Aircon Yet Again

[daran71]

Ive been scanning through the replies and this is what i can come up with -

 

If the engine was running and the compressor was running (this bit is important - because if the system has reached its set point the compressor will cut out) using R134a you should have a low ressure reading of no more than about 20psi or just over 1bar. If its running and you are getting 45 psi then it is overcharged - it cant even be a blockage anywhere as the compressor would trip out very quickly on High Pressure if there was!!!

 

You cant have much lower than 40 degrees F at the vents because to achieve an air temp at the vents the evaporator (which the air passes over to be cooled) must be at a lower temperature - we call this the diff - if its below 0 degrees C then the evap will freeze up and therefore get no airflow through it at all and therefore no cooling or very resistricted airflow at the vents!!!

 

If you are getting 40 F or anout 4.4 C you should be getting a nice amount of cooling and after a few minutes the ambient in the car should get to a comfortable 20-21 C - On another note we havent had anything like those temperatures in the UK over the last few days unless you are in direct sunlight so its possible that the cooling stops because simply the required temperature has been achieved!!!

 

You can check this by whacking the heaters on full blast for 10 mins and getting the car like a furnace and then trying the a/c - I'll bet you feel a pleasant change in the car within 5 mins!!!

 

It sounds like you havent got too many problems and you will probably feel the benefit more if we get a decent summer!!!

 

Oh and I wouldnt rely on those DIY charging kits as they cant tell you how much charge is in the system already or if there is a leak - it may even just overcharge the system and make things worse!!! The onyl sure fire way to be sure the charge is correct is for a competent engineer to evacuate the system and then weigh in the charge. Or use the old fashioned methods on the fly charging - either way it takes specialist equipment and skill!!!

Edited May 22, 2008 by daran71

[mikej]

Thanks to all those who provided advice on the subject looks like you have saved me a few quid , anyhow my aircon will achieve 40 degrees farenhiet at the vents , my Cc today was showing 21 degrees Centigrade set to cold and runnning full blast and my vent thermometer which i later stuck up in the sun visor ( in shade ) was showing 62 degrees farenheit in the cabin after 10 or so minutes of aircon , it was showing 110 when i got in as it had been parked in the sun . Don't think i am going to get it any colder so do the people in the know think these figures are about right ? If so i can move on to my bloody cruise control issue lol.........

thanks people. :ph34r:

Edited May 23, 2008 by mikej

[MrT]

Sounds about right. The aircon system is similar to that used in many cars and the galaxy needs a lot more cooling due to its size and amount of glass. The climate control in auto is only designed to cool the car to 18C or 61F although on LO it can get it a bit lower.

[daran71]

Hi -

 

Sounds like you are on to a winner!! 62F is about 16.6C - which is very low!! You really wouldnt want it to be any lower than than, an aircon system in the home/office would proably have its lowest setpoint at 19C or 18C!!

[Bigjeeze]

Another point to ponder is that on most Air Con systems the cold air is just that - there is no thermostat to turn it off when it reaches the acorrect temp whereas with the CC on the Galaxy it is colling the whole car and maintaining an even temp - My Gal has the dual Air con and it gets comfortably cool - my wife's MK! gives you frost bite in the face but it not so good if you are sitting in the rear.

 

It sounds like yours is working well.

[mikej]

Guys i have to say again a big thankyou for your help and advice , if i ever found myself in a similar position again i would have to say before you start guessing and messing around , get a bloody thernometer and get the facts on the actual temps and then decide where you go from there. The galaxy Cimate Control is no where as cool as the other makes i have sampled but as its been said it does keep the cabin comfortable without the need to keep switching the aircon on/off . All i need now is to sort my cruise control out , please see other post lol....... :)