Chrysler Sebring, Stratus sedan, Sebring Convertible. Manual - part 742

(10) Check the automatic transmission fluid level

as required (Refer to 21 - TRANSMISSION/TRANS-
AXLE/AUTOMATIC/FLUID AND FILTER - STAN-
DARD PROCEDURE - CHECK OIL LEVEL). Fill as
required (Refer to 21 - TRANSMISSION/TRANS-
AXLE/AUTOMATIC /FLUID AND FILTER - STAN-
DARD PROCEDURE - TRANSMISSION FILL).

A/C DISCHARGE LINE

DESCRIPTION

The A/C discharge line (Fig. 9) is the refrigerant

line that carries refrigerant from the A/C compressor
to the A/C condenser.

The A/C discharge line includes the fitting for the

A/C pressure transducer (Refer to 24 - HEATING &
AIR CONDITIONING/CONTROLS/A/C PRESSURE
TRANSDUCER - DESCRIPTION).

CAUTION: Use only seals specified for the vehicle.
Failure to use the correct seals will cause the refrig-
erant system connections to leak.

The A/C discharge line has no serviceable parts

except for the O-ring seals. The seals used on the
connections are made from a special type of rubber
not affected by R-134a refrigerant. The seals must be
replaced whenever the A/C discharge line is removed
and installed.

If the A/C discharge line is found to be leaking or

is damaged, it must be replaced.

REMOVAL

WARNING: Refer to the applicable warnings and cau-
tions for this system before performing the following
operation (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITION-
ING/PLUMBING - WARNINGS) and (Refer to 24 - HEAT-
ING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - CAUTIONS).
Failure to follow the warnings and cautions could
result in possible personal injury or death.

(1) Recover the refrigerant from the refrigerant

system (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITION-
ING/PLUMBING

STANDARD

PROCEDURE

REFRIGERANT SYSTEM RECOVERY).

(2) Disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable.
(3) Remove the front fascia (Refer to 13 - FRAME &

BUMPERS/BUMPERS/FRONT FASCIA - REMOVAL).

(4) Disconnect the wire harness connector from the

A/C pressure transducer (Fig. 10).

(5) If equipped with the 2.4L Turbo engine, remove

the bolt that secures the A/C discharge line bracket
to the radiator.

(6) Remove the nut that secures the A/C discharge

line to the A/C condenser.

(7) Disconnect the A/C discharge line from the A/C

condenser and remove and discard the O-ring seal.

(8) Install plugs in, or tape over the discharge line

fitting and condenser inlet port.

Fig. 9 A/C Discharge Line-Description

1 - A/C DISCHARGE LINE
2 - A/C CONDENSER
3 - A/C PRESSURE TRANSDUCER

Fig. 10 A/C Discharge Line - A/C Condenser -

Typical

1 - NUT (2)
2 - BOLT (2)
3 - A/C CONDENSER
4 - A/C DISCHARGE LINE
5 - A/C LIQUID LINE
6 - A/C PRESSURE TRANSDUCER

PLUMBING

24 - 67

A/C CONDENSER (Continued)

(9) Remove the bolt that secures the A/C discharge

line to the A/C compressor (Fig. 11).

(10) Disconnect the A/C discharge line from the

A/C compressor and remove and discard the O-ring
seal.

(11) Install plugs in, or tape over the opened

refrigerant line fitting and the compressor port.

(12) Remove the A/C discharge line from the

engine compartment.

(13) If necessary, remove the A/C pressure trans-

ducer from the A/C discharge line.

INSTALLATION

(1) If removed, install the A/C pressure transducer

onto the A/C discharge line (Refer to 24 - HEATING
&

AIR

CONDITIONING/CONTROLS/A/C

PRES-

SURE TRANSDUCER - INSTALLATION).

(2) Position the A/C discharge line into the engine

compartment.

(3) Remove the tape or plugs from the opened fit-

ting on the A/C discharge line and the outlet port on
the A/C compressor.

(4) Lubricate a new O-ring seal with clean refrig-

erant oil and install it onto the discharge line fitting.
Use only the specified seal as it is made of a special
material for the R-134a system. Use only refrigerant
oil of the type recommended for the A/C compressor
in the vehicle.

(5) Install the A/C discharge line onto the A/C com-

pressor.

(6) Install the bolt that secures the A/C discharge

line to the A/C compressor. Tighten the bolt to 22
N·m (16 ft. lbs.).

(7) Remove the tape or plugs from the opened dis-

charge line fitting and the inlet port on the A/C con-
denser.

(8) Lubricate a new O-ring seal with clean refrig-

(9) Install the A/C discharge line onto the A/C con-

denser.

(10) Install the nut that secures the A/C discharge

line to the A/C condenser. Tighten the nut to 22 N·m
(16 ft. lbs.).

(11) If equipped with the 2.4L Turbo engine,

install the bolt that secure the discharge line bracket
to the radiator. Tighten the bolt securely.

(12) Connect the wire harness connector to the A/C

pressure transducer.

(13) Install the front fascia (Refer to 13 - FRAME

& BUMPERS/BUMPERS/FRONT FASCIA - INSTAL-
LATION).

(14) Reconnect the negative battery cable.
(15) Evacuate the refrigerant system (Refer to 24 -

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
STANDARD PROCEDURE - REFRIGERANT SYS-
TEM EVACUATE).

(16) Charge the refrigerant system (Refer to 24 -

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
STANDARD PROCEDURE - REFRIGERANT SYS-
TEM CHARGE).

