Recharge the air conditioning system on a 2024 Tesla Model 3 Long Range by recovering any remaining refrigerant, evacuating the system, and recharging with the manufacturer-specified amount of R-1234yf refrigerant and PAG oil. Note: 2024 Model 3 uses a heat pump system shared with the HV thermal loop — only the AC service ports should be accessed; do not open the octovalve or thermal management circuits.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Service port valve core caps (replace if missing/damaged) × 2 — R-1234yf service cap, generic

Fluids

• R-1234yf refrigerant — refer to Tesla underhood charge label for exact weight (do NOT guess capacity)
• PAG oil — type and quantity per Tesla service manual; only add if system was opened or oil was lost during recovery

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with the key fob away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery. On the 2024 Model 3, the 12V (lithium on most 2024 builds) is typically located behind the right rear seat back panel or under the rear floor — verify location before cutting power, and follow Tesla's documented disconnect sequence (touchscreen Power Off, wait 2 minutes, then disconnect negative).
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
5. If at any point you encounter an orange cable, an HV component, or are unsure if a system is de-energized: STOP and consult a Tesla-certified technician.
6. Locate the AC service label (typically under the front trunk/frunk area) and record the specified refrigerant type (R-1234yf) and exact charge weight in grams.
7. Open the frunk and remove the frunk liner / service cover as needed to access the high-side and low-side AC service ports.
8. Verify refrigerant identity with an identifier before connecting recovery equipment — contaminated refrigerant must not enter your machine.

Procedure

1. 1

   Identify refrigerant and connect recovery machine
   With the system off and the vehicle de-energized per the preamble, connect the refrigerant identifier to the low-side service port and confirm R-1234yf purity. Then connect the recovery/recharge machine's high- and low-side couplers to the corresponding Tesla AC service ports. Ensure couplers are fully seated and locked.
   ⚠Service ports are R-1234yf-specific quick-connects — do not force R-134a fittings, they will not seal properly and may leak refrigerant on disconnect.
2. 2

   Recover existing refrigerant
   Run the recovery cycle on the machine until the system is pulled into a stable vacuum. Record the weight of refrigerant recovered and the weight of oil collected in the machine's oil separator — you will need to replace any oil lost during recovery.
3. 3

   Inspect for leaks and damage
   With the system empty, visually inspect accessible AC line fittings, the condenser at the front of the vehicle, and the electric compressor housing for oil staining, dye traces, or physical damage. If a fitting was opened, plan to replace the O-ring on reassembly. If significant leaks are present, recharge will not hold — repair the leak before continuing.
   ℹ️If the leak appears at the heat pump octovalve or any chiller component shared with the HV battery loop, STOP — this is dealer-only service.
4. 4

   Evacuate the system
   Pull a vacuum of at least 500 microns (29+ inHg) and hold for a minimum of 30 minutes (longer is better for moisture removal in a heat-pump system). After the pump is isolated, the vacuum should hold steady for at least 5 minutes with no rise — a rising vacuum indicates a leak or trapped moisture; do not proceed.
5. 5

   Add PAG oil if required
   If oil was recovered during step 2, or if any AC line was opened, inject the equivalent amount of fresh PAG oil of the type and viscosity specified by Tesla service documentation for this vehicle's electric compressor. Use ONLY the Tesla-specified PAG oil — incorrect oil will damage the electric compressor windings and create electrical leakage paths.
   ⚠️Never use POE or generic PAG oil in a Tesla electric AC compressor — only the manufacturer-specified oil is electrically compatible with the HV compressor motor.
6. 6

   Charge the system to specification
   Charge the system by weight to the exact value listed on the underhood AC label (in grams). Do not charge by pressure — heat-pump-equipped Model 3 systems are very sensitive to charge weight. Allow the machine to complete the full transfer and verify the charged weight on the machine's display matches the spec.
   ⚠If you cannot read the underhood label, look it up in Tesla service documentation for this exact VIN — do not guess.
7. 7

   Disconnect couplers and cap service ports
   Close the machine's valves, allow refrigerant in the hoses to be reclaimed, then disconnect the high- and low-side couplers. Install service port caps finger-tight — these caps are the secondary seal and must be present.
8. 8

   Reconnect 12V and power up the vehicle
   Reinstall the 12V battery negative connection, torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual. Close the frunk and any service panels. Wake the vehicle and allow systems to fully boot.
9. 9

   Functional test
   Start the vehicle, set climate to LO / max cooling with fan on high and AC on, recirculation on. After 2-3 minutes of operation, measure center vent temperature with a thermometer. On a 70-80°F ambient day, expect roughly 38-50°F at the vent. Listen for compressor cycling abnormalities and check for any climate fault messages on the touchscreen.
   ℹ️Because this vehicle uses a heat pump, also briefly test heat mode to confirm the reversing/octovalve functions are unaffected — any new HVAC fault codes after recharge warrant a scan with Tesla diagnostics.
10. 10

    Final leak check
    With the system running and pressurized, pass an electronic R-1234yf leak detector around accessible fittings, the condenser, and the compressor body. Address any detected leaks immediately — even small leaks will deplete the small charge volume of this system within months.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall the frunk liner or service cover removed for port access.
2. Verify both AC service port caps are installed.
3. Confirm 12V battery is reconnected and any battery hold-down hardware is reinstalled — torque to OEM specification.
4. Clear any HVAC-related alerts via the touchscreen and confirm no persistent climate faults.

Verification

• Center vent temperature reaches manufacturer-expected delta below ambient (typically 30-40°F drop) within a few minutes of operation.
• No refrigerant leaks detected with electronic leak detector at any accessible fitting.
• No HVAC, heat pump, or thermal management fault messages on the touchscreen after a full drive cycle.
• Heat mode also functions normally (heat pump reversing valve unaffected).
• Note: AC service is not on Tesla's published maintenance schedule, but cabin air filter replacement is recommended every 2 years and pairs well with this job — consider replacing it now if due.
• Record the recovered weight, oil added, and final charge weight on the repair invoice for future reference.

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