Air Conditioning (A/C) System Performance Test. Saturn SKY 2008

For 1990-2009 cars only

Makes 🢒 Saturn 🢒 2008 🢒 SKY 🢒 HVAC 🢒 Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning 🢒 Air Conditioning (A/C) System Performance Test

Air Conditioning (A/C) System Performance Test LE5

Table 1:

A/C Performance Table

This test measures the operating efficiency of the A/C system under the following conditions:

•	The current ambient air temperature

•	The current relative humidity

•	The high side pressure of the A/C system

•	The low side pressure of the A/C system

•	The temperature of the air being discharged into the passenger compartment

Test Description

The numbers below refer to the step numbers on the diagnostic table.

This step determines if the A/C system has at least the minimum refrigerant charge required to operate the system without damage.

This step measures the performance of the A/C system.

This step is to allow for vehicle variations as well as high ambient temperatures.

Step

Action

Values

Yes

Important:

•	The ambient air temperature must be at least 16°C (60°F) .

•	Do not induce additional air flow across the front of the vehicle during the test.

•	If you were sent here from a DTC diagnostic table, clear the DTC upon completion of this test.

Park the vehicle inside or in the shade.
Open the windows in order to ventilate the interior of the vehicle.
If the A/C system was operating, allow the A/C system to equalize for about 2 minutes.
Turn OFF the ignition.
Install the J 43600 ACR 2000 Air Conditioning Service Center.
Record the ambient air temperature displayed on the J 43600 .
Record the low and high side STATIC pressure readings.

Are both the low side and high side pressures within the specified value?

More than 16°C (60°F) - 345 kPa (50 psi)

More than 24°C (75°F) - 483 kPa (70 psi)

More than 33°C (90°F) - 690 kPa (100 psi)

Go to Step 2

Go to Leak Testing

Important: Record the relative humidity and the ambient air temperature at the time of the test.

Close the vehicle doors and windows.
Open the drivers door window 12.7-15.2 cm (5-6 in).
Select the following HVAC control settings:

•	The A/C is ON.

•	The coldest temperature setting

•	The maximum blower speed

•	Recirculation mode

•	The I/P panel outlet mode

•	All I/P panel outlets are OPEN.

Install the temperature probes of the J 43600 in the left and right center panel air outlets.
Apply the parking brake.
Place the transaxle/transmission in one of the following positions:

•	PARK (Automatic)

•	NEUTRAL (Manual)

Start the engine and warm to operating temperature.
Operate the A/C system for 5 minutes.
Inspect A/C components for the following conditions:

•	Abnormal frost areas

•	Unusual noises

Important: Press the RESET button, before using the print function of the J 43600 .

Print the following information:

•	The panel outlet air temperatures

•	The low-side pressure

•	The high-side pressure

Compare the low and high side pressures and the panel output temperatures to the A/C Performance Table below.

Does all the data recorded fall within the specified ranges of the A/C Performance Table below?

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 3

If the pressures and temperatures recorded do not fall within the specified ranges:

Continue to operate the A/C system for an additional 5 minutes.
RESET the J 43600 and record the pressures and temperatures again.
Compare the low and high side pressures and the panel output temperature to the table below.

Does all the data recorded fall within the specified ranges of the table below?

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 4

Do the high and low side pressures fall within the specified ranges, but the panel outlet temperatures do not?

Go to Air Conditioning (A/C) Diagnostics - Pressure Zone A

Go to Step 5

Is the low side pressure greater than the specified range, but the high side pressure within or less than the specified range?

Go to Air Conditioning (A/C) Diagnostics - Pressure Zone B

Go to Step 6

Are the low and high side pressures both greater than the specified ranges?

Go to Air Conditioning (A/C) Diagnostics - Pressure Zone C

Go to Step 7

Is the high side pressure greater than the specified range, but the low side pressure is within or less than the specified range?

Go to Air Conditioning (A/C) Diagnostics - Pressure Zone D

Go to Step 8

Operate the system in order to verify the test results.

Did you find the same results?

