Checking - vehicles with high-voltage system: Audi A6/A7 C7
Step-by-step checking - vehicles with high-voltage system for the Audi A6/A7 C7: 18 steps. What to remove, in what order, and what to check after.
Workshop procedure for AUDI — the exact step sequence and torque figures, straight from real workshop data.
🧭 Before you start
Fits: Audi A6/A7 C7 (4G, 2011–2018); platform code 4X
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- Measure ambient temperature (it must be over 15 °C).
📋 Procedure
- Measure ambient temperature (it must be over 15 °C).
- Close doors, bonnet, windows, sun roof and rear lid.
- Open all dash panel vents.
- ⚠ When working on a vehicle with the ignition switched on or while the drive system is active, the engine can start unexpectedly and exhaust fumes can cause a health hazard in closed rooms. Moving parts can trap or draw in parts of the body and/or clothing (safety hazard). Before switching on the ignition, perform the following steps:Move selector lever to position PActivate parking brake Switch off ignitionOpen bonnetConnect battery charger (e.g. VAS 5095A) to jump-start connections of 12 V electrical system Switch on ignition — To minimise the number of automatic engine starts when the vehicle's drive system is active during test and measurement work, charge the vehicle batteries e.g. with the battery charger 60AVAS 5904 in battery standby mode Electrical system; General information27Battery; Charging battery and Electrical system, hybrid93General warning instructions for work on the high-voltage system. [Note: The status of the drive system (READY) is shown by the control unit in dash panel insert J285 via the "“power meter”".Activating vehicle drive system (check "READY" display in control unit in dash panel insert J285) Owner's Manual.Move the selector lever to position "“P”" and activate the parking brake before performing test and measurement work for which the ignition must be switched on but where the vehicle's drive system does not need to be active.]
- Ignition switched on and drive system active (READY), engine only starts or runs if e.g. drive battery A2 is not sufficiently charged.
- Switch off air conditioner compressor ("“ECON”" mode set on air conditioner operating unit (Climatronic control unit J255), indicator lamp in AC button off).
- Initiate air conditioner Guided Fault Finding procedure in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode.
- In the "“Read measured values”" function, select the display groups with the measured values for activation of the air conditioner compressor and the pressure in the refrigerant circuit and read out the measured values (display in different measured value blocks for electrical air conditioner compressor V470 in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode. [Note: On the absolute pressure scale, 0 bar corresponds to an absolute vacuum. Normal ambient pressure thus corresponds to roughly 1 bar absolute and 0 bar gauge pressure. On the scales of most pressure gauges, 0 bar gauge pressure corresponds to an absolute pressure of one bar (can be seen from -1 mark below 0).Depending on the version of the air conditioner operating unit (Climatronic control unit J255), the measured values may only be displayed as whole numbers. The display fluctuates between two values if the measured pressure is between the two.The displays for the activation of the air conditioner compressor differ. For a mechanically driven air conditioner compressor, the tester displays the specified and actual current for activation of the air conditioner compressor regulating valve N280. For an electrical air conditioner compressor V470, the specified and actual speed of V470, which are transmitted by the control unit for air conditioning compressor J842, are displayed in a different measured value block in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode.The pressure in the refrigerant circuit depends on the ambient temperature. Due to the radiation of heat by components (e.g. radiator), the pressure displayed when the engine is warm is slightly higher than that given for the corresponding ambient temperature.If the pressure displayed is lower than that given in the table: Check the signal of the refrigerant pressure and temperature sender G395 in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode. If no fault is found at the G395, there is not enough refrigerant in the circuit. The vehicle must be taken to a workshop which is equipped with the necessary tools and at which the work can be performed by appropriately qualified personnel Air conditioner with refrigerant R134a87Refrigerant circuit (Working with the air conditioner service station).]
- Switch on air conditioner compressor by selecting "“Auto”" mode on air conditioner operating unit (Climatronic control unit J255) (indicator lamps in AUTO button(s) and AC button on).
- Set air conditioner to "“cold”" temperature setting (for driver's and passenger's side) using rotary control on air conditioner operating unit (Climatronic control unit J255).
- By way of the rotary controls on J255, set the air delivery to "“dash panel vents”" (for driver's and front passenger's side).
- On vehicles with E265, set the air delivery by way of the rotary controls on E265 to the vents in the rear centre console. [Note: The lamp in the AUTO button(s) goes out when the direction of air delivery and/or the fresh air blower speed are altered manually.The maximum possible fresh air blower speed depends on several factors (electrical system voltage etc.).]
- In the "“Read measured values”" function, read out the speed at which the electrical air conditioner compressor V470 is activated by the control unit for air conditioning compressor J842 (the display will show a speed greater than 800 rpm: air conditioner compressor is running) in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode. [Note: The specified speed is calculated by the air conditioner operating unit (Climatronic control unit J255). The request is transmitted via the data bus to the control unit for air conditioning compressor J842 in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode.When driving, the air conditioner compressor operates over a speed range of 800 to 8600 rpm.When the vehicle is stationary or only moving slowly (up to a speed of approx. 45 km/h), the air conditioner compressor is not actuated at the maximum specified speed (of approx. 8500 rpm); the air conditioner compressor speed is limited to approx. 5000 rpm.At an air conditioner compressor speed of 5000 rpm, with a very high ambient temperature (in excess of 35° C) and a high fresh air blower speed (unfavourable ambient conditions), the output (delivery volume) of the air conditioner compressor is not always sufficient at first to reduce the temperature of the air downstream of the evaporator to the specified value. One way of checking the control action of the air conditioner compressor under these conditions is to activate the fresh air blower with only approx. 40 % of the maximum voltage and to check the temperature at reduced fresh-air blower speed in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode for air conditioner and battery regulation.If an insufficient speed or no speed at all is displayed as the measured value (a speed of less than 4000 rpm although the required temperature of the air downstream of the evaporator has still not been reached), check the activation of the electrical air conditioner compressor V470 by the control unit for air conditioner compressor J842 in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode.]
