Aircon Problems

[Bigjeeze]

You can use an air line on the low pressure side if you have the correct fitting - I got mine from one of those self fill cans ( complkete with gauge) so once the pipe is repaired you can pressuries the system - apporx 30psi is OK and if it doesn't leak then go ahead and re gas. BUT don't use the compressor ie keep it on econ you are only testing for a leak you don't want to run it.

[alan_131]

Um don't know how others feel but personally I'd be a bit cautious about using an airline as I've come across a lot that have very poorly maintained/non-existent driers and may pump water into your system...

obviously you'd be having the system vacuumed afterwards to get the air/water out before it could be re-gassed but I'd have thought at least some could end up staying where you don't want it afterwards... or have I misunderstood... wouldn't be the first time - or the 100th time come to that :-) Edited September 7, 2012 by alan_131

[airbox]

My aircon has developed a fault. I had a pipe replaced about 10,000 miles ago from the condensor to the compressor and it seemed to be fine until the other day. About two weeks ago I had a noise from the front like a bearing or clattery fan noise which stopped after about 10 minutes then a week later I was coming back from Heathrow with 4 people and the windows started to steam up. They cleared after I had dropped them off. Yesterday I noticed some smoke or steam coming from under the car near the nearside rear passenger door, had a look and there seems to be a sort of vent and a pipe that goes into the sidesill which I am not sure what it is. There is now a sort of refigerant smell inside the car. When I turn on the a/c button (manual aircon) the centre of the compressor spins and stops when I turn the a/c off which I assume to be correct. I can't recall hearing a fan turn on though when I do this. I have kept the a/c on the whole time I have had the car to stop the seals drying out. I do not appear to have lost any coolant from the engine. It is a mk2 galaxy 2006 1.9 TDI 115ps model. Any one had this fault? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[airbox]

just to update. A/C is not the problem, I think the noise from the front was just due to the shit weather we have been having and maybe the pulleys got wet. I think the misting up was just these excitable Italians singing in the back. It is the aux heater that is the problem. I think I may have got the connection to the glowplug wet so it wasn't combusting properly. I have had no more smoke since and the smell is just residual (I hope!). It seems that the air intake is from the inside of the sills, to keep it dry I presume and if it doesn't combust properly then fumes can travel back into the sills and find their way into the cabin via various holes etc. I shall spray some smelly stuff down by the seat belt retainer by the the rear passenger door and hopefully that will be it. If the problem persists then I'll just pull the fuse until the weather improves and I can get the heater off and have a proper look. I have a friend who has the vagcom gear so will ask him to plug it in to see if there are any faults. Presumably if the fuse is pulled it will disable the diesel pump to this heater also so there will be no further problems except for the water taking a bit longer to heat up. Never had a vehicle with an aux heater before, learn something new every day!!! I am now ploughing my way through the aux heater thread!!

[SilverBeast]

Weird isn't it how this thread becomes popular again when the weather gets hot!

[gregers]

this and the booster 1 :38:

[allbluedave]

ive got a mk1 galaxy 1.9tdi............the gearbox went bang recently but at the same time the aircon pipe ruptured{ the metal one that goes into a chunky rubber flexy pipe. excuse my lack of knowledge if theres more than one of that type but could the gearbox caused the pipe to bust or a duff compressor? never thought about it till now. 

[xavier]

> this and the booster 1

 

thanks for the reminder!

[Rntaylor]

Think I have a leak on my MkII Sharan after the condenser. I can see where most of the pipe work goes, but are there any joints or are the solid pipes all one piece? Think my leak is from near the pressure switch in the RH wing, but the pipe looks to thread itself through the main structure. How does it come out in one?

[SilverBeast]

Pressure switch with join above it.

 

[attachment=6439:High Pressure Air-Con Pipes.JPG]

 

Where pipes go to under headlight (Fibre-glass panel removed)

 

[attachment=6440:IMG_0177.JPG]

 

Mine was leaking from the the corrosion where the bracket holds the thin pipe to the wing

 

Repaired pipe

 

[attachment=6441:IMG_0178.JPG][attachment=6442:IMG_0179.JPG]

 

Pipe routing (but I think it's a LHD view).

