Table of contents: General description ↓ Precautionary measures ↓
General description
1. Air conditioning is installed on some models as an option. It allows you to lower the air temperature in the cabin, reduce its humidity, which increases comfort and promotes rapid fogging of the glass.
2. The cooling part of the air conditioning works like a regular home refrigerator. The refrigerant in a gaseous state enters the compressor with a belt drive, passes through the condenser installed on the radiator of the engine cooling system, where it loses heat and becomes liquid. The liquid enters through the expansion valve into the evaporator and changes its state from liquid with high pressure to gaseous with low pressure. This transition is accompanied by the absorption of heat, and therefore, a decrease in temperature and cooling of the evaporator. The refrigerant returns to the compressor and the cycle is repeated.
3. The air, having passed through the evaporator, passes through the heating system, where it mixes with the hot air that has passed through the radiator of the heater, thus reaching the required temperature in the car. If the air conditioner works in automatic mode, the mixing of warm and cooled air is controlled by a set of valves with servo drives, regulating the temperature in the cabin.
4. The heating part of the system operates similarly to the heating systems in cars without air conditioning (see paragraph 9).
5. The air conditioner is controlled by commands from the electronic control unit. The ECU controls the electric fan, compressor and indicators on the front panel. If problems arise in the system, contact your VAG dealer. The air conditioner has a built-in diagnostic system, but its use requires specialized equipment.
Precautionary measures
6. When performing any work on a vehicle equipped with air conditioning, special precautions must be taken. If it is necessary to open the system, entrust this task to a specialist in refrigeration repair or contact the dealer. Opening and filling the system also require the participation of a specialist.
Warning: The air conditioner contains liquefied gas - refrigerant. The refrigerant is potentially dangerous and should only be handled by a qualified specialist. If opened uncontrollably, the refrigerant evaporates immediately. If the refrigerant gets on your skin, frostbite is possible. The refrigerant itself is not dangerous, but in the presence of an open flame, it forms a poisonous gas; inhaling refrigerant vapors from a lit cigarette can be fatal. Gaseous refrigerant is heavier than air and can accumulate in various depressions, such as an inspection pit.
7. Uncontrolled opening of the system harms the environment - some refrigerants contain freon.
8. Do not turn on the air conditioner if you know that it is low on refrigerant - you can damage the compressor.