Air Con Issues

[Altech]

My a/c was working perfectly when I bought my car nearly 2 years ago. Last year, at the end of the summer it wasn't as efficient and I presumed it just needed re-gassing. I didn't bother doing it last year, as it was the end of the season so left it.

I've been doing more miles than usual recently and have needed to use my a/c as the car was turning into a furnace when stuck in traffic! When the temp is on Low, Econ Off and fans on full blast warm air comes out of the vents

I eventually managed to get a few hours off work today to try and get it sorted. I thought I'd go to Kwik Fit as it's just around the corner and their offer is quite good. I'd never trust them with anything else but knew that an a/c re-gas doesn't take much skill (I work for an a/c company!) Anyway I went there and had the system re-gassed. The re-gas has made a slight difference but it’s nowhere near cold. The guy said that there could be a few problems, mainly the pollen filter being blocked or the compressor failing. He said to get it sorted and then come back for a free re-gas.

I went home and removed the pollen filter completely (it is quite dirty) which has made no difference what so ever. I then came on here and looked through a few threads about compressors. I know that when the Econ button is turned on/off the compressor should engage/disengage. I can't see or hear any difference when the button it on/off. The clutch that you can see through the black casing on the left hand side spins constantly but doesn’t move left to right. Could there be an electrical issue with the clutch or has the compressor failed?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Neo]

I think you may have a compressor fault, or you may need to get it re-gassed by someone who knows what they`re doing! (if you are confident the re-gas has made a difference).

I had mine re-gassed by kwik-fit last week, but it made no difference. Then when another garage vacumed the system out soon after they only got 250grams of coolant out of it when it should have 500grams... half the gas!
The guy said most people who "top up" aircon don`t know that you sometimes have to run the engine to get all the gas in. I don`t know if Kwik-fit tried this as my compressor is`nt running to draw the gas in, so they must have just left it at 250g and did`nt mention it!

The compressors on our cars do not use a clutch like older versions... they have a swash-plate pump compressor which is always turning, when econ is on the pump is at minimum pressure (like a by-pass or bleed through), and when econ is off the swash-plate opens to increase pressure/flow.
So you will not hear a click like on older cars or see anything moving at the pulley.
But at idle you should be able to see the RPM drop slightly and hear the engine note change a little when you turn it on (if you try this make sure your engine is warm so the idle is smoother).

Do you have access to VAG-COM?
I ask because there is a pressure switch that will prevent the compressor from running if the pressure is not right (or if this switch is broken), and if so VAG-COM should show this as a fault.

By the way my car is at a local vag specialist having the compressor replaced at the moment!

 

[Altech]

Thanks for the info Neo.

I was near my car when the machine was pumping in the new gas and it read that it had pumped in 565g (550g needed)

I'll have another listen to the idle this evening and see if I can hear a change.

I'm hoping it is the pressure switch that is faulty. I'll try and get hold of someone with vag-com at the weekend. If I can't isn't there a way of finding faults via the climate control display?

I think if my compressor does need replacing I'll get one out of a damaged car as I really don't want to spend loads on something that I only use for a few days a year!

 

[beezanick]

I does sound like your compressor, but could be other things. To test the compressor you can disconect the connector to it (right hand side as you look at it) and test the voltage output. you should see 7V with the engine running (econ off, set to low ect), if you do - its your compressor. Ive been meaning to do a how to guide about all this, but havent got round to it yet!

 

[veezee]

Would like to know the outcome also, mines coming out scorching hot :/

 

[Neo]

Yeah that`s it 550g.

I found this thread on the functions of the climatronic: clicky

If you get VAG-COM on it, don`t worry if you get flap positioner motor faults showing (intermittent), apparently everyone gets these even on a fully functioning system... I had 3 showing on mine!

If you can get a compressor from a breakers it will be a lot cheaper! mine is costing me £700 for a compressor and reciever/drier!
But the one you get off a scrappy may be faulty too.. seems like these cars eat compressors!

