Air Con Problem

[markie]

Was hoping I might be a lucky one, but perhaps not with the air con. :ph34r:

 

The air con seems to work in the morning first thing when the outiside air temperature is colder, but by the afternoon when the ambient temperature is hot, it just seems to blow warm air out.

 

This is a climate control air con, not manual.

 

Any ideas? Is there a temperature sensor which could be jiggered?

 

Any help appreciated...

Edited June 23, 2009 by markie

[big_kev]

It could be one of several things.....does the air con unit flash for a while ( 10 seconds or so) when you turn the ignition on ?

[markie]

Hi,

 

No, nothing flashes, no warning signs or anything.

[big_kev]

Is the fan ( or fans ) working behind the radiator.....should be when aircon is on.

[markie]

If you mean the big fan (the main cooling fan that comes on when the radiator gets hot - can only see that one), then it DOES NOT come on when the AC is switched on. Just checked. Am I looking at the right fan?

[sepulchrave]

If you mean the big fan (the main cooling fan that comes on when the radiator gets hot - can only see that one), then it DOES NOT come on when the AC is switched on. Just checked. Am I looking at the right fan?

 

Yes, that'll be the problem then, your fan is knackered.

[BigDave1972]

If you mean the big fan (the main cooling fan that comes on when the radiator gets hot - can only see that one), then it DOES NOT come on when the AC is switched on. Just checked. Am I looking at the right fan?

 

Yes, that'll be the problem then, your fan is knackered.

 

I'm not sure you're both speaking the same language here. I have the same issue with my Alhambra. The A/C works when the outside air temp reports to be BELOW 23 Degrees C - but above this it simply won't keep the compressor turned on.

 

On mine there is no issue with any fans not working.

 

Can someone tell me where the outside air temp sensor is located?

[markie]

Thanks for that, but that fan does come on when the temperature of the engine heats up. Should that fan immediately come on when you switch the AC on ? Surely, that doesn't point to the fan being broken, but something else? Edited June 26, 2009 by markie

[seatkid]

Thanks for that, but that fan does come on when the temperature of the engine heats up. Should that fan immediately come on when you switch the AC on ? Surely, that doesn't point to the fan being broken, but something else?

Yes the engine fan comes on as soon as the a/c is switched on, but at half speed. So your problem is a wiring/relay/control unit fault.

Edited June 26, 2009 by seatkid

[BigDave1972]

Thanks for that, but that fan does come on when the temperature of the engine heats up. Should that fan immediately come on when you switch the AC on ? Surely, that doesn't point to the fan being broken, but something else?

Yes the engine fan comes on as soon as the a/c is switched on, but at half speed. So your problem is a wiring/relay/control unit fault.

 

Markie - when you set your climatronic to 'Lo' and the outside temp is lower (ie in the morning) and the air con is working - have a look at the compressor. Is it spinning all the time? It should be. Mine does.

 

And then, when it hot during the day (like it will be tomorrow), set it to 'Lo' again and have a look at the compressor again. If you have the same fault as me the compressor will be spinning on for a few seconds, then off, then on, then off etc.

 

It would be good to see if we have an identical fault - you're the only person I've found on the web who's reported the same sympoms as I have! Please post your results.

 

(And if anyone knows what the problem with MY air con is - please post it now! lol)

[gizmo.john]

Thanks for that, but that fan does come on when the temperature of the engine heats up. Should that fan immediately come on when you switch the AC on ? Surely, that doesn't point to the fan being broken, but something else?

my air con is doing the same not as i stated in my other section have tried everything even fords of wrexham haven't a clue what it is anyone got any idear. my cooling fans on the radiator work but as the outside temp rises in the mornings the aircon stops but my cooling fans still work when in traffic

[gizmo.john]

Thanks for that, but that fan does come on when the temperature of the engine heats up. Should that fan immediately come on when you switch the AC on ? Surely, that doesn't point to the fan being broken, but something else?

check your fuse box big 40amp fuse located next to the relays this works fans for the aircon separate system to cooling fans

[markie]

Took car to an air con repair man who works from his home and as a mobile this morning. He said there was little / no gas in the system. He said in the moring it probably wasn't working either, just seemed cold as air temperature was colder. As soon as he refilled it (not full but enough for it to work), the fan came on and air con worked ! He sais there must be a leak somewhere. Only trouble is now is to try and locate where the leak is. He had a quick look with his leak detectors, but found nothing. Have to go back in a couple of weeks, when hopefully it will have leaked somewhere for him to find. Any 'normal' places this leak could be? Have checked condenser cap (o.k.) and visually looked at all the pipes I can see and cannot spot any leak so far. Edited June 27, 2009 by markie

[seatkid]

degree in rocket science required to repair Galaxy a/c systems........

[markie]

degree in rocket science required to repair Galaxy a/c systems........

 

From reading ALL the other posts about problems with air con, you are, indeed, correct !

 

Have just seen some air con leak fixer on Halfords Website for

Edited June 27, 2009 by markie

[BigDave1972]

I'm pretty certain MINE works when its cold - as the low pressure pipe is freezing and attracts condensation when it actually works.

 

But I'm narrowing it down - Its hot today and so my aircon is not working. I set it to 'lo' and then went and got the hose pipe out and sprayed the air con colling fins with cold water. Amazingly the air con began working and the compressor kicked in fine.

 

This leaves me with (1) temp sensor somewhere is faulty, (2) there's too much gas in the system so it overheats when the temp on the high pressure side gets too high, (3) there's a problem which is neither of the above and is making it overheat.

