GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Table 1: R-134A Pressure-Temperature Relationship
Table 2: A/C Performance Chart

If you suspect a problem in the refrigerant system, check for the following conditions:

  1. Check the outer surfaces of the radiator and the condenser cores to be sure that the airflow is not blocked by dirt, leaves, or other foreign material. Check between the condenser and the radiator, as well as all outer surfaces.
  2. Check for restrictions or kinks in the condenser core, the hoses, and the tubes.
  3. Check the operation of the blower fan.
  4. Check all the air ducts for leaks or restrictions. A low airflow rate may indicate a restricted evaporator core.
  5. Check for slippage of the compressor clutch.
  6. Check the drive belt tension.

Insufficient Cooling QUICK CHECK Procedure

Perform the following hand-feel procedure to get a quick idea of whether the air conditioning (A/C) system has the proper charge of Refrigerant-134a.

  1. Warm up the engine. Run the engine at idle.
  2. Open the hood and all the doors.
  3. Turn the A/C switch ON.
  4. Set the temperature control to the full cold position.
  5. Set the blower speed switch on 4.
  6. Hand-feel the temperature of the evaporator outlet pipe. The pipe should be cold.
  7. Check for other problems.
  8. Leak check the system. Refer to Leak Testing . If you find a leak, discharge the system and repair the leak as required. After completing the repair, evacuate and charge the system.
  9. If there is no leak, refer to Too Hot in Vehicle .

R-134A Pressure-Temperature Relationship

°C

°F

kPa

psig*

°C

°F

kPa

psig*

-8.89

16

105.70

15.33

37.78

100

856.84

124.27

-7.78

18

114.87

16.66

38.89

102

886.56

128.58

-6.67

20

124.32

18.03

40.00

104

916.35

132.98

-5.56

22

134.11

19.45

41.11

106

947.92

137.48

-4.44

24

144.24

20.92

42.22

108

979.64

142.08

-3.33

26

154.65

22.43

43.33

110

1012.11

146.79

-2.22

28

165.48

24.00

44.44

112

1045.21

151.59

-1.11

30

176.65

25.62

45.56

114

1079.14

156.51

0.00

32

188.16

27.29

46.67

116

1113.75

161.53

1.11

34

200.02

29.01

47.78

118

1149.12

166.66

2.22

36

212.30

30.79

48.89

120

1185.18

171.89

3.33

38

224.98

32.63

50.00

122

1222.07

177.24

4.44

40

238.08

34.53

51.11

124

1259.72

182.70

7.22

45

272.49

39.52

52.22

126

1298.12

188.27

10.00

50

309.58

44.90

53.33

128

1337.35

193.96

12.77

55

349.51

50.69

54.44

130

1377.35

199.76

15.56

60

392.33

56.90

57.22

135

1480.91

214.78

18.33

65

438.18

63.55

60.00

140

1589.57

230.54

21.11

70

487.27

70.67

62.78

145

1703.62

247.08

23.89

75

539.67

78.27

65.56

150

1823.04

264.40

26.67

80

609.38

88.38

68.33

155

1948.04

282.53

29.44

85

655.09

95.01

71.11

160

2078.77

301.49

322.22

90

718.39

104.19

73.89

165

2215.29

321.29

35.00

95

785.61

113.94

76.67

170

2357.81

341.96

* All values rounded to two decimal places.

Evaporator Range: From -6.67 to +7.22°C (+20 to +45°F), the temperatures represent the gas temperatures inside the coil and not on the coil surfaces. Add 1.67-5.56°C (3-10°F) the temperature for coil and air-off temperatures.

Condenser Range: From 110-160°F, to temperatures are not ambient. Add 19.4-22.2°C (35-40°F) for proper heat transfer, then refer to the A/C Performance Chart.