Fig. 11 A/C Discharge Line - A/C compressor -

Typical

1 - A/C DISCHARGE LINE
2 - A/C SUCTION LINE
3 - A/C COMPRESSOR
4 - BOLT (4)

24 - 68

PLUMBING

A/C DISCHARGE LINE (Continued)

A/C EVAPORATOR

DESCRIPTION

The A/C evaporator (Fig. 12) for the heating-A/C

system is located within the HVAC housing, behind
the instrument panel. The A/C evaporator is posi-
tioned in the HVAC housing so that all air entering
the housing must pass over the evaporator fins
before it is distributed through the heating-A/C sys-
tem ducts and outlets. However, air passing over the
evaporator fins will only be conditioned when the A/C
compressor is engaged and circulating refrigerant
through the A/C evaporator.

The A/C evaporator tubes are connected and sealed

to the A/C expansion valve by use of rubber O-rings
and a tapping plate.

The A/C evaporator can only be serviced by remov-

ing and disassembling the HVAC housing.

OPERATION

Refrigerant enters the A/C evaporator from the A/C

expansion valve as a low-temperature, low-pressure
mixture of liquid and gas. As air flows over the fins
of the A/C evaporator, the humidity in the air con-
denses on the fins, and the heat from the air is
absorbed by the refrigerant. Heat absorption causes
the refrigerant to boil and vaporize. The refrigerant
becomes a low-pressure gas when it leaves the A/C
evaporator.

The A/C evaporator cannot be repaired and, if

faulty or damaged, it must be replaced.

REMOVAL

(1) Remove the HVAC housing (Refer to 24 -

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION/
HOUSING-HVAC - REMOVAL).

(2) Disassemble the HVAC housing as necessary to

access the A/C evaporator (Refer to 24 - HEATING &
AIR

CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION/HOUSING-

HVAC - DISASSEMBLY).

(3) Remove the evaporator temperature sensor

probe from the A/C evaporator (Fig. 13).

(4) Carefully lift the A/C evaporator and insulator

out of the lower half of the HVAC housing (Fig. 14).

(5) If required, remove the rubber seal from the

tapping plate of the A/C evaporator. If the seal is
deformed or damaged, it must be replaced.

INSTALLATION

NOTE: If the A/C evaporator is being replaced, add
60 milliliters (2 fluid ounces) of refrigerant oil to the
refrigerant system. Use only refrigerant oil of the
type recommended for the A/C compressor in the
vehicle.

(1) Install the A/C evaporator into the lower half of

the HVAC housing. Make sure that the evaporator
drain is clean and unrestricted and that the evapora-
tor insulator is properly installed.

NOTE: The A/C evaporator is manufactured with
three holes for evaporator temperature sensor
probe insertion. Always insert the probe into the
uppermost hole.

Fig. 12 A/C Evaporator

1 - A/C EVAPORATOR
2 - EVAPORATOR TUBE TAPPING PLATE

Fig. 13 Evaporator Temperature Sensor Probe

1 - EVAPORATOR TEMPERATURE SENSOR PROBE

PLUMBING

24 - 69

(2) Install

the

evaporator

temperature

sensor

probe into the A/C evaporator.

(3) Assemble the HVAC housing (Refer to 24 -

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION/
HVAC HOUSING - ASSEMBLY).

(4) Install the HVAC housing (Refer to 24 - HEAT-

ING & AIR CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION/HVAC
HOUSING - INSTALLATION).

A/C EXPANSION VALVE

DESCRIPTION

The A/C expansion valve (Fig. 15) controls the

amount of refrigerant entering the A/C evaporator
and is of a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV)
design. The A/C expansion valve consists of an alu-
minum H-valve type body with an integral thermal
sensor and is located at the dash panel between the
A/C refrigerant lines and the A/C evaporator.

OPERATION

The A/C expansion valve controls the high-pres-

sure, low temperature liquid refrigerant from the liq-
uid line and converts it into a low-pressure, low-
temperature mixture of liquid and gas before it
enters the A/C evaporator. A mechanical sensor in the
A/C expansion valve monitors the temperature and
pressure of the refrigerant leaving the A/C evapora-
tor through the suction line, and adjusts the orifice
size at the liquid line port to let the proper amount

of refrigerant into the A/C evaporator to meet the
vehicle A/C cooling requirements. Controlling the
refrigerant flow through the A/C evaporator ensures
that none of the refrigerant leaving the A/C evapora-
tor is still in a liquid state, which could damage the
A/C compressor.

The A/C expansion valve is factory calibrated and

cannot be adjusted or repaired and, if faulty or dam-
aged, it must be replaced.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

A/C EXPANSION VALVE

WARNING: Refer to the applicable warnings and
cautions for this system before performing the fol-
lowing operation (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR
CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - WARNINGS) and (Refer
to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING -
CAUTIONS). Failure to follow the warnings and cau-
tions could result in possible personal injury or
death.

NOTE: The A/C expansion valve should only be
tested following testing of the A/C compressor.

NOTE: Liquid CO

is required to test the A/C expan-

sion valve. This material is available from most
welding supply facilities. Liquid CO

is also avail-

able from companies which service and sell fire
extinguishers.

When testing the A/C expansion valve, the work

area and the vehicle temperature must be 21° to 27°
C (70° to 85° F). To test the expansion valve:

Fig. 14 A/C Evaporator

1 - A/C EVAPORATOR
2 - HVAC HOUSING (LOWER HALF)

Fig. 15 Expansion Valve-Description

1 - A/C EXPANSION VALVE
2 - THERMAL SENSOR

24 - 70

PLUMBING

A/C EVAPORATOR (Continued)

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