- In the "“Read measured values”" function, read out the pressure in the refrigerant circuit measured by the refrigerant pressure and temperature sender G395. The pressure displayed increases to above the value with the air conditioner compressor switched off in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode. [Note: If the pressure displayed as the measured value does not change and activation of the air conditioner compressor is OK in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode, there is a fault in the refrigerant circuit. Take the vehicle to a workshop which is equipped with the necessary tools and at which the work can be performed by appropriately qualified personnel (there may be problems with control of air conditioner compressor) Air conditioner with refrigerant R134a87Refrigerant circuit. Inform the workshop of the problem detected.The air conditioner compressor is activated by the control unit for air conditioning compressor J842 (when requested by the air conditioner operating unit, Climatronic control unit J255) in such a way that the temperature of the air downstream of the evaporator reaches the specified value (approx. 2 to 5 °C).After the engine is started, the air conditioner compressor is activated at a speed greater than 3000 rpm depending on the measured temperature, engine speed and electrical system voltage. As soon as the temperature measured by the evaporator output temperature sender G263 approaches the specified value, the activation is reduced and the compressor output is decreased.Under certain operating conditions, residual moisture in the refrigerant circuit may lead to the formation of ice at the expansion valve for the evaporator in the air conditioning unit. This ice formation can impair the control function of the expansion valve / air conditioner compressor. The evaporator is insufficiently or excessively cooled and may ice up. An iced-up evaporator may cause various problems .This vehicle is fitted with 2 evaporators (one in the air conditioning unit and one in the battery cooling module). If the measured temperature corresponds to or is below the specified value at one evaporator but the required specified value is not attained at the other evaporator, the system is controlled as follows: The battery regulation control unit J840 activates the electric air conditioner compressor at a higher speed via the power and control electronics for electric driveJX1 and the control unit for air conditioning compressor J842. This causes the cooling output of the air conditioner to increase and the pressure on the low-pressure side and the evaporator temperature to drop. If the temperature set value is then not reached at one evaporator, J840 activates the refrigerant shut-off valve 1 for hybrid battery N516 or the refrigerant shut-off valve 2 for hybrid battery N517 such that refrigerant no longer flows through the evaporator which is too cold in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode.As the cooling output of the evaporator in the battery cooling module is considerably less than that of the evaporator in the air conditioning unit, the required temperature may still be reached in the battery cooling module when there is insufficient refrigerant in the circuit, but the required temperature will no longer be reached at the evaporator in the air conditioning unit (although the air conditioner compressor is being actuated at a higher speed).]
- Press button for air recirculation mode on air conditioner operating unit (Climatronic control unit J255); symbol for "“air recirculation mode”" in air recirculation button lights up.
- In "“Read measured values”" function, read out measured value of evaporator output temperature sender G263 in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode.
- Use thermometer to measure temperature of air from vent in rear centre console.
- Compare measured value displayed (for G263) to values in graph. [Note: If the required values at the front are not attained, check the measured value of G263. To do so, compare the measured value displayed for G263 to the measured values of the left vent temperature sender G150 and the right vent temperature sender G151.If the measured value for G263 only differs slightly from the measured value for G150 / G151. perform "Measures to be taken if readout does not match specification" .If the measured value for G263 is greater than the measured value for G150 and/or G151, check for proper installation of G263 and perform the electrical checks for this sender in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode.If the measured temperatures from the rear centre console vents are more than 1 °C lower than the measured value for G263, check the temperature sensors used for measurement (the design of the air conditioner is such that the temperature at the rear cannot be lower than at the front).One way to check whether the air conditioner is working is by feeling the refrigerant lines: the "“low-pressure side”" refrigerant line (thick line between internal heat exchanger and air conditioner compressor) cools down and the "“high-pressure side”" refrigerant line (thin line between condenser and internal heat exchanger) becomes warm System overview - refrigerant circuit, vehicles with high-voltage system.] [Note: The shut-off valve 1 for refrigerant of hybrid battery N516 installed in the refrigerant line to the expansion valve upstream of the evaporator in the air conditioning unit is open when not actuated. If this valve is activated or closed off, refrigerant cannot flow to the expansion valve; Checking operation in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode (for J840).] [Note: The refrigerant shut-off valve 2 for hybrid battery N517 attached to the expansion valve of the battery cooling module is closed when not activated; check operation using in "“Guided Fault Finding”" mode (for J840),]
Other AUDI procedures
- Removing and installing toothed belt – Audi · 56 torque figures
- Removing engine – Audi A8 D3 · 41 torque figures
- Removing camshaft timing chain from camshafts – Audi A6/A7 C7 · 38 torque figures
- Installing engine – Audi A8 D4 · 36 torque figures
- Removing and installing camshaft timing chain · 29 torque figures
- Removing and installing coolant pipe on right side of gearbox - vehicles up to model year 2013
- Removing and installing bottom section of intake manifold, cylinder bank 1 (right-side)
- Removing and installing earth cable with battery monitor control unit 2J934 of second battery A1
- Removing and installing headlights - vehicles up to model year 2013
- Removing and installing tail light cluster on rear lid - vehicles up to model year 2013
Who makes these pages, and how
TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.
The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.
Variants of the same model differ. Cross-check torque against the factory manual for your engine before final tightening.
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The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.