Climate Control Blowing Out At 28c Constantly!

[Paul B]

Hi all, I'm having problems with my Mark 2 2.8 Galaxy. I have read about 30 pages of Air Con problems, but have not come across the same problems as I'm having.

 

I have Dual Climate, yes it has 5 vents in the roof. It has not been cold for some time, the Centre vents were reading 28C with the Climate set to Low and Recirculate. I suspected that it was low on gas, so I took it to Kwik-Fit for a "Charge or No Charge".

 

After De-gassing, Vacuuming, Leak Testing, Refilling and De-Stressing, it still read 28C! The Compressor cuts in as it should, the fans on the Radiators begin immediately, but no matter what I do it does not cool properly. It did at one point come down to 18C in the front and the lowest I have seen the roof vents is at 13C, but that's it! With the Air Con off, ie Econ mode, ambient temperate yesterday of 23C, the air coming through was over 30C.

 

I have a Renault Scenic, high miles and totally beaten up, but even the Climate on that cools down to 5.7C!! In fact set at 19C, we usually have to increase it as it's so cold! Works perfectly even in last years 34C temperatures!

 

Where do I start?? Please don't say by checking your bank balance!! I suspect there may be a sticking flap or a dodgy sensor? I'm really fed up with it, as I love the car, so much so I have just had it LPG converted, but I want to cure this problem, without having to drive round with the windows down! The Air Con has never been that great on this one, where as my previous Mk1 got down to 5.7C from the Centre Vent, without ever being touched in 4 years! If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

On a lighter note, the LPG conversion is great! Minimum of 44 mpg equivalent in the city!!

 

I look forward to any advice you can give me please.

 

Thanks.

 

Paul

[Smilge]

Haven't got a clue on that one matey ...sounds like a temp sensor problem. Perhaps you could emigrate to Siberia ............ :D

[gregers]

er wont the lpg freeze bleeno???

 

paul how much did it cost at kwikfit?and was the service they gave any good?

[Paul B]

Yeah, nice one! Never mind Siberia, I'm cooking from the outside in, and at these temperatures, I won't need turning over!! (especially not by Frauds Local Dealership!).

 

Just tried it again today. Started car from Cold, Air Con went down to about 12C, but as soon as the engine started to warm and I drove round the block, it wasn't long before I was back up to about 30C. The compressor is running, and I have not had any flashing from the Climate Control panel at all! It's a complete mystery that's driving me nuts!

 

Yes, the Kwik-Fit service was good. The car they'd dealt with before mine had it's Air Con reduced from 26C down to 4.5C!! Sadly, mine was not to be the case. But for the money (free as mine was unsuccessful) they do quite a lot. They de-gass, vacuum, leak test and refill with oil and gas to the exact specification of the car, all for 44.95 only if it reduces the vent temperature by 10% or more. Mine was not reduced at all! Free.

 

Is there anybody that's had this problem before, mine can't be the first?? There must be a light at the end of the tunnel - not a steam train coming towards me either??

 

Forget Diesel, Go LPG, you won't regret it!

 

Thanks.

 

Paul

[seatkid]

How much gas did they put it? I notice Kwikfit use the quantity that their a/c machine looks up in its database, the one I saw didnt have dual aircon quantities which needs 1350g as opposed to the standard 950g. Check the paperwork, the machine prints it out and the kwikfit report should say.

[Paul B]

Hi SEATKID. They put in the correct amount, I had checked all this info out prior to letting them touch it, and I watched the whole time! 1.050 KG (Mark 2) is what my system requires (1.350KG on Mark 1 Dual Air Con). It's marked under the bonnet with the capacity, but I had also checked out information elsewhere, I have a TIS disk and and AutoData disk which gives the same information. I'm certain it has the right amount in it, it's just pulling hot air in from somewhere, there must be a Blender valve stuck somewhere inside the heater or maybe an actuator has gone, but I think I have to take the dashboard out to get to it all? There is info on the TIS about measuring the resistances of all the various parts, so maybe I will try to go for this first.

 

I'm off hopefully today to see an Air Con bloke just to check the system is ok. I'm pretty sure the Compressor is running ok, but it's possible it could have gone.

 

I will keep you all updated, but any ideas are welcome.

 

Thanks for your replies.

 

Paul

[big_kev]

Surely if the compressor is running ok then the condenser will get very cold....would this be the easiest way to check.

 

If the condensor is not cold then it is a compressor/refrigerant probem.

 

If it is cold then it is a flap/temperature selection problem.

 

Just a thought....shout me down if I am talking carp again.

