Air Con Problem

[sasquartch]

The aircon on my 2005 TDI (manual aircon) did not seem to work at all when I tested it a few weeks ago. Other than the switch lighting up when I pressed the AC button nothing happened.

 

So, whilst getting my tyres changed I noticed my tyre centre offered a aircon recharge service for 40.00 which I had done about 10 days ago. It definitely seemed to be working OK after it was done although it was a fairly cool day anyway.

 

Today in 20-25C heat I really needed the aircon - turned it on and no cooled air. More worrying is that you can hear what I assume is the compressor cutting in for a few seconds then out again every 10 seconds or so. If just crawling along at 5mph in first I can even feel it, it's almost as though the compressor when it cuts in is sapping a large aount of power from the engine for an instant. When idling you can see the rev counter dip. It definitely didn't do this before it was re-gassed.

 

Vag.com shows no fault codes as far as I can tell

 

Does anyone have any ideas what the cause might be. Could it be over charged even and a hot day was too much for it ? The tyre place said (I think) it had about 290 grammes of gas before they recharged it and about 1200 grammes afterwards. Does this sound right ? They also said there was a dye that would mean any leaks could be dtected.

 

I'm taking it back next week but wanted to try and find what the problem might be in case they've done something wrong.

 

Any advice welcome :o

[Mirez]

Well to start 1200g is for dual A/C so unless you have air vents in the roof above the 2nd and 3rd row seats then it should be 750g. Because there seems to be soooo much confusion on this I've even gone to the effort of scanning in the section from the brochure. So here:

 

 

if you don't have those extra roof vents then you 100% have NOT got dual A/C. A 3-Way pressure sensor is fitted to all Mk2's however to detect under and over pressure in the system so IF thats working correctly then it should have shut the system down if its been overgassed. Assuming they are correct and you DO have dual AC then the system should be working - its actually normal to just about feel the A/C compressor as it takes an awfull lot of power to compress the gas, and is normally accompanied by an engine tone change and a slight dip of the rev counter.

 

So moving on I see two potential issues. Firstly, the compressor could be seized resulting in a big extra load and no A/C. You should be able to see this with the bonnet open as the center core won't spin when the clutch kicks in to engage it.

 

Secondly, given what you were describing I take it the car wasn't getting up to anything higher then say 15/20mph? The A/C system needs to rid the hot air and it does this by putting it through a radiator at the front of the car (A/C term: condensor). In slow traffic there isn't any airflow over this radiator which is why the front cooling fan should be engaged as soon as A/C is turned on - if this fan isn't working then you'll get very little cooling effect from the A/C as it can't rid itself of the hot air.

 

Dropping 1200 to 290G in 10 days though is a clear leak, the most likely being the receiver drier and cap.

Edited June 3, 2010 by Mirez

[sasquartch]

Well to start 1200g is for dual A/C so unless you have air vents in the roof above the 2nd and 3rd row seats then it should be 750g. Because there seems to be soooo much confusion on this I've even gone to the effort of scanning in the section from the brochure. So here:

 

 

if you don't have those extra roof vents then you 100% have NOT got dual A/C. A 3-Way pressure sensor is fitted to all Mk2's however to detect under and over pressure in the system so IF thats working correctly then it should have shut the system down if its been overgassed. Assuming they are correct and you DO have dual AC then the system should be working - its actually normal to just about feel the A/C compressor as it takes an awfull lot of power to compress the gas, and is normally accompanied by an engine tone change and a slight dip of the rev counter.

 

So moving on I see two potential issues. Firstly, the compressor could be seized resulting in a big extra load and no A/C. You should be able to see this with the bonnet open as the center core won't spin when the clutch kicks in to engage it.

 

Secondly, given what you were describing I take it the car wasn't getting up to anything higher then say 15/20mph? The A/C system needs to rid the hot air and it does this by putting it through a radiator at the front of the car (A/C term: condensor). In slow traffic there isn't any airflow over this radiator which is why the front cooling fan should be engaged as soon as A/C is turned on - if this fan isn't working then you'll get very little cooling effect from the A/C as it can't rid itself of the hot air.

 

Dropping 1200 to 290G in 10 days though is a clear leak, the most likely being the receiver drier and cap.