 

[Neo]

I does sound like your compressor, but could be other things. To test the compressor you can disconect the connector to it (right hand side as you look at it) and test the voltage output. you should see 7V with the engine running (econ off, set to low ect), if you do - its your compressor. Ive been meaning to do a how to guide about all this, but havent got round to it yet!

Yes, that would tell you if the compressor is recieving power, and it may not be doing anything with that power! If it is recieving the voltage, that should rule out the electrical side like fuses, switches and broken wires.

 

[Altech]

I does sound like your compressor, but could be other things. To test the compressor you can disconect the connector to it (right hand side as you look at it) and test the voltage output. you should see 7V with the engine running (econ off, set to low ect), if you do - its your compressor. Ive been meaning to do a how to guide about all this, but havent got round to it yet!

Cheers mate I'll give that a go in a bit

Yeah that`s it 550g.

I found this thread on the functions of the climatronic: clicky

If you get VAG-COM on it, don`t worry if you get flap positioner motor faults showing (intermittent), apparently everyone gets these even on a fully functioning system... I had 3 showing on mine!

If you can get a compressor from a breakers it will be a lot cheaper! mine is costing me £700 for a compressor and reciever/drier!
But the one you get off a scrappy may be faulty too.. seems like these cars eat compressors!

I'll try again to get vag-com...my mate who I was going to get it off had his laptop stolen last week!

£700! ouch. That's a lot of money for cold air! If I do get one from a scrappy I'll get one from the newist car that I can find and hope that it'll work.

 

[Neo]

I'll try again to get vag-com...my mate who I was going to get it off had his laptop stolen last week!

£700! ouch. That's a lot of money for cold air! If I do get one from a scrappy I'll get one from the newist car that I can find and hope that it'll work.

Gutted! that`s a shame because if you can get vag-com on it, that should narrow down the diagnonsis.

Er... yes it`s a s**t load of money but for me it`s more than cold air - it`s relief from my allergies! I get bad hayfever in the summer and bieng in the car with econ off is heaven!

Just had my car back early because they can`t get hold of a compressor! None of their suppliers have any, unusually high demand at the moment probably because of the heat wave! They are going to ring me when they get one

 

[g8rvn]

Being as there are so many Air con threads active at the minute I thought I may aswell jump on the back of one instead of making a new one.

Bascially, mine is doing some strange things.
I bought a top up tin from halfords because I thought the system just needed regassing, it worked great but after a week, there was no pressure in the system at all and it back back to warm air.
I borrowed a refrigerant sniffer from work and found a possible leak where the high pressure A/C pipe goes into the top of the radiator so i changed the 'O' ring.
I then re-pressurised the system just with air to see if it leaks out over the next week.
But now when the compressor kicks in, there is a reasonably loud hissing sound and noises from outside can be heard through the vents, a (2 stroke bike passed me and i heard it coming through)

The low pressure side readings are: Engine off 68-70psi Engine/compressor running ~38psi

Is this right? and does anybody know what the hissing noise is?

 

[Altech]

Gutted! that`s a shame because if you can get vag-com on it, that should narrow down the diagnonsis.

Er... yes it`s a s**t load of money but for me it`s more than cold air - it`s relief from my allergies! I get bad hayfever in the summer and bieng in the car with econ off is heaven!

Just had my car back early because they can`t get hold of a compressor! None of their suppliers have any, unusually high demand at the moment probably because of the heat wave! They are going to ring me when they get one

I get really bad hayfever until the anti-allergie drugs kick in. Every year it takes a different type of drug to prevent it! Have you tried looking in scrappys for a compressor?

Being as there are so many Air con threads active at the minute I thought I may aswell jump on the back of one instead of making a new one.