System OK

Go to Symptoms - HVAC Systems - Manual

A/C System Pressure - Zone Classification

A/C Performance Table

Ambient Temperature	Relative Humidity	Low Side Service Port Pressure	High Side Service Port Pressure	Maximum Left Center Discharge Air Temperature
13-18°C (55-65°F)	0-100%	151-220 kPa (22-32 psi)	578-888 kPa (84-129 psi)	5°C (41°F)
19-24°C (66-75°F)	Below 40%	151-241 kPa (22-35 psi)	799-1157 kPa (116-168 psi)	8°C (45°F)
19-24°C (66-75°F)	Above 40%	165-261 kPa (24-38 psi)	813-1191 kPa(118-173 psi)	9°C (48°F)
25-29°C (76-85°F)	Below 35%	192-275 kPa (28-40 psi)	1061-1378 kPa (154-200 psi)	10°C (50°F)
	35-50%	199-282 kPa (29-41 psi)	1067-1398 kPa (155-203 psi)	12°C (52°F)
	Above 50%	206-296 kPa (30-43 psi)	1088-1440 kPa (158-209 psi)	13°C (54°F)
30-35°C (86-95°F)	Below 30%	227-310 kPa (33-45 psi)	1267-1632 kPa (184-237 psi)	13°C (55°F)
	30-50%	234-316 kPa (34-46 psi)	1288-1667 kPa (187-242 psi)	14°C (57°F)
	Above 50%	241-330 kPa (35-48 psi)	1322-1729 kPa (192-251 psi)	15°C (59°F)
36-41°C (96-105°F)	Below 20%	261-351 kPa (38-51 psi)	1508-1867 kPa (219-271 psi)	17°C (61°F)
	20-40%	268-351 kPa (39-51 psi)	1529-1929 kPa (222-280 psi)	18°C (63°F)
	Above 40%	275-358 kPa (40-52 psi)	1570-1977 kPa (228-287 psi)	18°C (64°F)
42-46°C (106-115°F)	Below 20%	310-385 kPa (45-56 psi)	1770-2087 kPa (257-303 psi)	19°C (66°F)
42-46°C (106-115°F)	Above 20%	310-385 kPa (45-56 psi)	1791-2149 kPa (260-312 psi)	20°C (68°F)
47-49°C (116-120°F)	Below 30%	344-420 kPa (50-61 psi)	2011-2342 kPa (292-340 psi)	23°C (72°F)

Air Conditioning (A/C) System Performance Test LNF

Table 1:

A/C Performance Table

This test measures the operating efficiency of the A/C system under the following conditions:

•	The current ambient air temperature

•	The current relative humidity

•	The high side pressure of the A/C system

•	The low side pressure of the A/C system

•	The temperature of the air being discharged into the passenger compartment

Test Description

The numbers below refer to the step numbers on the diagnostic table.

This step determines if the A/C system has at least the minimum refrigerant charge required to operate the system without damage.

This step measures the performance of the A/C system.

This step is to allow for vehicle variations as well as high ambient temperatures.

Step

Action

Values

Yes

Important:

•	The ambient air temperature must be at least 16°C (60°F) .

•	Do not induce additional air flow across the front of the vehicle during the test.

•	If you were sent here from a DTC diagnostic table, clear the DTC upon completion of this test.

Park the vehicle inside or in the shade.
Open the windows in order to ventilate the interior of the vehicle.
If the A/C system was operating, allow the A/C system to equalize for about 2 minutes.
Turn OFF the ignition.
Install the J 43600 ACR 2000 Air Conditioning Service Center.
Record the ambient air temperature displayed on the J 43600 .
Record the low and high side STATIC pressure readings.

Are both the low side and high side pressures within the specified value?

More than 16°C (60°F) - 345 kPa (50 psi)

More than 24°C (75°F) - 483 kPa (70 psi)

More than 33°C (90°F) - 690 kPa (100 psi)

Go to Step 2

Go to Leak Testing

Important: Record the relative humidity and the ambient air temperature at the time of the test.

Close the vehicle doors and windows.
Open the drivers door window 12.7-15.2 cm (5-6 in).
Select the following HVAC control settings:

•	The A/C is ON.

•	The coldest temperature setting

•	The maximum blower speed

•	Recirculation mode

•	The I/P panel outlet mode

•	All I/P panel outlets are OPEN.

