AC refrigerant recharge on a 2024 Model Y Long Range. The system uses R-1234yf refrigerant; recovery, evacuation, and recharge must be performed with R-1234yf-rated equipment, and the system uses POE oil compatible with the electric compressor — never PAG oil.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• AC service port valve caps (high and low side) × 2 — OEM Tesla R-1234yf service port caps

Fluids

• R-1234yf refrigerant (charge weight per underhood label — typically ~1.0 to 1.1 lb / ~450–500 g for Model Y; verify on the vehicle's refrigerant label)
• POE refrigerant oil compatible with Tesla electric AC compressor (only add if oil was lost during recovery; do not use PAG oil)

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 2024 Model Y the 12V (Li-ion) battery is accessed under the rear seat / rear cargo area trim per Tesla service information; remove the negative terminal first.
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal. The AC compressor on Model Y is electrically driven and has orange HV cabling attached; do not disturb the HV connector during this recharge job.
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 and read the refrigerant type and charge weight label (under the front trunk / hood area). Confirm refrigerant is R-1234yf and note the exact charge weight specified for this VIN.
7. Open the frunk and remove the frunk liner / cowl trim as needed to expose the high-side and low-side AC service ports.
8. Verify ambient temperature is above ~50°F (10°C) for an accurate post-charge performance check.

Procedure

1. 1

   Identify service ports
   In the front trunk area, locate the low-side service port (larger diameter quick-coupler) and the high-side service port (smaller diameter quick-coupler) on the AC lines. Remove both protective caps. Inspect the Schrader valves and sealing surfaces for debris or oil residue (oil residue indicates a leak — do not simply recharge; diagnose first).
   ⚠If oily residue is visible at either port or along the AC lines, the system has a leak. Recharging without repair will release refrigerant to atmosphere and is both illegal and a waste of refrigerant.
2. 2

   Connect R-1234yf recovery machine
   With the machine's service valves closed, connect the BLUE low-side coupler to the low-side port and the RED high-side coupler to the high-side port. Verify couplers are fully seated and locked. Confirm the machine is loaded with R-1234yf — never connect an R-134a machine to this vehicle.
3. 3

   Read static pressures (optional diagnostic)
   With the vehicle off, open both manifold valves briefly to read static system pressure. At ~70°F (21°C), expect roughly 70–80 psi on both sides if any refrigerant remains. A reading near 0 psi means the system is empty and almost certainly has a leak — stop and perform leak diagnosis before continuing.
4. 4

   Recover existing refrigerant
   Start the recovery cycle on the machine. Allow it to run until the system pulls into a slight vacuum and holds, confirming complete recovery. Record the recovered refrigerant weight and the recovered oil amount displayed by the machine — this oil quantity must be replaced with fresh POE oil before recharging.
5. 5

   Evacuate the system
   Initiate a vacuum cycle for a minimum of 30 minutes (longer in humid conditions), pulling the system down to 500 microns or lower. After reaching target vacuum, close the valves and perform a 5–10 minute vacuum hold/decay test. If vacuum rises more than ~50 microns in 5 minutes, there is a leak or moisture present — stop and diagnose.
   ⚠Skipping or shortening evacuation traps moisture in the system. Moisture combines with refrigerant to form acids that destroy the electric compressor and contaminate the desiccant.
6. 6

   Add POE refrigerant oil (only if oil was recovered)
   If the recovery machine displayed lost oil, inject the same volume of POE oil specified for Tesla electric AC compressors via the machine's oil injector under vacuum. Do NOT use PAG oil. If no measurable oil was recovered, skip oil addition.
   ⚠️Using PAG oil will damage the electric compressor windings and can create an HV insulation fault. Use only POE oil approved for electric AC compressors.
7. 7

   Charge the system by weight
   Program the recovery/recharge machine with the exact refrigerant weight listed on the vehicle's underhood refrigerant label. Initiate the charge cycle. Charge through the high side with the vehicle off, or through the low side with the AC running on max — follow the machine manufacturer's procedure. Do not charge by pressure alone; charge weight is the only accurate method on this vehicle.
8. 8

   Disconnect couplers and inspect
   Once the full charge weight has transferred, close both manifold valves and disconnect the high-side coupler first, then the low-side. Inspect both Schrader valves for any sign of leakage. Use an electronic R-1234yf leak detector around both service ports and along accessible AC line fittings.
   ℹ️If any AC line fittings were loosened during this job (they should not be for a simple recharge), torque per the verified spec and replace O-rings.
   Torque spec

   AC Line Fittings20 Nm (15 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Reinstall service port caps
   Install new (or clean original) service port caps on both the high-side and low-side ports. The caps form the secondary seal — do not omit them.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall any frunk liner or cowl trim that was removed for service port access.
2. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery (positive first, then negative) and torque terminals to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
3. Close the frunk and verify it latches fully.

Verification

• Power up the vehicle and wake the touchscreen. Allow vehicle to fully boot (HV contactors close, climate system available).
• Set climate to 60°F (LO), fan to maximum, A/C ON, recirculation ON, and select panel vents.
• After 5 minutes of operation with the vehicle in P and hood closed, measure center-vent outlet temperature with a thermometer. At ~70–80°F ambient, expect approximately 38–48°F vent temperature. Significantly warmer indicates undercharge, leak, or compressor/expansion valve issue.
• Listen for the electric compressor — it should run smoothly with no clicking or rapid cycling.
• Re-check both service ports with the leak detector after 10 minutes of operation.
• Clear any related climate DTCs using a Tesla-compatible scan tool if available; persistent refrigerant pressure faults in the vehicle log indicate the charge or a sensor is out of spec.
• Note: Tesla does not publish a routine AC recharge interval — a properly sealed system should not need recharging. If this vehicle needed refrigerant added, document the cause (leak repair, component replacement) so it does not recur.

More procedures for this vehicle