A/C Performance Chart

Relative Humidity

Ambient Air Temperature

Low Side Pressure

Engine Speed

Center Duct Air Temperature

High Side Pressure

20%

21°C (69.8°F)

110 kPa (16.0 psi)

2000 RPM

8.3°C (46.9°F)

1420 kPa (205.9 psi)

27°C (80.6°F)

170 kPa (24.7 psi)

10.3°C (50.5°F)

1730 kPa (250.9 psi)

32°C (89.6°F)

200 kPa (29.0 psi)

13.1°C (55.6°F)

2060 kPa (298.8 psi)

38°C (100.4°F)

220 kPa (31.9 psi)

16.5°C (61.7°F)

2110 kPa (306.0 psi)

30%

21°C (69.8°F)

110 kPa (16.0 psi)

2000 RPM

8.3°C (46.9°F)

1430 kPa (207.4 psi)

27°C (80.6°F)

180 kPa (26.1 psi)

11.3°C (52.3°F)

1780 kPa (258.2 psi)

32°C (89.6°F)

210 kPa (30.5 psi)

14.3°C (57.7°F)

2090 kPa (303.1 psi)

38°C (100.4°F)

230 kPa (33.4 psi)

18.5°C (65.3°F)

2280 kPa (330.7 psi)

40%

21°C (69.8°F)

120 kPa (17.4 psi)

2000 RPM

8.4°C (47.1°F)

1430 kPa (207.4 psi)

27°C (80.6°F)

180 kPa (26.1 psi)

12.3°C (54.1°F)

1820 kPa (264.0 psi)

32°C (89.6°F)

210 kPa (30.5 psi)

15.4°C (59.7°F)

2170 kPa (314.7 psi)

38°C (100.4°F)

240 kPa (34.8 psi)

20.8°C (69.4°F)

2390 kPa (346.6 psi)

50%

21°C (69.8°F)

120 kPa (17.4 psi)

2000 RPM

8.4°C (47.1°F)

1450 kPa (210.3 psi)

27°C (80.6°F)

190 kPa (27.6 psi)

13.3°C (55.9°F)

1860 kPa (269.8 psi)

32°C (89.6°F)

230 kPa (33.4 psi)

17.1°C (62.8°F)

2280 kPa (330.7 psi)

38°C (100.4°F)

250 kPa (36.3 psi)

22.9°C (73.2°F)

2490 kPa (361.1 psi)

60%

21°C (69.8°F)

130 kPa (18.9 psi)

2000 RPM

8.5°C (47.3°F)

1460 kPa (211.7 psi)

27°C (80.6°F)

200 kPa (29.0 psi)

14.0°C (57.2°F)

1920 kPa (278.5 psi)

32°C (89.6°F)

230 kPa (33.4 psi)

18.0°C (64.4°F)

2330 kPa (337.9 psi)

38°C (100.4°F)

250 kPa (36.3 psi)

24.9°C (76.8°F)

2520 kPa (365.5 psi)

70%

21°C (69.8°F)

140 kPa (20.3 psi)

2000 RPM

8.5°C (47.3°F)

1480 kPa (214.6 psi)

27°C (80.6°F)

210 kPa (30.5 psi)

15.3°C (59.5°F)

1970 kPa (285.7 psi)

32°C (89.6°F)

240 kPa (34.8 psi)

19.3°C (66.7°F)

2360 kPa (342.3 psi)

38°C (100.4°F)

250 kPa (36.3 psi)

26.7°C (80.1°F)

2590 kPa (375.6 psi)

80%

21°C (69.8°F)

140 kPa (20.3 psi)

2000 RPM

9.4°C (48.9°F)

1510 kPa (219.0 psi)

27°C (80.6°F)

220 kPa (31.9 psi)

16.1°C (61.0°F)

2000 kPa (290.1 psi)

32°C (89.6°F)

240 kPa (34.8 psi)

20.4°C (68.7°F)

2420 kPa (351.0 psi)

90%

21°C (69.8°F)

160 kPa (23.2 psi)

2000 RPM

11.5°C (52.7°F)

1590 kPa (230.6 psi)

27°C (80.6°F)

220 kPa (31.9 psi)

17.1°C (62.8°F)

2050 kPa (297.3 psi)

32°C (89.6°F)

250 kPa (36.3 psi)

21.7°C (71.1°F)

2470 kPa (358.2 psi)