Acura RL (1996-2004 year). Manual - part 606

5. To complete the charts:

Mark the delivery temperature along the vertical line.
Mark the intake temperature (ambient air temperature) along the bottom line.
Draw a line straight up from the air temperature to the humidity.
Mark a point one line above and one line below the humidity level (10% above and 10% below the humidity level).
From each point, draw a horizontal line across the delivery temperature.

The delivery temperature should fall between the two lines.

Complete the low side pressure test and high side pressure test in the same way.

Any measurements outside the line may indicate the need for further inspection.

DELIVERY
PRESSURE

DELIVERY
TEMPERATURE

HUMIDITY
LEVEL

DELIVERY

TEMPERATURE

INTAKE TEMPERATURE

INTAKE
PRESSURE

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A/C System Service

Pressure Test Chart

NOTE: Performance Test is on page

22-76

Test results

Discharge (high)
pressure abnor-
mally high

Discharge pres-
sure abnormally

low

Suction (low)
pressure abnor-
mally low

Suction pres-
sure abnormally
high

Suction and dis-
charge pres-
sures abnormally

high

Suction and dis-
charge pressure
abnormally low

Refrigerant leaks

Related symptoms

After stopping compressor, pres-

sure drops to about 200 kPa
(2.0 kgf/cm

, 28 psi) quickly, and

then falls gradually.

Reduced or no air flow through

condenser

Line to condenser is excessively

hot.

High and low pressures are bal-
anced soon after stopping compres-
sor. Low side is higher than normal.

Outlet of expansion valve is not
frosted, low-pressure gauge indi-
cates vacuum.

Expansion valve is not frosted, and
low-pressure line is not cold. Low-
pressure gauge indicates vacuum.

Discharge temperature is low, and

the air flow from vents is restricted.

Expansion valve is frosted.

Receiver/dryer outlet is cool, and
inlet is warm (should be warm
during operation).

Low-pressure hose and check

joint are cooler than the tempera-
ture around evaporator.

Suction pressure is lowered when
condenser is cooled by water.

High and low pressure are equal-
ized as soon as the compressor is
stopped, and both gauges fluctu-
ate while running.

Reduced air flow through con-
denser.

Low-pressure hose and metal end
areas are cooler than evaporator.

Temperature around expansion
valve is too low compared with
that around receiver/dryer.

Compressor clutch is dirty.

Compressor bolt(s) are dirty.

Compressor gasket is wet with oil.

Probable cause

Air in system

• Clogged condenser or

radiator fins

• Condenser or radiator fan

not working properly

Restricted flow of refriger-
ant in system

• Faulty compressor dis-

charge valve

• Faulty compressor seal

• Faulty expansion valve
• Moisture in system

• Frozen expansion valve
• Faulty expansion valve

Frozen evaporator

Clogged expansion valve

Clogged receiver/dryer

• Expansion valve open too

long

• Loose expansion capillary

tube

Excessive refrigerant in sys-

tem

• Faulty gasket
• Faulty high-pressure valve
• Foreign particle stuck in

high-pressure valve

• Clogged condenser or

radiator fins

• Condenser or radiator fan

not working properly

Clogged or kinked low-
pressure hose parts

Clogged high-pressure line

Compressor shaft seal leaking

Leaking around bolt(s)

Gasket leaking

Remedy

Recover, evacuate, and
recharge with specified amount.
Evacuation: see page

22-88

Charging: see page

22-89

• Clean.
• Check voltage and fan rpm.
• Check fan direction.

Restricted lines

Replace the compressor.

• Replace.
• Recover, evacuate, and

recharge with specified amount.

Replace the expansion valve.

Run the fan with compressor
off, then check evaporator

temperature sensor.

Clean or replace.

Replace.

Repair or replace.

Recover, evacuate, and
recharge with specified amount.

Replace the compressor.

• Clean condenser and radia-

tor.

• Check voltage and fan rpm.
• Check fan direction.

Repair or replace.

Replace the compressor.

Tighten bolt(s) or replace com-

pressor.

Replace the compressor.

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Compressor

Replacement

1. If the compressor is marginally operable, run the

engine at idle speed, and let the air conditioner
work for a few minutes, then shut the engine off.

2. Make sure you have the anti-theft code for the radio,

then write down the frequencies for the radio's pre-
set buttons.

3. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery.

4. Recover the refrigerant with a recovery/recycling/

charging station (see page

22-75

5. Loosen the A/C compressor belt (see page

22-85

A/C COMPRESSOR BELT

6. Remove the nuts, then disconnect the suction line

and the discharge line from the compressor.

NOTE: Plug or cap the lines immediately after dis-

connecting them to avoid moisture and dust con-

tamination.

SUCTION LINE

DISCHARGE LINE

6 x 1.0 mm

9.8 N-m (1.0 kgf-m,
7 Ibf-ft)

7. Remove the mounting bolts and the compressor.

8 x 1.25 mm

22 N-m (2.2 kgf-m, 16 Ibf-ft)

8. Remove the bolts and the suction service valve

from the compressor.

25.5 N-m (2.6 kgf-m, 18.8 Ibf-ft)

SUCTION SERVICE
VALVE

O-RING

Replace.

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Table of Contents

Compressor

Replacement (cont'd)

9. Remove the mounting bolts and the idler pulley.

IDLER PULLEY

MOUNTING BOLTS

10. Check the idler pulley bearing for play and drag.

Replace it with a new one if it's noisy or has exces-
sive play or drag.

ADJUSTING
BOLT

IDLER
PULLEY

CENTER
BOLT

10 x 1.25 mm
44 N-m (4.5 kgf-m, 33 Ibf-ft)

11. Install in the reverse order of removal. Make note of

the following items.

If you're installing a new compressor, drain all

the refrigerant oil from the removed compressor,

and measure its volume. Subtract the volume of
drained oil from 140 m (4 2/3 fl-oz, 4.9 Imp-oz);

the result is the amount of oil you should drain
from the new compressor (through the suction
fitting).

Replace the O-rings with new ones at each fitting,
and apply a thin coat of refrigerant oil before
installing them.
NOTE: Be sure to use the right O-rings for HFC-
134a (R-134a) to avoid leakage.
Use refrigerant oil (ND-OIL 8) for R-134a DENSO
piston type compressors only.

To avoid contamination, do not return the oil to
the container once dispensed, and never mix it
with other refrigerant oils.

Immediately after using the oil, reinstall the cap
on the container, and seal it to avoid moisture
absorption.
Do not spill the refrigerant oil on the vehicle; it
may damage the paint; if the refrigerant oil con-

tacts the paint, wash it off immediately.
Adjust the A/C compressor belt (see page

22-85

Charge the system (see page

22-89

), and test its

performance (see page

22-76

The PCM memory must be reset after reconnect-

ing the battery (see page

11-125

Enter the anti-theft code for the radio, then enter

the customer's radio station presets.

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