2022-2024 Audi A3 S3 AC Not Cooling TSB 2072166/1

Owners of 2022-2024 Audi A3 and S3 models may find their air conditioning system is not performing as expected. This issue, where the Audi A3 S3 AC not cooling, is addressed by Audi Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2072166/1, issued on November 30, 2023. The bulletin outlines a specific problem with refrigerant leaks that can lead to the AC compressor failing to activate.

Symptoms

The primary symptom reported by owners is that "The air conditioning system does not cool." You may notice that the air conditioning compressor will not activate, leading to a lack of cold air. This condition is typically caused by low refrigerant volume in the AC circuit. When this occurs, various diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may be stored in the 08 – Heating / Air Conditioning Electronics module, indicating the low refrigerant volume.

Technical Background

The root cause of the Audi A3 S3 AC not cooling problem is a refrigerant leak. This leak develops due to corrosion forming in the aluminum sections of the high side and low side refrigerant lines. These lines lead to and from the air conditioning condenser. The corrosion specifically occurs in the section of the lines that are in contact with the foam sealing strip where they pass through the lock carrier.

Audi anticipates a production solution for this issue to be implemented in the first quarter of 2024, suggesting a design improvement for future vehicles.

Diagnosis

To diagnose the issue, technicians will inspect the right side of the vehicle where the high and low side refrigerant lines pass through the lock carrier. A refrigerant leak may be visible on one or both of these lines, particularly on the aluminum portion that contacts the seal strip. Removing the seal strip can reveal evidence of the refrigerant leak, which results from contact between the refrigerant lines and the seal strip over time.

Repair Procedure Summary

If a refrigerant leak is identified on one or both refrigerant lines, the repair involves replacing the affected line(s) and the seal strip. When installing the new seal strip, technicians must ensure the foam is positioned correctly to prevent it from contacting the refrigerant lines. A small modification to the seal strip might be necessary to achieve proper clearance.

Required Parts

For this repair, the following part is specifically identified:

• Seal Strip: Part Number 82A121230

Additionally, technicians will need to use the appropriate part numbers for the high side refrigerant line, low side refrigerant line, and seal rings. These part numbers must be determined using the Electronic Parts Catalog (ETKA) based on the vehicle's VIN.

Warranty Information

This repair is covered under Audi's warranty for vehicles up to 48 months or 50,000 miles. For Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles, the claim type is G10, requiring owner verification. If your vehicle is outside of these warranty parameters, this Technical Service Bulletin 2072166/1 serves as informational guidance only, and repair costs may not be covered.

The Service Number for this bulletin is 8744, and the Damage Code is 0050. Labor operations include:

• Air conditioner check: 8701 0150
• Compressor / condenser line remove and reinstall: 8743 19XX
• Condenser / evaporator line remove and reinstall: 8744 19XX

Diagnostic time for checking and clearing fault codes (GFF) and road tests before and after the service procedure are not allowed for warranty claims.

Important Warnings

Owners should be aware that if their vehicle is outside of the specified warranty period (48 months or 50,000 miles), this Technical Service Bulletin is informational only. In such cases, the cost of diagnosis and repair may not be covered by Audi warranty.

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Source: NHTSA ID: 10245685