 

 

Thanks for the reply

 

I don't have dual aircon. I definitely don't have the vents in the roof and given that mine is a 'Silver' model, basically a slightly tarted up LX I would expect all equipment to be basic

 

So, it sounds like it's over gassed if what they said about 1200grammes is true.

 

BTW, the figure of 290 grammes is what they said was in the system before they recharged it - I've owned the car from new and know the system has never been looked at before. So it's leaked 460 grammes in 5 or so years, it was manufactured 11/04 although registered 1/3/2005

 

WHere did you get the figure of 750 grammes from ? It would be useful to be able to quote this to the garage.

 

It sounds like, in retrospect, a local tyre place wasn't the best place to go despite sounding so knowledgable :o

 

But I'll take it back and see what they say.

[gregers]

iirc its stamped somewhere on the front of the engine compartment.

[big_kev]

WHere did you get the figure of 750 grammes from ? It would be useful to be able to quote this to the garage.

 

Its probably on a big label at the front of the engine compartment....

[mikej]

Had this issue when i first bought the galaxy, a garage over filled it assuming it was dual aircon not single ( label is on the front panel next to the bonnet catch, i have now totally blanked the larger figure to save any future confusion ) the result was heavy loading on the engine when engaging the compressor and the intermittant sound of gas escaping through what sounded like a relief valve ? aircon did not work either when overfilled. The end came the very next day when the compressor seized resulting in a snapped belt and one hell of a screech . I have this morning just topped up my gas ( new compressor and condensor fitted last year) with a can and overfilled it again by mistake with the same symtoms heavy loading and gas escaping, had it corrected and it's now working a treat FOR NOW :o mine only lasts approx 5 months or the summer before needing a topup so i guess i have a leak elsewhere, i would say that the figures you quoted for the amount of gas you had left are bloody good after all this time and it simply needed topping up to the correct level, if i were you i wouldn't use yours untill the gas amount has been corrected. If it was quick fit that did it just take it back and tell them they shouldn't charge you. One last thing even when mine is working correctly i can still feel the compressor when it kicks in and out as it puts so much load on the car.

just my ten bobs worth

mike.

[jbgt2]

Had this issue when i first bought the galaxy, a garage over filled it assuming it was dual aircon not single ( label is on the front panel next to the bonnet catch, i have now totally blanked the larger figure to save any future confusion ) the result was heavy loading on the engine when engaging the compressor and the intermittant sound of gas escaping through what sounded like a relief valve ? aircon did not work either when overfilled. The end came the very next day when the compressor seized resulting in a snapped belt and one hell of a screech . I have this morning just topped up my gas ( new compressor and condensor fitted last year) with a can and overfilled it again by mistake with the same symtoms heavy loading and gas escaping, had it corrected and it's now working a treat FOR NOW :rolleyes: mine only lasts approx 5 months or the summer before needing a topup so i guess i have a leak elsewhere, i would say that the figures you quoted for the amount of gas you had left are bloody good after all this time and it simply needed topping up to the correct level, if i were you i wouldn't use yours untill the gas amount has been corrected. If it was quick fit that did it just take it back and tell them they shouldn't charge you. One last thing even when mine is working correctly i can still feel the compressor when it kicks in and out as it puts so much load on the car.

just my ten bobs worth

mike.

Anybody tried this from Halfords?

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/s...tegoryId_212466

[mikej]

<!--quoteo(post=155063:date=Jun 3 2010, 23:51:08:name=mikej)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mikej @ Jun 3 2010, 23:51:08) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=155063"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Had this issue when i first bought the galaxy, a garage over filled it assuming it was dual aircon not single ( label is on the front panel next to the bonnet catch, i have now totally blanked the larger figure to save any future confusion ) the result was heavy loading on the engine when engaging the compressor and the intermittant sound of gas escaping through what sounded like a relief valve ? aircon did not work either when overfilled. The end came the very next day when the compressor seized resulting in a snapped belt and one hell of a screech . I have this morning just topped up my gas ( new compressor and condensor fitted last year) with a can and overfilled it again by mistake with the same symtoms heavy loading and gas escaping, had it corrected and it's now working a treat FOR NOW <img src="http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> mine only lasts approx 5 months or the summer before needing a topup so i guess i have a leak elsewhere, i would say that the figures you quoted for the amount of gas you had left are bloody good after all this time and it simply needed topping up to the correct level, if i were you i wouldn't use yours untill the gas amount has been corrected. If it was quick fit that did it just take it back and tell them they shouldn't charge you. One last thing even when mine is working correctly i can still feel the compressor when it kicks in and out as it puts so much load on the car.

just my ten bobs worth

mike.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Anybody tried this from Halfords?

