GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Cadillac 🢒 2001 🢒 Catera 🢒 HVAC 🢒 Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning 🢒 Air Conditioning (A/C) System Performance Test
Table 1: A/C Performance Table

Test Description

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

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

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

    2.

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

    3.

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

Step

Action

Values

Yes

No

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.

1

  1. Park the vehicle inside or in the shade.
  2. Open the windows in order to ventilate the interior of the vehicle.
  3. If the A/C system was operating, allow the A/C system to equalize for about 2 minutes.
  4. Turn OFF the ignition.
  5. Install the J 43600 .
  6. Record the ambient air temperature displayed on the J 43600 .
  7. 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

2

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

  1. Close the vehicle doors and windows.
  2. Open the drivers door window 5-6 inches.
  3. Select the following HVAC control settings:
  4. Install the temperature probes of the J 43600 in the left and right center A/C air outlets.
  5. Apply the parking brake.
  6. Place the transaxle/transmission in one of the following positions:
    7. • PARK (Automatic)
    • NEUTRAL (Manual)
  7. Start the engine.
  8. Operate the A/C system for 5 minutes.
  9. Inspect A/C components for the following conditions:
    10. • Abnormal frost areas
    • Unusual noises

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

  10. Print the following information:
    11. • The outlet air temperatures
    • The low-side pressure
    • The high-side pressure
  11. Compare the low and high side pressures and the output temperatures to the table below.

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

--

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 3

3

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

  1. Continue to operate the A/C system for an additional 5 minutes.
  2. RESET the J 43600 and record the pressures and temperatures again.
  3. Compare the low and high side pressures and the 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

4

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

--

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

Go to Step 5

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

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

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

8

Operate the system in order to verify the test results.

Did you find the same results?

--

System OK

Go to Symptoms - HVAC Systems - Automatic

A/C System Pressure - Zone Classification
Object Number: 691237 Size: MF

A/C Performance Table

Ambient Air Temperature

Relative Humidity

Service Port Pressure

Maximum Left Center Discharge Air Temperature

Low Side

High Side

13-18°C (55-65°F)

0-100%

175-216 kPa (25-31 psi)

680-840 kPa (99-122 psi)

10°C (50°F)

19-23°C (66-75°F)

Less than 40%

175-245 kPa (25-36 psi)

920-1140 kPa (134-166 psi)

12°C (54°F)

Greater than 40%

176-256 kPa (26-37 psi)

850-1100 kPa (123-160 psi)

13°C (55°F)

24-29°C (76-85°F)

Less than 35%

198-267 kPa (29-39 psi)

1080-1310 kPa (157-190 psi)

14°C (57°F)

35-60%

203-272 kPa (30-40 psi)

1060-1310 kPa (154-190 psi)

14°C (57°F)

Greater than 60%

207-281 kPa (30-41 psi)

1050-1310 kPa (152-190 psi)

15°C (59°F)

30-35°C (86-95°F)

Less than 30%

221-294 kPa (32-43 psi)

1230-1510 kPa (179-219 psi)

16°C (61°F)

30-50%

226-301 kPa (33-44 psi)

1230-1530 kPa (179-222 psi)

17°C (63°F)

Greater than 50%

232-311 kPa (34-45 psi)

1230-1570 kPa (179-228 psi)

18°C (64°F)

36-40°C (96-105°F)

Less than 20%

248-319 kPa (36-46 psi)

1400-1680 kPa (203-244 psi)

18°C (64°F)

20-40%

251-327 kPa (36-48 psi)

1410-1730 kPa (205-251 psi)

19°C (66°F)

Greater than 40%

258-334 kPa (37-49 psi)

1440-1780 kPa (209-258 psi)

20°C (68°F)

41-46°C (106-115°F)

Less than 20%

276-343 kPa (40-50 psi)

1570-1830 kPa (228-266 psi)

20°C (68°F)

Greater than 20%

279-351 kPa (41-51 psi)

1600-1900 kPa (232-276 psi)

21°C (70°F)

47-49°C (116-120°F)

Less than 30%

303-361 kPa (44-52 psi)

1750-1960 kPa (254-285 psi)

21°C (70°F)