P2516 A / C Refrigerant Pressure Sensor B Circuit Range / Performance
OBD2 Error Codes

P2516 A / C Refrigerant Pressure Sensor B Circuit Range / Performance

P2516 A / C Refrigerant Pressure Sensor B Circuit Range / Performance

OBD-II DTC Datasheet

A / C Refrigerant Pressure Sensor B Circuit Range / Performance

What does this mean?

This is a generic Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) and is commonly applied to OBD-II vehicles. Car brands may include, but are not limited to, Chevrolet / Chevy, Ford, Volvo, Dodge, Hyundai, Vauxhall, Honda, Nissan, Renault, Alfa Romeo, etc.

The air conditioning (A / C) refrigerant pressure sensor helps the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system adjust the temperature inside the vehicle to suit your requirements.

The BCM (Body Control Module) or ECC (Electronic Climate Control) monitors the sensor to determine the system pressure and in turn can turn the compressor on / off accordingly.

The A / C refrigerant pressure sensor is a pressure transducer that converts the pressure in the refrigerant system into an analog electrical signal so that it can be monitored by vehicle modules. Typically 3 wires are used for this: the 5V reference wire, the signal wire, and the ground wire. The modules compare the signal wire values ​​to a 5V reference voltage and can instantly calculate the system pressure based on this information.

The ECM (engine control module) turns on a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with P2516 and associated codes (P2515, P2516, P2517, and P2518) when it detects a malfunction in the A / C refrigerant pressure sensor or circuits. Before performing any kind of diagnostics and / or repairs on the air conditioner, make sure you are aware of the many dangers associated with working with refrigerant under pressure. In most cases, you can diagnose this type of code without opening the refrigerant system.

Code P2516 A / C refrigerant pressure sensor B circuit range / performance is set when one of the modules monitors the A / C refrigerant pressure sensor B acting abnormally, specifically out of range. An example of an air conditioner refrigerant pressure sensor:

What is the severity of this DTC?

In my opinion, the severity of any HVAC related code would be quite low. In this case it is a pressurized refrigerant, which may be a more pressing problem. Who knows, this code could be caused by a refrigerant leak, and a refrigerant leak is definitely a hazard, so make sure you have a basic knowledge of refrigerant safety before making any attempt to repair the air conditioning system.

What are some of the symptoms of the code?

Symptoms of a P2516 diagnostic code may include:

  • Inaccurate air temperature from the fan
  • Limited use of HVAC
  • Unstable / fluctuating fan air temperature
  • A / C compressor does not turn on when needed
  • HVAC system is not working properly

What are some of the common causes for the code?

Reasons for this P2516 transfer code may include:

  • Faulty or damaged air conditioner refrigerant pressure sensor
  • Leakage in the A / C refrigerant pressure sensor
  • Low or incorrect refrigerant pressure / refrigerant level
  • Damaged wire(s) (open, short to +, short to -, etc.)
  • Damaged connector
  • Problem with ECC (Electronic Climate Control) or BCM (Body Control Module)
  • Bad connections

What are some of the steps to troubleshoot a P2516?

Before beginning the troubleshooting process for any problem, you should review the vehicle-specific Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) by year, model and transmission. This step will save you time and money in diagnostics and repairs!

Basic step # 1

Depending on what tools / knowledge you have access to, you can easily test the operation of the A / C refrigerant pressure sensors. This can be done in two simple ways: 2. Depending on the capabilities and limitations of your OBD reader / scan tool, you can monitor the refrigerant pressure and other desired values ​​while the system is running to verify that the sensor is working properly. 1. If you have a set of A / C manifold gauges, you can monitor the pressure mechanically and compare it to the desired values ​​specified by your manufacturer.

TIP: If you have no experience with refrigerant, I would not recommend diving into pressure testing, so make sure you are not fancy here, refrigerant is environmentally hazardous so nothing to mess around with.

Basic step # 2

Check the A / C refrigerant pressure sensor. As I mentioned earlier, in most cases this sensor is a 3-wire pressure sensor. That being said, testing will include testing between contacts and recording your results. The desired values ​​for this test vary significantly depending on the manufacturer, temperature, sensor type, etc., so make sure your information is accurate.

NOTE. Make sure you use the correct test pins with your multimeter when testing pins / connectors. a damaged pin or connector can cause intermittent, hard-to-find electrical gremlins in the future.

Basic step # 3

Check wiring. Sometimes these sensors are installed on the pressure line of the air conditioner or near the piping connection, so the wiring harness will be routed accordingly. I have personally seen these sensors get damaged by moving parts under the hood due to improper line retention. Make sure the transducer looks good physically and the line is secure.

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