Checking air conditioner compressor signal — VW
Checking air conditioner compressor signal on VW: factory workshop procedure for engines AAA, ABV, ADP. Full factory text, tools and checks.
Workshop procedure for VW — the factory write-up, straight from real workshop data.
📐 23 workshop diagrams for AAA
Real factory drawings for this job — timing marks, bolt locations and routing. Locked in the free view.
📋 Procedure
ABV
Air conditioner compressor signal:
Voltage is supplied to the engine control unit shortly before switching on the air conditioner compressor. The signal ensures that the control unit keeps the idling speed constant for the differing power requirements of the air conditioning system.
Air conditioner cut-off:
The air conditioner compressor is switched off for approx. 12 seconds by the engine control unit when accelerating from standstill and from low speeds to ensure that the full engine power is available when accelerating. If the accelerator is released earlier the time is shortened to a minimum of 3 seconds. At full throttle the air conditioner is switched off by the gearbox control unit (Kick-down switch).
Special tools, testers, measuring instruments and auxiliary items required
Fault reader V.A.G 1551 or vehicle system tester V.A.G 1552 with cable V.A.G 1551/3
Test box V.A.G 1598/18
Hand multimeter V.A.G 1526 or multimeter V.A.G 1715
Adapter set V.A.G 1594
Current flow diagram
Test conditions
Air conditioner functioning OK.
Air conditioner must be switched off
No faults must be stored in fault memory
=> Page
01-13
, interrogating fault memory
Vehicle at room temperature (warmer than + 15 °C).
Test sequence
Connect fault reader V.A.G 1551 (V.A.G 1552). Start engine and select "Address word" 01 of engine control unit. When doing this the engine must be running at idling speed.
(Connecting fault reader and selecting engine control unit => Page
01-5
.)
Rapid data transfer
HELP
Select function XX
Indicated on display:
Press keys 0 and 8 for the function "Read measured value block" and confirm entry with Q key.
Read measured value block
HELP
Input display group number XXX
Indicated on display:
Press keys 0, 1 and 3 for "Display group number 13" and confirm entry with Q key.
Read measured value block 13
⇒
1
2
3
4
Indicated on display:
(1...4 = Display zones)
Observe display in display zone 4. It must show
Compr. OFF.
Switch on air conditioning system.
Select lowest temperature and highest blower speed.
The display in display zone 4 must change to
Compr. ON.
Floor accelerator pedal quickly and release again (short throttle burst).
When quickly pressing the accelerator pedal down the display in display zone 4 must change from "ON" to "OFF" for a few seconds (compressor cut-off for vehicle acceleration).
Press the ⇒key.
Press keys 0 and 6 for the "End output" function and confirm input with the Q key.
Switch off ignition.
If the display does not change:
Connect test box V.A.G 1598/18 to control unit wiring loom.
Check wiring between test box sockets 37 and 38 to air conditioner for open circuit using current flow diagram.
Wire resistance: Max. 1.5 ω
If no fault can be found in the wiring:
Check function of air conditioner control unit.
=> Air conditioner; Repair group 01; Air conditioning system self-diagnosis
Air conditioner
Air conditioning system self-diagnosis
TorqFix answers live for your specific car — tell it the engine code and it serves the matching sequence, torque figures and wiring for that exact variant.
Ask about my car →Other VW procedures
- Checking Lambda control
- Servicing valve gear
- Servicing injection part
- Fitting locations overview
- Removing and installing parts of the injection system
- Removing engine · 41 torque figures
- Removing and installing camshaft – VW Golf Cabriolet · 47 torque figures
- Adjusting valve timing – VW Passat B5 · 83 torque figures
- Removing and installing camshafts – VW Passat B6 · 39 torque figures
- Removing and installing coolant pump · 53 torque figures
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.
Seen a figure that does not match your manual? Write to us — we correct it and note when. support@torqfix.com
The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.