[Paul B]

Hi Kev, yes you're right that would be a good way to check on it. I have been looking at this for days now, and my Low Pressure/Suction side Pipework does not appear to be getting as cold as it should be.

 

I had already checked the pressures on the system myself, and they seemed to be ok. So yesterday I took it to an "expert" who declared the Compressor dead - possibly, the Expansion Valve dead - possibly, and said it would require both of these plus a flush through and new dryer - total cost 700 - 800, oh and a possible case of Black Death too.

 

When I picked myself up off the floor I drove home, resigned to the fact this was a major job, the Air Con worked nearly all the way home and ran at it's coolest vent temperature than it had before of 11C! I couldn't believe it. So I decided to test the pressures again myself, as my gauges had not at any point read what his did, only to find they were this time reading the same. I could not get the Air Con cool at all. The Compressor ran, the pipework was all warm, but nothing was happening, vent temp 23C. Drove home from my parents in it after doing this, and the damn thing worked yet again nearly all the way home down to 11C again, 5 minutes away from home it packed up again and started rising back up towards the 20's. I should have stopped and checked the pipework whilst it was working, but was so fed up with it by now I didn't. I'm hoping to reproduce this problem again and be able to check it.

 

The point is though, I don't understand why it is working intermittently (could be Black Death blocking the Suction Side of the Compressor, then clearing itself and operating again), I'm just not convinced 100% that the Compressor has gone? Could it be something else? I don't want to put on a new compressor, expansion valve etc, to find it does the same. There is information on the internet about these pumps, and in America these types of pumps are sometimes mis-diagnosed, as the fault can be caused by a faulty Refrigeration Control Valve on the pump itself - still needs de-gas and re-gas to do it. Any ideas anyone?? Also, does anybody know where I can get a reconditioned compressor if I need one, or where's best to get a new one from?? I have never workd on Air Con before, but feel certain I have enough knowledge to replace these items myself especially if I can convince somebody to Discharge it for me, then Vacuum and Regas the system when I've finished putting it right. Most specialists I've come across really don't want know once you say Galaxy!

 

One other avenue I'm pursuing is my neighbour, who is an Air Con Technician. I've asked him to take a look, he usually works on Commercial Vehicles only and has reluctantly agreed to take a look, especially as it turns out he worked for Ford and knows the Galaxy system well! Fingers crossed, he might be able to give me an answer.

 

Also, I have a TIS disk with loads of fault codes on it. If I could get to a Diagnosis machine, would it not be possible that the fault would appear on it, allowing me to check against my code list? I asked the Air Con buff yesterday, but he just grunted at me and said I've just given you a diagnosis, what more do you want??

 

Can I buy a lead for my car, and if so what software do I need to get the Diagnosis system onto my PC? Is it expensive? Might be worth a try before I agree to either have a compressor fitted, or spend time doing it myself.

 

Looking forward to any info anyone can give me.

 

Thanks.

 

Paul

[seatkid]

Hmmm just thinking out loud...... :wacko:

 

IIRC, the VR6 engine is fitted with a variable displacement pump, which means it can vary the rate of delivery with speed. The idea being it delivers constant flow thought the range of engine speed. This will done by altering the angle of a "swashplate" inside the pump.

 

I don't know how the control works, whether it is electrical or mechanical, but this might be stuck or sticky in your case. Time for someone to check the TIS wiring schedule for your model....(not me though....)

 

 

Or this might be a load of old bollocks I dreamt up.....

Edited June 15, 2007 by seatkid

[Paul B]

Hi SEATKID, yes that's the theory I'm working on at the moment. I think for some reason the Swashplate is sticky. The car has not had much use since I have had it, last 2 years, and that certainly hasn't helped the air con. I now have the front bumper off and the underside cover removed, and can see clearly to everything. I have taken apart and WD40'd all the electrical connections, High Pressure Switch, Outside Sensor, Compressor Supply, in the hope there may have been a dodgy connection somewhere. I have checked the voltage to the fuses, and checked the voltage down to the compressor supply, but this is fine. It is still working intermittently, and I just cannot figure what triggers it to work, and what causes it to fail. The Clutch on the Compressor seems ok, the compressor runs the whole time once activated as it should do, and switches off when deactivated (econ).

 

I'm still waiting for the Air Con bloke to have a look, other than that the next job will be a Discharge, and then I'll have to remove the compressor and see whats happening inside. Just hope it hasn't got Black Death, or it will be a major job, one which I won't be taking on.

 

I will keep you informed.

 

Thanks.

 

Paul