<a href="http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_201507_langId_-1_categoryId_212466" target="_blank">http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/s...tegoryId_212466</a>

yep tried one before , forget it and get the car vac'd out and refilled properly even by quickfit so you have proof of how much is in the system, the gauges on these cans are crap.

[Pineappleman]

I made the mistake of letting Kwik fit recharge my air con twice. Both times they never managed to get it working alto they said they did. I did get my money back so im not bitter however i shall never let them loose on it again.

 

I have since found out a friend of a friend has a mobile aircon company and i cant recommend him enough. He himself owns a mk 1 galaxy and knows all the probs they have. I have a mk2 and he fixed it as quick as a flash seems that kwik fit oftern forget to add oil to the recharge. My advice is go to an expert not some oily rag who has done an hours course on how to recharge aircon.

 

If you want a decent honest bloke to fix your aircon pm me and i will pass you the details. hes based in the Medway towns of Kent .

[sasquartch]

To be fair to the tyre centre I used, I returned the car to them and they immediately admitted they'd overfilled it once I'd pointed out it only had single aircon. The guy had seen the auxiliary heater controls and assumed that meant it had dual aircon.

 

They emptied out and refilled correctly and it seems to be working fine now.

[jbgt2]

<!--quoteo(post=155063:date=Jun 3 2010, 23:51:08:name=mikej)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mikej @ Jun 3 2010, 23:51:08) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=155063"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Had this issue when i first bought the galaxy, a garage over filled it assuming it was dual aircon not single ( label is on the front panel next to the bonnet catch, i have now totally blanked the larger figure to save any future confusion ) the result was heavy loading on the engine when engaging the compressor and the intermittant sound of gas escaping through what sounded like a relief valve ? aircon did not work either when overfilled. The end came the very next day when the compressor seized resulting in a snapped belt and one hell of a screech . I have this morning just topped up my gas ( new compressor and condensor fitted last year) with a can and overfilled it again by mistake with the same symtoms heavy loading and gas escaping, had it corrected and it's now working a treat FOR NOW <img src="http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> mine only lasts approx 5 months or the summer before needing a topup so i guess i have a leak elsewhere, i would say that the figures you quoted for the amount of gas you had left are bloody good after all this time and it simply needed topping up to the correct level, if i were you i wouldn't use yours untill the gas amount has been corrected. If it was quick fit that did it just take it back and tell them they shouldn't charge you. One last thing even when mine is working correctly i can still feel the compressor when it kicks in and out as it puts so much load on the car.

just my ten bobs worth

mike.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Anybody tried this from Halfords?

<a href="http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_201507_langId_-1_categoryId_212466" target="_blank">http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/s...tegoryId_212466</a>

Used the Halfords option as I live in the arse end of nowhere with no Air Con specialists anywhere. System workin @ about 80% now but will make the journey next time to a person in the know.

[sappers]

Great topic. I have also used a can from Halfords but it only worked for about a week, also had it filled at the tyre place but no change in temperature so no charge. On the bright side they did say it had no leaks. If anyone knows of a decent aircon engineer around Berkshire then can you send me their details.

[woolmer]

I made the mistake of letting Kwik fit recharge my air con twice. Both times they never managed to get it working alto they said they did. I did get my money back so im not bitter however i shall never let them loose on it again.

 

I have since found out a friend of a friend has a mobile aircon company and i cant recommend him enough. He himself owns a mk 1 galaxy and knows all the probs they have. I have a mk2 and he fixed it as quick as a flash seems that kwik fit oftern forget to add oil to the recharge. My advice is go to an expert not some oily rag who has done an hours course on how to recharge aircon.

 

If you want a decent honest bloke to fix your aircon pm me and i will pass you the details. hes based in the Medway towns of Kent .

 

 

Hi seen your comment here, my aircon has now packed up, and I am looking for a company in Medway(Chatham) would like his number!!