Install the temperature probes of the J 43600 in the left and right center panel air outlets.
Apply the parking brake.
Place the transaxle/transmission in one of the following positions:

•	PARK (Automatic)

•	NEUTRAL (Manual)

Start the engine and warm to operating temperature.
Operate the A/C system for 5 minutes.
Inspect A/C components for the following conditions:

•	Abnormal frost areas

•	Unusual noises

Important: Press the RESET button, before using the print function of the J 43600 .

Print the following information:

•	The panel outlet air temperatures

•	The low-side pressure

•	The high-side pressure

Compare the low and high side pressures and the panel output temperatures to the A/C Performance Table below.

Does all the data recorded fall within the specified ranges of the A/C Performance Table below?

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 3

If the pressures and temperatures recorded do not fall within the specified ranges:

Continue to operate the A/C system for an additional 5 minutes.
RESET the J 43600 and record the pressures and temperatures again.
Compare the low and high side pressures and the panel output temperature to the table below.

Does all the data recorded fall within the specified ranges of the table below?

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 4

Do the high and low side pressures fall within the specified ranges, but the panel outlet temperatures do not?

Go to Air Conditioning (A/C) Diagnostics - Pressure Zone A

Go to Step 5

Is the low side pressure greater than the specified range, but the high side pressure within or less than the specified range?

Go to Air Conditioning (A/C) Diagnostics - Pressure Zone B

Go to Step 6

Are the low and high side pressures both greater than the specified ranges?

Go to Air Conditioning (A/C) Diagnostics - Pressure Zone C

Go to Step 7

Is the high side pressure greater than the specified range, but the low side pressure is within or less than the specified range?

Go to Air Conditioning (A/C) Diagnostics - Pressure Zone D

Go to Step 8

Operate the system in order to verify the test results.

Did you find the same results?

System OK

Go to Symptoms - HVAC Systems - Manual

A/C System Pressure - Zone Classification

A/C Performance Table

Ambient Temperature	Relative Humidity	Low Side Service Port Pressure	High Side Service Port Pressure	Maximum Left Center Discharge Air Temperature
13-18°C (55-65°F)	0-100%	151-220 kPa (22-32 psi)	937-1398 kPa (136-203 psi)	8°C (46°F)
19-24°C (66-75°F)	Below 40%	151-227 kPa (22-33 psi)	1012-1467 kPa (147-213 psi)	9°C (48°F)
19-24°C (66-75°F)	Above 40%	151-254 kPa (22-37 psi)	1136-1619 kPa (165-235 psi)	10°C (50°F)
25-29°C (76-85°F)	Below 35%	165-248 kPa (24-36 psi)	1288-1660 kPa (187-241 psi)	12°C (52°F)
	35-50%	179-261 kPa (26-38 psi)	1371-1708 kPa (199-248 psi)	13°C (54°F)
	Above 50%	192-282 kPa (28-41 psi)	1433-1798 kPa (208-261 psi)	13°C (55°F)
30-35°C (86-95°F)	Below 30%	192-275 kPa (28-40 psi)	1508-1887 kPa (219-274 psi)	14°C (57°F)
	30-50%	206-289 kPa (30-42 psi)	1557-1949 kPa (226-283 psi)	15°C (59°F)
	Above 50%	220-310 kPa (32-45 psi)	1632-2018 kPa (237-293 psi)	17°C (61°F)
36-41°C (96-105°F)	Below 20%	227-303 kPa (33-44 psi)	1756-2129 kPa (255-309 psi)	18°C (63°F)
	20-40%	234-316 kPa (34-46 psi)	1791-2156 kPa (260-313 psi)	18°C (63°F)
	Above 40%	241-323 kPa (35-47 psi)	1839-2197 kPa (267-319 psi)	19°C (65°F)
42-46°C (106-115°F)	Below 20%	261-337 kPa (38-49 psi)	2032-2342 kPa (295-340 psi)	20°C (67°F)
42-46°C (106-115°F)	Above 20%	268-344 kPa (39-50 psi)	2053-2370 kPa (298-344 psi)	21°C (69°F)
47-49°C (116-120°F)	Below 30%	296-365 kPa (43-53 psi)	2259-2569 kPa (328-373 psi)	23°C (73°F)