Aircon Problems

[big_kev]

Just had a thought on this.

I asssume that when topping up the aircon that you can use some sort of meter to measure tha gas pressure.

Is it possible that this could be connected permanently and displayed in the cab......would look cool !

no pun intended

[Bigjeeze]

[quote name='Bigjeeze' post='109523' date='Jun 19 2007, 10:43:30']Well my MK2 Air Con has just died. I noticed a couple of weeks ago that the Air Con wasn't as cold as usual - and it has got steadily worse until this morning the display started flashing.

I also notice that the two fans in the engine bay do not come on with the Air con - How can I test to see if this is the issue rather than a gas one - If that's possilble?

I notice that the Aircon clutch is working - you can see and hear the drop in revs as it engages - COuld it be the pressure switches? Where are they located?


I assume VAG Com would be the best place to start?[/quote]


I have booked my Gal in at a local Air con shop which so far has seemed trustworthy. In the interim I bought a can of gas from Halfords - topped the system up with whatever it would take and lo & behold it has stopped the display flashing and the fans come on - I will still have it serviced as I am not sure I should trust the can version - but at least it gives nme some small comfort that it still works!!!

[jkspoff]

The air con for the Shalaxy range is well in need of an annual service, it is money well spent in the long run.

[matt1003]

ive got a problem with my ac , i havent got the flashing display and the compressor kicks in
everytime but the cooling fan will not start no matter what ! ive tested the fan and it works fine
ive had ac gas tested aswell and thats fine but no code in the memory to say somethings worng
has anyone else had this problem and fixed it, thanks for any help in advance

[Bigjeeze]

Well the outcome is that the Air COn guys say my condenser has a leak. They will supply & fit one for

[seatkid]

Would be nice if someone posted a pic.

When changing any major component in a/c, you should change the dryer as well. Also the part(s) should either be filled with the "appropriate" amount of oil - see TIS - or the "appropriate" amount of oil should be added when the system is recharged. Failure to do this could result in a rapid seizure of the compressor.

[Bigjeeze]

Correct me if I am wrong but I beleive the Drier is built in to the condensor on this model. If not then I will definitely get a new one .

[Bigjeeze]

Well the latest is that the condenser is fine there is no leak - and I now know where the Receiver dryer is located - I will post a pic for SeatKid. I found the leak and it is in one of the two pipes that leave the compressor - it appears to have a porous or tiny hole in it - Not only can I see the fluid beading on it but there is an amount of it on the engine tray below. The pipe is metal then connects to a rubber hose which then connects to another pipe and appears to disappear round to the rear of the engine compartment - either to go into the evaporator in the cabin or the rear air con unit. After reding some of the posts here it looks horribly expensive to replace. As I know I have to repolace it I have sealed it using Araldite metal then put a rubber sleeve and jubilee clip - I then used one the areosol canisters and filled it as best I can. The display has stopped flashing , the fans run and there is no apparent leak after running for an hour or so.

I will now see if I can either have the hose repaired or try and buy a new one. The Aircon doeswn't appear to cool very well at all but then I don't think there is sufficient gas in it.

I am going to complain to the head office of the garage that quoted for the condenser repair as it is obvious he didn't even look at it - and he would have replaced the condenser then come back and charged me for a new pipe plus another re gas. He's either incompetant or a cheat.

[Bigjeeze]

Scorpio

- Where did you buy the hose? How much was it.


Regards

Gary

[Godxyon]

Galaxy 2002 1.9tdi
A/c system gone big time.
I must have spoken to about 15 different garages and specialists now who (when they seem to know 'anything' about a/c problems at all) condem the Galaxy/Sharan/Alhambra a/c design as total sh** !
Two specialists point blankly refused to work on them as they said they kept coming back with problems so caused more headaches and cost than was worth it. Fords had the nerve to ask for 3.5K to do the work !!!!!!! Most people will not 'quote' but want to charge an hourly rate, plus mark ups on parts. Eg recon (with no warranty with work) 350 against new compressor 700 (with warranty) and these do not cover fitting.
I think I am going to have a breakdown trying to find someone who for a start gives the appearance of knowing what they are talking about, does not want to retire on their fees and will guarantee it for at least a year. The last a/c garage I took in to asses said they had never doe a system flush before and felt it was a myth.............................where do these people live............Mars!!!!
I have been told to chanage the - Compressor, receiver/dryer, condenser, pipe with silencer, expansion tank, flush the system and have a compressor guard............so thats a total new system then is it?
Does anyone else feel it is not worth it for the short time the system may last before eating itself again ?
I will either repair and sell the car within 12 months or sell broken as is and take the loss but not the headache, as life is too short.
I bought the car new with a mind of keeping for at least 8-10 years or until our kids had grown, I am not in a situation to spend this sort of money on cars every 3 years. But I have totally lost faith in car and am just dreading waht will happan next. I havent mentioned about the blown torque converter last year for 1500 quid have I. As I understand it I only have the engine to go for the complete disaster trio set (gearbox, a/c, engine)
.................. next time I will buy a Toyota without question.

