Volkswagen New Beetle. Manual - part 1997

 

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Volkswagen New Beetle. Manual - part 1997

 

 

A/C REFRIGERANT R-134A, PROPERTIES 

Commercial designation 

The following designations are used and appear on component labels and factor tags:  

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R-134a  

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Tetrafluoroethane  

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CH

2

 F CF

3

  

z

H-KW 134a  

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SUVA (R) 134a  

z

ARCTON (R) 134a  

Color 

Refrigerant R-134a is colorless and is invisible as a gas. R-134a when viewed through the sight glass may 
appear milky due to the mixture of refrigerant and lubricating oil (PAG oil).

z

DO NOT use R-12 servicing equipment on R-134a systems or R-134a 
equipment on R-12 systems or damage to both the vehicle A/C 
system and servicing equipment may result. Use only equipment 
designed to meet Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards.  

CAUTION:

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R-134a and R-12 systems use different size service fittings. NEVER 
use adaptors to convert an R-12 fitting to R-134a size or R-134a 
fitting to R-12 size.  

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R-134a and R-12 A/C components including compressor, hoses, O-
rings, evaporator, condenser, receiver-drier, etc. are NOT 
interchangeable. Components of the R-134a system are identified by 
lettering (R-134a) or by a green label (or stripe). In addition a label on 
the upper radiator support identifies which type refrigerant is used. 
Use only the correct system component for each refrigerant type.  

CAUTION:

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Always replace damaged and/or leaking A/C system components. Do 
not attempt repair by soldering or welding.  

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Work area must be extremely clean when working on A/C system 
components.  

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Discharge A/C system before removing any A/C system component.  

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Always reinstall caps over A/C service valves.  

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Always replace O-rings, DO NOT reuse. Use only the correct size and 
type of O-rings specified for use with R-134a refrigerant. Lubricate O-
ring with refrigerant oil before installing.  

 

2003 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 

1998-2004 HVAC Air Conditioning - New Beetle

  

Temperature/pressure relationship 

R-134a in an enclosed container will have a specific temperature/pressure relationship. 

R-134a TEMPERATURE/PRESSURE RELATIONSHIP 

Refrigerant oil 

A special Polyalkylene Glycol (PAG) synthetic oil is used in R-134a systems. This oil is NOT compatible with 
mineral based oils used in R-12 systems. Refer to Cautions and Warnings regarding proper oil usage, See A/C 
refrigerant system
 . 

Airborne properties 

Escaped refrigerant gases are heavier than air and will gather first in low places, like under the car. R-134a 
refrigerant gas displaces oxygen and may cause suffocation in low areas of poor air circulation. 

Refrigerant R-134a is not poisonous in any state (liquid or gas) and is safe when used properly. 

Affects on plastic 

Refrigerant R-134a will deteriorate some plastics. Therefore, when making system repairs, use only genuine 
VW replacement parts which are specified for use with R-134a refrigerant. 

Affects on metal 

In its pure state, refrigerant R-134a is chemically stable and will not attack iron, copper, brass or aluminum. 
However, the mixture of R-134a and PAG oil may deteriorate certain metals (copper). Therefore, when making 
system repairs, use only genuine VW replacement parts which are specified for use with R-134a refrigerant. 

Water solubility 

Liquid R-134a refrigerant will absorb only very minute quantities of moisture. However, R-134a vapor can 

Temperature in °C (°F)

Pressure in bar (psi)

-30 (-22)

0.0 (0.0)

-20 (-4)

0.3 (4.4)

-10 (14)

1.0 (14.5)

0 (32)

1.9 (27.5)

10 (50)

3.1 (45.0)

20 (68)

4.7 (68.2)

30 (86)

6.7 (97.2)

40 (104)

9.1 (132.0)

50 (122)

12.2 (177.0)

60 (140)

15.8 (229.2)

70 (158)

20.2 (293.0)

 

2003 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 

1998-2004 HVAC Air Conditioning - New Beetle

  

absorb large amounts of moisture. 

Flammability 

R-134a refrigerant is not flammable. 

Refrigerant containers 

DO NOTexceed maximum rated capacity of refrigerant container. 

Leak detection 

Use halogen leak detector Hitec HI400A-TELor equivalent to check for R-134a system leaks. This tool can also 
be used to detect leaks in R-12 systems. Many currently available R-12 leak detectors cannot detect R-134a 
refrigerant leaks. 

R-134a refrigerant oil 

A special Polyalkylene Glycol (PAG) synthetic oil is used in R-134a systems. This oil is NOT compatible with 
mineral based oils used in R-12 systems. 

A/C REFRIGERANT SYSTEM, IDENTIFICATION 

A/C refrigerant systems on New Beetle models are charged with refrigerant R-134a. 

A label specifying refrigerant type may be located on the compressor or radiator support. 

A/C refrigerant circuit with expansion valve and receiver drier 

NOTE:

Before carrying out any work on the A/C refrigerant system, refer to A/C system 
safety measures, See A/C refrigerant system .

 

2003 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 

1998-2004 HVAC Air Conditioning - New Beetle

  

Fig. 1: Identifying A/C Refrigerant Circuit With Expansion Valve And Receiver Drier 
Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. 

A/C REFRIGERANT SYSTEM, COMPONENT OVERVIEW 

Fig. 2: Identifying Compressor 
Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. 

Compressor 

The compressor is driven via a belt on the engine when the A/C clutch engages (A/C "ON"). 

Low-pressure refrigerant gas from the evaporator is compressed by the compressor. After compression, the 
refrigerant gas (now high-pressure) flows to the condenser. 

Condenser 

The condenser transfers heat from the compressed refrigerant gas to the outside air which causes the refrigerant 
to change state from a gas to a liquid. 

NOTE:

Arrows in Fig. 1 indicate direction of refrigerant flow.

NOTE:

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The compressor contains refrigerant oil that is mixable under all 
temperatures with the refrigerant.  

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A label on the compressor indicates that compressor is for R-134a 
systems only.  

 

2003 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 

1998-2004 HVAC Air Conditioning - New Beetle

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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