Technical Bulletin
Model(s)

Year

Eng. Code

Trans. Code

VIN Range From

VIN Range To

Golf/GTI

2015

All

All

All

All

Condition
87 14 10 September 25, 2014 2038368
Air Conditioning Does Not Cool and or Compressor is Noisy
One or more of the following conditions are exhibited:
• The air conditioning does not cool, or the cooling performance is very weak.
• The air conditioning system cools, but the compressor is noisy. The noise is characterized as a grinding or
groaning noise.
• Either symptom may be intermittent.
• No DTCs are stored.

Technical Background
The condition may be caused by a faulty A/C compressor regulator valve (N280). The internal components of the
valve can be obstructed and incapable of full function. This loss of refrigerant regulation from N280 can cause
noise from the air conditioning compressor and/or affect the HVAC cooling.

Production Solution
Final production countermeasures pending.

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© 2014 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin
Service
Since either symptom may be intermittent, the diagnostic process can affect the reproducibility of the
condition. Begin the diagnosis by isolating the cause before performing the basic checks.
Cases of noise:
When diagnosing cases of noise, use chassis ears or a technician’s stethoscope to make sure that the root cause
of the noise is from the air conditioning compressor. The noise can change or may be absent depending on the
setting on the HVAC control unit. In many cases, the noise is more pronounced with the system switched OFF.
Cases of low or no cooling performance:
Perform the following diagnostic steps:
1. Connect a manifold gauge set to monitor the refrigerant circuit pressures.
2. With the engine at idle, switch the climate control unit to full cold and full fan.
3. Using the diagnostic tester, monitor the measuring value for the air conditioner compressor regulating valve
N280 signal. The actual and specified values will be plausible and will show a normal regulating range of
current for cooling request (0.600 A – 0.680 A). However, there will be equalized pressure readings on the high
and low sides of the circuit (no pressure generation from the compressor).
4. Evacuate the refrigerant circuit to determine the refrigerant volume. The refrigerant volume will likely be in
specification. Should the refrigerant volume be too low, investigate a potential refrigerant leak in the circuit. It is
not likely that the refrigerant level will be too great since this should store a DTC.
5. If the air conditioning compressor is found to be the root cause of either of these conditions, Replace the
compressor.
Note:
The N280 regulating valve is not available as a replacement part apart from the compressor assembly.

Page 2 of 9
© 2014 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin
Air conditioning compressor replacement:

The originally installed compressor on the MY 2015
Golf/GTI is manufactured by Sanden (Figure
1). The replacement compressor is manufactured
by Denso (Figure 2).

Note:
All MY2015 GTI/Golf have Sanden factory
compressors. The replacement compressor is
100% Denso.
Figure 1: Sanden compressor identification tag.

It is necessary to flush the system to clean the
refrigerant circuit of Sanden PAG. Failure to do
so can cause damage to the new compressor.

Figure 2: Denso compressor identification tag.

• The flushing procedure can be found in Elsa at: Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning>>Refrigerant R134a
Servicing >>00 General Technical Data>> Refrigerant circuit removing contaminates>>Refrigerant Circuit,
Cleaning (Flushing), with Refrigerant R134a. The procedure is also described in Technical Service Bulletin
2019947.
• The correct adapters for the 2015 Golf/GTI can be found in Elsa at: Ventilation & Air Conditioning>>Refrigerant
R134a Servicing >>00 General Technical Data>> Refrigerant circuit removing contaminates>>Refrigerant
Circuit, Cleaning (Flushing), with Refrigerant R134a >>Adapter for Assembling Flushing Circuit.
Note
This bulletin is specifically for N280 malfunction. The expansion valve can be reinstalled after the flushing
procedure.
Page 3 of 9
© 2014 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin
The replacement compressor will come with the
specified type of PAG oil for the compressor
(Figure 3). The amount of PAG oil supplied with
the replacement compressor may not be the exact
amount required to replenish the refrigerant circuit.
Drain and measure the PAG oil in the replacement
compressor to determine the required amount. If
the amount needs to be adjusted, do so using the
correct type of PAG oil specified in ETKA. Refer to
Elsa for the correct oil capacity for the compressor
being installed.

Figure 3: Compressor manufacturer specific PAG
oils.

Page 4 of 9
© 2014 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin
Warranty
To determine if this procedure is covered under Warranty, always refer to the Warranty Policies and
1)
Procedures Manual
Model(s)

Year(s)

Eng. Code(s)

Trans. Code(s)

VIN Range From

VIN Range To

Golf/GTI

2015

All

All

All

All

SAGA Coding
Claim Type:

Use applicable Claim Type

1)

Damage
Service Number:

HST

Damage Location
(Depends on Service No.)

--

Use applicable when
indicated in Elsa (L/R)

Code
8734

0010

Parts Manufacturer

Golf/GTI

3)

87031700 = 60 TU

3)

87341970 = 50 TU

3)

87701955 = 60 TU

3)

66051900 = 20 TU

3)

87555550 = 30 TU

3)

87555552 = 40 TU

3)

87701900 = 50 TU

3)

87012999 = 140 TU

Labor Operation : Refrigerant drain and fill
Labor Operation : A/C compressor remove and
reinstall (1.8/2.0 TSI)
Labor Operation : A/C compressor remove and
reinstall (2.0 TDI)
Labor Operation : Radiator grill remove and
reinstall
Labor Operation : Receiver drier replace

SYP

(non-Modine)
Labor Operation : Receiver drier replace
(Modine)
Labor Operation : Expansion valve remove and
reinstall
Labor Operation : Air conditioner clean

Page 5 of 9
© 2014 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin
Outside Material: A/C Flush Machine filter, Part No.
BA1783400103

$3.51 total per A/C System Flush which
accompanies a repair (this amount equals ¼ of
the cost of the A/C flush machine filter)

Causal Part:

5Q0820803F
Diagnostic Time

GFF Time expenditure

01500000 = 20 TU max.

Road Test

01210002 = 10 TU

4)

YES
YES

01210004 = 10 TU
Technical Diagnosis

01320000 = 20 TU max.

YES

Claim Comment: Input “As per Technical Bulletin 2038368” in comment section of Warranty Claim.
1)

Vehicle may be outside any Warranty in which case this Technical Bulletin is informational only

2)

Code per warranty vendor code policy.

3)

Labor Time Units (TUs) are subject to change with ELSA updates.

4)

Documentation required per Warranty Policy Procedures Manual.

Page 6 of 9
© 2014 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin
Required Parts and Tools
Part Description

Part No:

Quantity

G 052300A2

0.2 (Max if required)

Air conditioner compressor

5Q0820803F

1

Seal ring

4D0260749B

1

Seal ring

4E0260749A

1

Seal ring

8E0260749C

1

Seal ring

4E0260749B

1

Drier insert with mounting parts

5Q0298403A

1

Oil for refrigerant compressor Denso

Tool Description

Tool No:
ROB134APF

Robinair A/C Service Unit

Page 7 of 9
© 2014 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin
VAS 6337/1A

Air Conditioning Flush Tool
VAS 6338/3

Refrigerant Circuit Adapter 3
VAS 6338/12

Refrigerant Circuit Adapter 12
VAS 6338/38

Refrigerant Circuit Adapter 38

Page 8 of 9
© 2014 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin
Additional Information
All part and service references provided in this Technical Bulletin are subject to change and/or removal.
Always check with your Parts Dept. and Repair Manuals for the latest information.

Page 9 of 9
© 2014 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.