Removing (shaft-driven compressor): Audi A4 Cabriolet B6/B7 / A4 B6/B7

🧭 Before you start

Fits: Audi A4 Cabriolet B6/B7 (8H), Audi A4 B6/B7 (8E)

• Opens: refrigerant (A/C)

Don't miss

• To avoid damaging condenser and refrigerant pipes/hoses, make sure pipes and hoses are not strained, kinked or bent.
• A second mechanic is required to detach the lock carrier.
• Use spindle of support bar to slightly pre-tension engine (do not raise).
• Shown with engine removed in illustration.
• To stop fluid escaping, leave hose (arrow) connected to power steering.

🔩 Torque settings

Values can differ between engine variants — check the code stamped on your block.

ℹ️ Always cross-check the exact figure against your vehicle's factory manual before final tightening — a wrong torque can damage the engine. These values are extracted from workshop data and may not cover every variant or revision.

📋 Procedure

1. Drain refrigerant circuit Air conditioner with refrigerant R134a.
2. Use flexible oil extractorV.A.G 1358/A to draw off power steering hydraulic fluid from reservoir.
3. ⚠ Hot vapour or hot coolant may escape on opening expansion tank. Cover cap with cloth and open carefully. — Unfasten cap of coolant expansion tank.
4. Unscrew front left wheel.
5. If applicable, on vehicles with auxiliary heater, screw out bolts (arrows) for auxiliary heater exhaust pipe at noise insulation.

6. Unfasten quick-release fasteners (1), screw out bolts (2) and detach noise insulation.
7. Remove front bumper General body repairs, exterior63.
8. Remove left air duct (arrow) in front of auxiliary radiator.
9. Remove right air duct (arrow) in front of auxiliary radiator.
10. Place drip trayV.A.G 1306 beneath engine.
11. Screw out drain plug (arrow) at housing for thermostat and drain off coolant at engine.
12. Detach coolant hose at bottom of radiator (arrow) and drain off remaining coolant.
13. Place oil drip tray beneath hydraulic pipes to rear cooling pipe.
14. Disconnect hydraulic pipes to rear cooling pipe at lock carrier (arrows).
15. Detach cover (1) on right of engine compartment.
16. Disengage activated charcoal filter system solenoid valve N80(1) at air duct.
17. Screw out bolts (arrows).
18. Remove air duct (2).
19. Detach coolant hose at top (arrow) of radiator.
20. Detach cover (1) on left of engine compartment.
21. Remove connectors (1) and (2) from holder and unplug.
22. Lay bare wires to lock carrier.
23. Unplug connector (arrow) for headlights on both sides of vehicle.
24. Unplug connector (arrow) for airbag sensors on left and right of lock carrier.
25. Lay bare wires.
26. Detach bonnet cable at lock carrier General body repairs, exterior55.
27. Unplug connector (arrow) for fan on right.
28. Unscrew air ducts on left and right of radiator (arrows). [Note: To avoid damaging condenser and refrigerant pipes/hoses, make sure pipes and hoses are not strained, kinked or bent.]
29. Unscrew refrigerant pipe (arrow) to air conditioner compressor.
30. Unscrew refrigerant pipe (arrow) to air conditioner evaporator.
31. Screw out bolts (arrows) at lock carrier on left and right.
32. Pull off bonnet seal at lock carrier and wing flanges.
33. Screw out bolts at impact absorbers (arrows) on left and right. [Note: A second mechanic is required to detach the lock carrier.]
34. Detach lock carrier and set down such that it cannot fall over.
35. Detach rear engine cover (arrows).
36. Place support bar10 - 222 A on wing mounting flanges.
37. Engage hook of support bar in engine lifting eye.
38. Use spindle of support bar to slightly pre-tension engine (do not raise).
39. Detach coolant hoses at locations marked with arrows.
40. Detach coolant hose at housing for thermostat (arrow).
41. ⚠ Take care not to kink or bend refrigerant pipes. — Unscrew retaining clip (arrow) for refrigerant pipe at holder on right.
42. Unscrew left holder for refrigerant pipe (arrows).
43. Screw out bolts (1) and (2).
44. Detach refrigerant pipes from air conditioner compressor and seal open connections .
45. Unscrew nuts (1 ... 4) for anti-roll bar mount on left and right.
46. Unscrew nut (2).
47. Screw out bolts (1) and (3) and detach engine bracket on left.
48. Unplug connector (1) at engine mounting on left.
49. Unscrew nut (2) and detach engine mounting. [Note: Shown with engine removed in illustration.]
50. Screw out bolts (1) and (2). [Note: To stop fluid escaping, leave hose (arrow) connected to power steering.]
51. Unscrew guide tube for dipstick at cylinder head (arrow) and lift it off.
52. Remove left engine support (arrows).
53. Use open-ended wrench to hold compressor drive shaft (A) in position and turn compressor drive unit (B) in direction of arrow (C). [Note: Drive shaft (A) is not to be turned.After unfastening screw connection, drive shaft (A) can be pushed through socket (E) into drive gear.]
54. Unplug 2-pin connector to air conditioning system compressor regulating valve N280.
55. Screw out bolts (D) (tightening torque 25 Nm). — 25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
56. Remove compressor to front.
57. If necessary, remove sockets (F) from compressor.

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