-.

- Remove the bolts -arrows- and remove the A/C compressor -1-.

Installing

Installation is done is reverse order, observe the following:

- Clean the contact surfaces on the A/C compressor thoroughly.

- Insert the alignment sleeve -arrows- in the A/C compressor.

  Note

• Make sure the alignment sleeves are seated correctly and the contact surfaces are clean. Alignment sleeves that are installed incorrectly and dirty or damaged contact surfaces can lead to alignment irregularities between the compressor and engine. Alignment irregularities over operating time cause damage to the A/C compressor.
• If the A/C compressor is replaced due to certain complaints (for example, internal damage), the refrigerant circuit must be cleaned. Refer to → Refrigerant R134a Servicing; Rep. Gr.87; Refrigerant Circuit Components, Replacing(Refrigerant R134a, Servicing; Refrigerant Circuit Components).
• There is a quantity of refrigerant oil in the removed A/C compressor, therefore observe the notes for replacing the A/C compressor. Refer to → Refrigerant R134a Servicing; Rep. Gr.87; Refrigerant Circuit Components, Replacing (Refrigerant R134a, Servicing; Refrigerant Circuit Components, Replacing).

  Caution

Risk of damaging the A/C compressor.

• Refrigerant oil may accumulate in the compression chamber of the removed A/C compressor depending on how it was stored.
• Turn the A/C compressor by hand approximately 10 revolutions before installing the ribbed belt after installing a new A/C compressor or adding fresh refrigerant oil in order to avoid damaging the A/C compressor when using it for the first time.

- Evacuate the refrigerant circuit and fill it. Refer to → Refrigerant R134a, Servicing; Rep. Gr.87; Refrigerant Circuit (Refrigerant R134a, Servicing; Refrigerant Circuit, Using Service Station).

- Operate the A/C system after filling the refrigerant circuit. Refer to → Chapter "A/C System, Starting Operation after Filling Refrigerant Circuit".

- Follow the information about starting the A/C system after installing the A/C compressor. Refer to → Refrigerant R134a, Servicing; Rep. Gr.87; A/C System, General Information (A/C System with Refrigerant R134a; A/C System, General Information). After charging the A/C system.

Preliminary Work for Replacing Belt Pulley

- Remove the noise insulation. Refer to → Body Exterior; Rep. Gr.66; Noise Insulation, Removing and Installing.

- If equipped, remove the frame for the noise insulation (for example on the Audi RS Q3 with a 5-cylinder engine). Refer to → Body Exterior; Rep. Gr.66; Noise Insulation, Removing and Installing.

- Remove the right wheel housing liner (for example on the Audi RS Q3 with a 5-cylinder engine). Refer to → Body Exterior; Rep. Gr.66; Front Wheel Housing Liner, Removing and Installing.

- Release the tension on the ribbed belt and then remove it. Refer to → Rep. Gr.13; Cylinder Block, Belt Pulley Side; Ribbed Belt, Removing and Installing.

- If necessary, remove the A/C compressor from the engine. Refer to → Chapter "A/C Compressor, Removing and Installing on Bracket".

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