 

Any advice people?

[BigDave1972]

I went and purchased a pressure testing gauge and just tested my system. When its working it's in the correct zone but the weirdest thing has happened........

 

I have tried to test the air con twice so far when its not been working. I start the engine - note the lack of cold air and see the compressor turning on and off (so clutch is ok). I connect the gauge whilst the engine is running and the reading shows slightly too high pressure (in the yellow zone of the gauge instead of blue), but within 3 or 4 seconds of connecting the gauge the pressure drops back to blue (normal) and the compressor kicks in and the air con begins to work!

 

Surely I can't have crud blocking the low pressure pipe at the valve can I??????

[BigDave1972]

I thought I'd update you all on this one. I seem to have fixed it :D

 

Basically, I decided to vent some gas from the system from the high pressure valve (bit at a time with the engine off, then turning it on and checking the pressure gauge) until it just came on properly on 'Lo' setting. I did this yesterday afternoon.

 

So far today I've had fully funtioning air con in both 'Lo' and 'Auto' modes with the ambient outside temp as high as 25 Degrees.

 

Woohoo!!!!

 

So this was simply a case of 'a little too much gas!!!!' - might have a moan at Nationwide about this as it was them who serviced it last (although it wasn't a hot day when they did it!!!)

[markie]

Just an update to this. Took the car back to the aircon man today. He filled it and then took his sensor to try and find any leaks, as over the week, all of the gas had escaped again. His sensor went mad around the condenser area, towards the bottom near the back. He said the leak seemed to be at the back of the condenser - no leak was apparent near the top, where other people's have leaked.

 

He is charging

Edited July 4, 2009 by markie

[Shaun70]

I have exactly the same problem! works fine when its cold out but only intermittently when its to warm, usually above 70 degrees, im thinking it could be too much gas like yourself but not sure how to release some gas safely? i had it regassed last week and took it back the next day as it wasnt working correctly, they said it was working fine (typical the weather was chilli) and they found no leaks or faults, but its still playing up.

 

How is it done? do i open up the left or right if im facing the engine bay?

[MrT]

The air con system has a high pressure and a low pressure side, when the system is running the compressor takes from the low pressure side and pumps to the high pressure side which increases the pressure in the high pressure side and reduces it in the low. This is why when the system kicks in the pressure in the low pressure side is seen to drop. The pressure gauge is meant to be read when the system is running. The pressure gauge also shows the pressure not the volume in the system so whilst they are related, it is not accurate.

 

When my condensor leaked it also worked when cold but not when hot although the leak on mine was due to corrosion at the top of the receiver dryer part.

 

According the manuals the front end of the car needs to be removed to get the condensor out, but a little cutting of the plastic bulkhead in front to allow the mounts to be removed is a very good workaround which saves a lot of time. There used to be photos of doing this on this site. I seem to remember the condensor cost me a little over

[markie]

Just an update to this, as have been away.

 

With new condenser fitted, air con worked fine for a day !

 

Next day, wouldn't work at all. Took it back, to have the compressor diagnosed as faulty and recommended changing the expansion valve. Hope to have this sorted early next week. Will update then.

[spongebob_antspants]

I have an air conditioning problem that seems to be a combination of the symptoms experienced by BigDave and markie.

 

Situation is as follows and I'd welcome an advice on what to do next.

 

- climate control aircon, air conditioning stopped working about 6 weeks ago.

 

- I took the Galaxy to a local aircon specialist, he diagnosed a leak in the condenser (stone damage). He replaced the condenser and all seemed to be well, cold air was restored.

 

- however since the condenser was replaced, the aircon has worked intermittently and this seems to be related to the ambient air temperature, as reported by BigDave1972. When the air temperature is cool then the compressor kicks in no problem and all is OK. In this condition I've got a cold low pressure pipe on the left hand side (condensation forms on it) and a hot high pressure pipe on the right (very hot to the touch).

 

- when the air temperature rises above 23 degrees (as shown on the dashboard thermometer), then the compressor seems to stop working. In this condition I get no cold air in the cabin on the car with the control in the "LO" setting, the left hand pipe is now not cold but the right hand pipe is still hot.

 

- I've tested this today; all through this morning the aircon has worked fine, until the air temperature warmed up at lunchtime and now it's not working again.

 

The aircon specialist who replaced the condenser has quoted me for a replacement compressor as well - very expensive and I'd really rather not have to fork out for that, having only recently paid for a new condenser.

 

Therefore I'm thinking about trying BigDave's technique of releasing some gas pressure - only I'm not sure how to do that, can anyone educate me? There is a valve at the front of the engine on the hot/high pressure side of the condenser, is it just a case of poking down the top of the valve with a screwdriver?

[gregers]

i cannot believe that all these garages who are meant to be the experts continue to replace items and charge and do not seem to check the car is working correctlyhow do they get away with saying the cars are working when clearly there not?

[spongebob_antspants]

Therefore I'm thinking about trying BigDave's technique of releasing some gas pressure - only I'm not sure how to do that, can anyone educate me? There is a valve at the front of the engine on the hot/high pressure side of the condenser, is it just a case of poking down the top of the valve with a screwdriver?

 

Ooops - a quick bit of googling leads me to believe that unauthorised tinkering and release of refirgerant in this manner could be both environmentally damaging and illegal, so maybe more to this than meets to eye. Does this mean I need to take the car back to an authorised garage who can vent the system legally and safely?