V8718082049039_7 Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

Technical Service Bulletin
87-18-08 - Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant

Circuit (U.S. Only)
Transaction

No:
2049039/7
Release date:
8/6/2020
Condition

Applicable Vehicles

Model(s)
Year
Eng. Code
Trans. Code
VIN Range

From
VIN Range To
All Models
2018-2021
All
All
All
All
Revision Table

Instance Number
Published Date
Version Number
2049039/7
8/6/20
87-18-08
Reason For Update

Update to vehicle

metadata selection.

Add information to figure

15 for adaptor

VAS6338/60.
2049039/6
2/5/20
87-18-08
Update to vehicle

metadata selection.
2049039/5
11/4/19
87-18-08
Update to vehicle

metadata selection.
2049039/4
6/14/19
87-18-08
Update to vehicle

metadata selection.
2049039/3
5/28/19
87-18-08
To update special tool

part number in step 26 to

6338/48.
2049039/2
8/1/18
V871808
To include new model

year and to add tool

adaptor 6338/18.
2049039/1
11/9/17
V871713
Original publication.
Debris can be dispersed throughout the refrigerant circuit after A/C component damage. In order to

maintain A/C operating efficiency, it is important to flush the refrigerant circuit after A/C component

repairs.
Page 1 of 20

© 2020 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 Service Bulletin
87-18-08 - Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant

Circuit (U.S. Only)
Transaction

No:
2049039/7
Release date:
8/7/2020
Note:

This bulletin must be read in its entirety before beginning repair.
Technical Background

In cases where an air conditioning system component (such as a compressor or other system

component) has failed and debris from the compressor or component is circulated throughout the

refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant circuit must be cleaned of any and all debris or damage to the

replacement components will result.

Note:

Any replacement of A/C compressors-regardless of the reason for failure must complete the AC

flush procedure to ensure the proper amount of oil is reintroduced into the refrigerant system.
Production Solution

No production change required.
Service

Tools

Use the MAHLE R1234yf A/C Service Unit VAS581005

and the R1234yf Flush Kit RTI360831040 (Figure 1).

Used for effective refrigerant handling and air

conditioning circuit flushing after air conditioning

component failure.
Figure 1. The VAS581005 Air Conditioning

Service System with Flushing Device.

Page 2 of 20

© 2020 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 Service Bulletin
87-18-08 - Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant

Circuit (U.S. Only)
Transaction

No:
2049039/7
Release date:
8/7/2020
The VAS 6338/1 Adapter Set for Refrigerant Circuits along with an additional adapter VAS 6338/38 for

the expansion valve bypass this kit, contains the adapters necessary to complete a thorough flush

operation of a contaminated circuit.

Elsa contains the technical information for each model regarding the necessary adapter

applications and connections of the servicing station for the flush operation. See Heating,

Ventilation & Air Conditioning >> Refrigerant R1234yf-Servicing >> 00 General Technical

Data>> Refrigerant Circuit removing contaminates>> Refrigerant Circuit, Flushing with

Refrigerant R1234yf in Elsa.

All other refrigerant recovery, evacuation and recharge operations are performed using the usual

procedure specified in Elsa. An operations manual will accompany each servicing station that will

describe operation of the unit.

Procedure

Front A/C:

1. If an air conditioning component has been diagnosed as the root cause of the failure, and this

particular component has been verified to have released debris through the circuit, continue with the flush

procedure.

2. Switch the power to the servicing station ON and begin by recovering the refrigerant from the system

through the normal service fittings.

Note:

For all compressor replacements it is mandatory to flush the system of all oil in the system. The

replacement compressor comes with a full charge of oil for a complete A/C system.

Tip:

During the entire process avoid interrupting the power to the station. The station's internal memory will

keep a log of all operations and can conveniently be recalled and printed. If the power is interrupted, the

station will lose the memory of the process, and the oil volume recovered, oil volume added, refrigerant

volume recovered, etc. will have to be manually determined.

3. Disconnect the service hoses from the AC service ports of the refrigerant circuit.

The VAS 6338/1 adapters will be used to bypass the following:

 Compressor.

 Expansion Valve.

 Rear AC lines to rear AC unit (If Equipped)

 Rear AC unit Expansion Valve (If Equipped)
Page 3 of 20

© 2020 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 Service Bulletin
87-18-08 - Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant

Circuit (U.S. Only)
Transaction

No:
2049039/7
Release date:
8/7/2020
Note:

For models with receiver drier desiccant cartridge the desiccant cartridge must be removed for the

flushing process.

For vehicles where the receiver drier is located on the condenser and DOES NOT have a remove-able

desiccant cartridge, the receiver drier must be left in the system and flushed through.

After the flush procedure is complete replace the receiver drier or drier cartridge.

4. Installing the R1234yf Flush Kit RTI360831040 flush tank to the Mahle A/C Service Unit VAS581005

5. Remove Receiver Drier. Refer to Elsa Repair Manual.

Note:

For Atlas, the front bumper does not need to be removed as stated in the Elsa repair manual.

