Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual: Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit using leak detecting system -VAS 6196- or leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or a later model

Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual / Air conditioning system with refrigerant R134a / Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit / Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit using leak detecting system -VAS 6196- or leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or a later model

Note

Small leaks can be detected with, for example, an UV leak detector additive.

–	Evacuate refrigerant circuit using an air conditioner service station → Chapter.

Note

If a larger leak is detected during the evacuation process, determine cause and rectify as described → Chapter.

If during the evacuation process no leak is detected or a very small leak is detected that but cannot be located, proceed as follows → Chapter.

Refrigerant gas is quickly dispersed by air motion. Therefore drafts must be avoided during a search for leaks.

If the refrigerant circuit is completely empty, charge with about 10% of refrigerant capacity (sticker R134a or vehicle-specific workshop manual).

Leak detecting system -VAS 6196-

Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit using leak detecting system -VAS 6196- or leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or a later model

Leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or later model

1 -	Hand pump with low-pressure service hose, service coupling and non-return valve -VAS 6201/1-

2 -	Cartridge -VAS 6201/2-

3 -	Cleaning solution -VAS 6201/3-

4 -	UV leakage detector lamp -VAS 6201/4-

5 -	UV absorbing eye protection -VAS 6201/6-

6 -	Label -VAS 6201/7-

7 -	TubeVAS 6201/8

8 -	Protective gloves -VAS 6201/9-

Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit using leak detecting system -VAS 6196- or leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or a later model

Injecting leak detecting additive to an empty refrigerant circuit

The cartridge -A- contains 15.4 ml of leak detecting additive (one unit -B- equates to 2.5 ml).

Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit using leak detecting system -VAS 6196- or leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or a later model

–	Assemble hand pump -VAS 6201- item -1- and cartridge item -2--VAS 6201/2-.

–	Connect filler hose -VAS 6201/8- ( → Anchor item -7-) to hand pump.

–	Open service valve of hand pump.

Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit using leak detecting system -VAS 6196- or leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or a later model

The leak detecting additive can be injected into the empty refrigerant circuit via an open circuit connection.

–	Open an easily assessable connection in the refrigerant circuit.

–	Cover area of connection with foil or absorbent paper.

–	Hold tube upwards

–	Turn T-bar of hand pump until the leak detecting additive flows out of the tube.

–	Inject 2.5 ± 0.5 ml (millilitre = cm³) of leak detecting additive into the refrigerant circuit.

Note

Note the following, if a leak detecting additive has been injected during a previous repair of the refrigerant circuit, only inject new leak detecting additive if the refrigerant machine oil has been replaced. If only some of the refrigerant machine oil was replaced then only the respective amount of leak detecting additive should be injected. If for example 100 ml of machine oil was replaced on a vehicle with 250 ml of refrigerant machine oil, inject only 1 ml (cm³) of leak detecting additive.

–	Renew O-rings at opened connection.

–	Reassemble refrigerant circuit again.

–	Attach a label, close to the service connection, which has information showing that the refrigerant circuit has been injected with a leak detecting additive.

–	Evacuate and fill the refrigerant circuit as per specifications → Chapter and → Chapter.

–	Start air conditioning system.

Note

The air conditioning system must be operated for at least 60 minutes to ensure that the injected leak detecting additive is distributed throughout the entire refrigerant circuit (air conditioner compressor must run). The leak may become visible after a short period, but this depends on the size of the leak.

–	Use UV lamp VAS 6196/4 to search for the leak in the refrigerant circuit → Anchor.

Note

Using cleaning solution -VAS 6201/3-, clean the engine compartment and, if necessary, the components of the refrigerant circuit, to remove leak detection additive residue left from the repair work.

Injecting leak detecting additive to a charged refrigerant circuit

Note

A small amount of leak detecting additive remains in the service connection. Carefully remove the remains as this will help to prevent these remains being falsely identified as a leak when leak detection is carried out in the future.

Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit using leak detecting system -VAS 6196- or leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or a later model

The cartridge -A- contains 15.4 ml of leak detecting additive (one unit -B- equates to 2.5 ml).

Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit using leak detecting system -VAS 6196- or leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or a later model

–	Switch off ignition.