Bitter, bitter, bitter, bitter, bitter........................but I feel a little better now.
Have a nice day

[mumof4]

Umm..welcome to the forum!..there is a rant thread somewhere floating about.

shame your having such probs with the car, maybe someone on here will be able to help you out.

[Bigjeeze]

[quote name='Godxyon' post='110232' date='Jul 1 2007, 09:54:04']Galaxy 2002 1.9tdi
A/c system gone big time.
I must have spoken to about 15 different garages and specialists now who (when they seem to know 'anything' about a/c problems at all) condem the Galaxy/Sharan/Alhambra a/c design as total sh** !
Two specialists point blankly refused to work on them as they said they kept coming back with problems so caused more headaches and cost than was worth it. Fords had the nerve to ask for 3.5K to do the work !!!!!!! Most people will not 'quote' but want to charge an hourly rate, plus mark ups on parts. Eg recon (with no warranty with work) 350 against new compressor 700 (with warranty) and these do not cover fitting.
I think I am going to have a breakdown trying to find someone who for a start gives the appearance of knowing what they are talking about, does not want to retire on their fees and will guarantee it for at least a year. The last a/c garage I took in to asses said they had never doe a system flush before and felt it was a myth.............................where do these people live............Mars!!!!
I have been told to chanage the - Compressor, receiver/dryer, condenser, pipe with silencer, expansion tank, flush the system and have a compressor guard............so thats a total new system then is it?
Does anyone else feel it is not worth it for the short time the system may last before eating itself again ?
I will either repair and sell the car within 12 months or sell broken as is and take the loss but not the headache, as life is too short.
I bought the car new with a mind of keeping for at least 8-10 years or until our kids had grown, I am not in a situation to spend this sort of money on cars every 3 years. But I have totally lost faith in car and am just dreading waht will happan next. I havent mentioned about the blown torque converter last year for 1500 quid have I. As I understand it I only have the engine to go for the complete disaster trio set (gearbox, a/c, engine)
.................. next time I will buy a Toyota without question.

Bitter, bitter, bitter, bitter, bitter........................but I feel a little better now.
Have a nice day[/quote]

Well it does sound like you are having fun!!!

The first questions to ask are -

Was it working when you got it?

Is so how did the fault manifest itself?

If it slowly lost effectiveness then there must be a leak. It's worth going to someone like Halfords and getting them to re gas it and putting in some dye - then you may be able to find the leak. I don't think that all of the components can be faulty - it has to be one of them.

The condenser is favourite (hope it isn't the evaporater) there is a spot where they condensers leak that cannot be see until you take the front grill off - they have a habit fo leaking there. Also it may be a pipe or joint. It's worth a look.

You wont get a solid guarantee from anyone unles they change the whole thing - which would be unnecessary and expensive.

I have two Gals, one 10 years old and the air con is still working - it had a new receiver dryer 3 years ago and is still working fine.

The other has just had a leaking pipe which the garge told me was the condenser - but I have repaired the pipe and re gassed it using the Halfords gas - It isn't perfect but it is working and no longer leaking. I am now taking it to get a vacuum and re gas.

Don't give up too easily it's a bugger on these cars but there are a lot that do still work.

[CM2007]

The aircon on mine is break proof, never to go wrong, COZ I AIN'T NOT NONE!!
I did find that a little strange as mine is a Ghia? But less to go wrong I guess!

Mike

[Godxyon]

[quote name='Ivor' post='16214' date='Jun 7 2004, 22:42:28']I wish I had found this forum earlier.
I've had nothing but trouble, luckily all under warranty.
My Alhambra (Climate control) has had two new compressors, a new condenser and finally, they found a leak on the evapourator and replaced that. That was during year 2 and 3. It was off the road for around 6 weeks in total, waiting for parts.
It's been fine for a whole year now, with no problems.