When removing front grille ensure ignition is switched OFF and negative battery cable is

disconnected before disconnecting the front distance regulation module.

6. Remove receiver drier cartridge.

Reinstall cartridge cap with O-ring. (Figure 2)
Figure 2. Location of the Receiver Drier
Page 4 of 20

© 2020 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 Service Bulletin
87-18-08 - Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant

Circuit (U.S. Only)
Transaction

No:
2049039/7
Release date:
8/7/2020
7. Remove expansion valve and install flush plate

VAS 6338/38. (Figure 3)
Figure 3. Installation of front expansion valve

bypass adaptor VAS 6338/38.
Note:

(Atlas Only) The rear A/C unit refrigerant lines must

be disconnected and replaced with block off

adaptors VAS 6338/5 and VAS 6338/63 before

performing the front A/C unit flush procedure.

8. (Atlas Only) Disconnect rear refrigerant lines and

install adaptors VAS 6338/5 and VAS 6338/63 as

shown. (Figure 4a, 4b)
Figure 4a. Installation of high side rear A/C Line

connection block adaptor VAS 6338/63
Page 5 of 20

© 2020 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 Service Bulletin
87-18-08 - Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant

Circuit (U.S. Only)
Transaction

No:
2049039/7
Release date:
8/7/2020
Figure 4b. Installation of Low side rear A/C Line

connection block adaptor VAS 6338/5
9. Remove A/C Recovery machine high side

coupler from hose.

Install flush adaptor VAS 6338/48 to high side A/C

recovery machine hose. (Figure 5)

Note:

You do not have to remove low side A/C hose

coupler. The low side coupler will be connected to

the flush tank filter adaptor.
Figure 5. A.C hose adaptor 6338/44
Page 6 of 20

© 2020 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 Service Bulletin
87-18-08 - Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant

Circuit (U.S. Only)
Transaction

No:
2049039/7
Release date:
8/7/2020
10. Disconnect AC compressor hoses from the

compressor.

Install flush adaptor VAS 6338/3 on the high side

compressor hose.

Install flush adaptor VAS 6338/12 on low side

compressor hose. (Figure 6)
Figure 6. Installation of VAS 6338/3 and 6338/12.
11. Attach high side A/C Recovery machine hose

with VAS 6338/48 fitting to low side compressor

hose adaptor VAS 6338/12. (Figure 7)
Note:

This connection strategy allows for a system flush

in the opposite direction of the normal refrigerant

flow.
Figure 7.
Page 7 of 20

© 2020 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 Service Bulletin
87-18-08 - Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant

Circuit (U.S. Only)
Transaction

No:
2049039/7
Release date:
8/7/2020
12. Connect the low side A/C machine coupler to

the flush tank filter adaptor. (Figure 8)
Figure 8.
13. Connect flush tank hose (Yellow) to the high

side compressor hose adaptor VAS 6338/3. (Figure

9)
Figure 9.
14 Perform an extended 3 cycle flush.

15. After the flush process completes remove any adapters that were installed from the VAS 6338/1.

16. (Atlas Only) Proceed to section for cleaning the rear A/C unit. All others models continue to step 17.

17. Install a new Expansion Valve and Receiver Drier Cartridge. Reassemble all refrigerant lines.

Page 8 of 20

© 2020 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 Service Bulletin
87-18-08 - Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant

Circuit (U.S. Only)
Transaction

No:
2049039/7
Release date:
8/7/2020
18. Print the extended flush log of the job and attach to the repair order.

19. Connect the station in the usual manner through the service fittings and perform the normal

evacuation and refrigerant recharge operations.

Note:

For Atlas a rear A/C unit flush must be performed before vacuum testing and recharging.

Atlas Rear A/C Unit

The flush process will be repeated for the additional rear air conditioning unit according to the repair

information in Elsa.

20. Lower the exhaust buy removing the rear

exhaust clamp and single rubber hanger. (Figure

10)
Figure 10.
Page 9 of 20

© 2020 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 Service Bulletin
87-18-08 - Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant

Circuit (U.S. Only)
Transaction

No:
2049039/7
Release date:
8/7/2020
21. Remove the cross bar located in the center

under carriage area. (Figure 11)
Figure 11.
22. Remove middle heat shield from under

previously removed cross bar to access rear

expansion valve. (Figure 12)

Note:

Replace the clamping washer before reinstalling

the heat shield.
Figure 12.
Page 10 of 20

© 2020 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 Service Bulletin
87-18-08 - Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant

Circuit (U.S. Only)
Transaction

No:
2049039/7
Release date:
8/7/2020
23. Remove rear expansion valve and install

VAS6338/38 as shown. (Figure 13)
Figure 13. Location of rear air conditioning unit

expansion valve.
24. Connect the VAS 6338/3 and VAS 6338/60 to

the rear refrigerant A/C lines (Figure 14)

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