–	Remove sealing cap from service connection on low-pressure side of refrigerant circuit.

–	Assemble hand pump -VAS 6201- item -1- and cartridge item -2--VAS 6201/2-.

Note

Ensure the hose of the hand pump is completely filled with leak detecting additive.

–	Fit the quick release coupling to the service connection of the low-pressure side and open the service coupling by turning the hand wheel. Hold hose upwards and turn T-bar of hand pump until the leak detecting additive starts to flow out of the tube.

Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit using leak detecting system -VAS 6196- or leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or a later model

–	Cover area of service connection on vehicle with foil or absorbent paper.

–	Turn T-bar of hand pump and inject 2.5 ± 0.5 ml (millilitre = cm³) of leak detecting additive into the refrigerant circuit.

Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit using leak detecting system -VAS 6196- or leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or a later model

–	Close the service coupling and remove it from the service connection.

–	Remove the remains of the leak detecting additive from the service connection, with for example, absorbent paper.

–	Seal service connection using sealing cap.

–	If necessary, clean the area of the service connection using the cleaning solution.

–	Attach a label, close to the service connection, which has information showing that the refrigerant circuit has been injected with a leak detecting additive.

–	Start air conditioning system.

Note

–	Use UV lamp VAS 6196/4 to search for the leak in the refrigerant circuit → Anchor.

Note

Using cleaning solution -VAS 6201/3-, clean the engine compartment and, if necessary, the components of the refrigerant circuit, to remove leak detection additive residue left from the repair work.

Searching for leaks in the refrigerant circuit using UV lamp VAS 6196/4

WARNING

Do not look into the UV lamp.

Do not point the UV lamp at another person.

Note

For leaks on the evaporator, the additive can wash off with the condensed water and leak out from the condensed water drain-off. As the evaporator is not accessible on the majority of models without a great amount of pre-preparation, a check of the condensed water drain point can indicate a leaking evaporator. The additive must have been in the refrigerant circuit for a long time to make this possible.

The eye protect is not only required to protect the eyes, it also amplifies the illumination of the additive under the UV lamp.

Independent of the accessibility to the various components of the refrigerant circuit, it may become necessary to remove certain components from the vehicle (e.g. bumper or air filter).

Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit using leak detecting system -VAS 6196- or leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or a later model

–	Position the vehicle in a darker area of the workshop (in daylight or under strong lighting the effect of the UV lamp is greatly reduced).

–	Check the accessibility to the various components of the refrigerant circuit and remove components in the vicinity of the refrigerant circuit that obstruct the view of the respective circuit components (e.g. sound insulation and bumper).

–	Protect eyes with protective glasses.

–	Connect UV lamp to a 12 V battery (vehicle battery). Ensure that it is connected to the correct terminals.

–	Switch on UV lamp and illuminate components of the refrigerant circuit. Locations where leaking refrigerant along with refrigerant oil and leak detecting additive can leak out, light-up (fluorinate) under UV light.

Note

The leak detection additive can be allowed to remain in the refrigerant circuit.

Using cleaning solution -VAS 6201/3-, clean the engine compartment and, if necessary, the components of the refrigerant circuit, to remove leak detection additive residue left from the repair work.

Detecting leaks in refrigerant circuit using leak detecting system -VAS 6196- or leak detecting system -VAS 6201- or a later model

Searching for leaks in refrigerant circuits using leak detector -V.A.G 1796

Note Small leaks can be detected with, for example, an electronic leak detector. – Evacuate refrigerant circuit using an ...

Clearing refrigerant circuit of contaminants

...

Other materials:

Removing and installing lock cylinder
Removing and installing lock cylinder Special tools and workshop equipment required Note The removal and installation sequence is only for the left lock ...

Removing and installing rear side airbag crash sensor -G256-/-G257-
Removing WARNING Observe safety instructions for pyrotechnic components → Chapter. ...

Switching over headlights for driving abroad (travel mode)
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings If you have to drive a right-hand drive vehicle in a left-hand drive country, or vice versa, the asymmetric dipped beam headlights may dazzle oncoming traffic with xenon headlights. Therefore, the headlights must be sw ...