But...

I was cleaning the car the other day, and the sun was shining through the front grille. I noticed what a botch up job they have done replacing the condenser (bolted to the front of the radiator). There are two composite fibre looking brackets down either side of the radiator, they have hacked into these so that they could pass the lugs of the condenser through without removing the brackets. What a mess, not even neatly cut, they look like they have been chiselled through, exposing raw fibres where moisture can now penetrate and freeze I suppose. The right hand side of the condenser isn't even bolted back on.

It's a year ago since they last touched it (main dealer), but it's due it's 2nd MOT at the end of this month and I am going to show the service manager what a botch up they have done and I want it fixed. They had better agree or I will have it RAC inspected then get their legal dept. onto them.[/quote]


I was told by a little birdie that this hacking of brackets method is quite commonplace so as not to remove the radiator when changing the condenser.




I was told that this is a common practice so as not to need to remove the radiator as well, when needing to change the condenser.

[tim-spam]

It is, but it should be done a lot more neatly than most do. What's more, it is a procedure approved by the manufacturer.

[cos140]

Hi Guys, just a quick one for you.

I own a 2002 V6 Galaxy with the full front and rear roof mounted air con, really great for the kids, but im no having problems.

I had to one day remove the main digitalcontrol unit from the centre console in order to do some other work to the car, but since i have done that it seems that the unit has forgotten what the inside temperature[i] really[/i] is!!

I tell it to go to say 23 degrees on AUTO and soon after it's blowing cold air out, when it is probabaly about 19!! It should be warming up not cooling. If i turn up the temperature setting untill the blowers even out as such, it roughly works out the it thinks the cabin temp is about 27. It's really lost the plot, it's as if the unit need calibrating to the cabin temp sensors again.

Anyone had this fault?

I do have a Brand new unit but unsure wether this will make any difference.

Best regards
Justin

[tim-spam]

If you have a new unit, try it and see.

[cos140]

Hi Tim,

I will try it later on and let you know. Simple enough job.

Fingers crossed!!

Cheers

[sparky Paul]

My Mk1 has suffered a slow, but total, loss of gas due to a corroded pipe - the one which goes from the dryer back along the O/S chassis leg and back up to the expansion valve and evaporator on the bulkhead. The pipe is pin-holed where it goes through the engine undertray, I removed it for servicing and disturbed a lump of crusty mud between the pipe and the chassis.

I'm currently awaiting a quote for the pipe and o-rings, and I'm replacing the dryer too while I'm at it - it is the original and 8yrs old. If anyone's interested in knowing how I get on, parts numbers, costs, etc., I'll post back later. Edited July 19, 2007 by sparky Paul

[marinabrid]

i had same pipe affected 18 months ago the pipes are around

[sparky Paul]

[quote name='motorcareman' post='111762' date='Jul 23 2007, 13:05:59']i had same pipe affected 18 months ago the pipes are around

[gaznlou]

Hi New 1.9TDI GLX model owner here, great forum
I have just replaced the pipe from Dehydrator up the O/S leg around to the Bulkhead to, Regassed, A/C working perfectly (touch wood)

[sparky Paul]

Welcome to the forum!

[quote name='gaznlou' post='111846' date='Jul 25 2007, 12:42:39']Hi New 1.9TDI GLX model owner here, great forum
I have just replaced the pipe from Dehydrator up the O/S leg around to the Bulkhead to, Regassed, A/C working perfectly (touch wood)[/quote]
Yes, that's the one, glad to hear you got it sorted okay. Did you have any problems fitting the pipe?

Although I've got everything else ready and waiting, I'm still waiting for my new pipe to arrive... Edited July 25, 2007 by sparky Paul

[gaznlou]

The only problem you have is where it fits on the bulkhead, make sure you don't bend it, (I bent the Brakepipes down as these are more flexible) to make it easier, took me about 1 hour to fit
Gaz

[sparky Paul]

[quote name='gaznlou' post='111849' date='Jul 25 2007, 13:01:39']The only problem you have is where it fits on the bulkhead, make sure you don't bend it, (I bent the Brakepipes down as these are more flexible) to make it easier, took me about 1 hour to fit[/quote]

Cheers Gaz. I've had the pipe off the Expansion valve on the bulkhead to check the size of the o-rings, and there seems to be easy enough to move about there. I was more concerned about jiggling the pipe up the back whilst getting it behind the front strut - but it sounds like it's not going to be too bad.