Bascially, mine is doing some strange things.
I bought a top up tin from halfords because I thought the system just needed regassing, it worked great but after a week, there was no pressure in the system at all and it back back to warm air.
I borrowed a refrigerant sniffer from work and found a possible leak where the high pressure A/C pipe goes into the top of the radiator so i changed the 'O' ring.
I then re-pressurised the system just with air to see if it leaks out over the next week.
But now when the compressor kicks in, there is a reasonably loud hissing sound and noises from outside can be heard through the vents, a (2 stroke bike passed me and i heard it coming through)

The low pressure side readings are: Engine off 68-70psi Engine/compressor running ~38psi

Is this right? and does anybody know what the hissing noise is?

Filling the system with air will have introduced moisture into the system, which can potentially damage it. Nitrogen should be used instead to test for leaks. The hissing noise that you are hearing is most likely the compressor pumping air around the system.

If I were you I'd release all the air, check all the seals, put the system under vacuum to get rid of all the moisture, leave the system under vacuum for a few hours and take note if the pressure gauge moves. If all is ok get the system re-gassed.

 

[g8rvn]

ah, okay thanks for the reply, looks like i have c**ked up a bit then lol...

The only way to vaccum the system is going to be with a proper unit isnt it?
What would be my best option then? there is an air conditioning specialist round by me that I could take it to but would probably charge me a fortune in diagnosing the fault or I could just go down to kwik fit and get them to vac and re-gas there and then?

 

[Neo]

I get really bad hayfever until the anti-allergie drugs kick in. Every year it takes a different type of drug to prevent it! Have you tried looking in scrappys for a compressor?

Yeah I have to try different types too, as I get used to one type after a couple of weeks.

I may have to try an alternative source for a compressor, at this rate the weather will be cold again by the time I get it fixed!

 

[Altech]

ah, okay thanks for the reply, looks like i have c**ked up a bit then lol...

The only way to vaccum the system is going to be with a proper unit isnt it?
What would be my best option then? there is an air conditioning specialist round by me that I could take it to but would probably charge me a fortune in diagnosing the fault or I could just go down to kwik fit and get them to vac and re-gas there and then?

Any a/c vacuum pump would do the job if you can get your hands on one. You could take it to Kwik fit, but you'd have to explain what you've done first (I'm not sure if their system vacuums or pressurises to test for leaks.) Before you do any of that you should try and find out what the problem is yourself.

 

[g8rvn]

I have tried to the best of my ability to do it myself, I traced what I thought to be a leak and replaced the rubber O ring there but I wanted to be sure before going and wasting any more money on getting it regassed.
The compressor is fine, it kicks in when econ is turned off and the operating pressures were correct with it running (on air)
My immediate reaction would be that its now fixed but I just wanted some way of confirming it really...

 

[Neo]

I have tried to the best of my ability to do it myself, I traced what I thought to be a leak and replaced the rubber O ring there but I wanted to be sure before going and wasting any more money on getting it regassed.
The compressor is fine, it kicks in when econ is turned off and the operating pressures were correct with it running (on air)
My immediate reaction would be that its now fixed but I just wanted some way of confirming it really...

It may be time to bite the bullet and try a re-gas mate - if you think you`ve fixed it. Tell them about the suspected leak and see if they will add dye to the gas, this way if it does still leak, you should be able to pin-point it. (Although it may make a bit of a mess).

 

[Altech]

Does anyone know the part number for the compressor? (52 plate PD130 Ibiza)

Thanks

 

[beezanick]

part number; S6Q0820803D

Total inc VAT = £540.33

You can get aftermarket ones for £330 total.

 

[Neo]

Yes, I`ve seen them for about that.
They are on an exchange basis - meaning you fit the one they send you, and then they take your old one to be reconditioned/remanufactured.

 

[beezanick]

If you order from this site;

http://www.autoairconparts.co.uk/

it is a new unit (not recon) and is identical to the one you would get from the dealer (same manufacturer) but comes to £330 in total. I can recomend the company as thats where I got mine from.