 

[attachment=6443:AirCon Front.JPG]

 

Basically pipes run from under headlight to back of engine bay (behind brake pipes) and across bulkhead to a join in front of the evaporator(?) behind the battery.  There is also a pipe runs off this joint down the bulkhead and under the car to the rear evaporator if you have Dual Air Con (vents in roof above middle and back row seats.  Didn't look that easy to replace which is why I had a mobile air con specialist repair mine.

[Rntaylor]

Hi SilverBeast

What great pictures, exactly where I believe my leak is. Do the pipes simply slide into the joint, or are they more complex than that? Are there O-rings to seal them? What are those white plastic rings that are loose around the pipe near the joints?

Think my leak is where the pipe has corroded under the clip. Design fault or my poor maintenance??

Thanks again for your help

Cheers Edited August 8, 2013 by Rntaylor

[SilverBeast]

There is a tool for releasing then that fits round the smaller diameter pipe, then slides along the pipe into the joint. They should then pull apart. Never used one as I found a mobile aircon specialist to do the repair. I just took the front end apart and and put it back together again. The loose rings are supposed to clip into the joint to keep muck out, but usually fall out according to the specialist!

From reading the forums it appears to be a common failure point so I'd call it a design fault myself.

[GazzJ]

I'm not sure if I have a problem with mine, its nice and cold when the aircon is on which is mostly when I turn the key in the ignition barrel. but I've read on here about it flashing, the only time min flashes is when I turn the ignition on, Is this normal.

[chrispb123456]

When it's flashing a fault code will be stored for the HVAC which could be low gas pressure.

[anmar75]

I am new here
My aircon works ok (so far) but rear vents doesnt work the very rear ones works ok and noisy as well but when I press the seats button nothing happens only hide some symbols from the display screen

My question is how does that btn works and how can I change the air flow

Thanks

[moog999]

There is a tool for releasing then that fits round the smaller diameter pipe, then slides along the pipe into the joint. They should then pull apart. Never used one as I found a mobile aircon specialist to do the repair. I just took the front end apart and and put it back together again. The loose rings are supposed to clip into the joint to keep muck out, but usually fall out according to the specialist!

From reading the forums it appears to be a common failure point so I'd call it a design fault myself.

I've literaaly just now had a mobile air con engineer out to mine.

Diagnosed a leak in this pipe at the bracket where it's held to the car - accumulation of crud causes the pipe to corrode. Also leak found on the top left hand of the condenser.

Quoted approx Edited July 2, 2014 by moog999

[niall1001]

2001 galaxy ghia,replaced compressor,regassed,no pwr to pump and no reason y!!!!

 

[niall1001]

I've literaaly just now had a mobile air con engineer out to mine.

Diagnosed a leak in this pipe at the bracket where it's held to the car - accumulation of crud causes the pipe to corrode. Also leak found on the top left hand of the condenser.

Quoted approx

[Russats]

Just had mine re-gassed it worked when I left, then stopped. It seems it works when you switch it on for about a minute then the coldness goes off again Any ideas??

[SilverBeast]

Sounds like it has to much refrigerant in it. Can you scan with vag-com or vcds. It should have a fault code. Is it single air con (no roof vents above rear seats) and been filled as if dual. The rating plate in the engine bay lists amount required for both.

[Russats]

She did ask if it was duel, but it's front only.

The compressor defiantly kicks in etc, it lasts about a minute then goes off.

[SilverBeast]

I'm guessing it's kicking in, starting to build up pressure then getting too high and cutting out.  If you can get the codes read it may confirm this.

[moog999]

[quote name="niall1001" post="185509" timestamp="1405804012"]i know that feeling mate,i got a 2.3 and its scorchin in there atm,kids complainin etc!!![/quote] I fixed mine a couple of weeks ago. BBought a mk3 2.0 tdci.... It's a massive, massive improvement, and the climate control is frosty!

[SilverBeast]

The mobile aircon specialist who fixed mine, said his S-Max doesn't get as cold as my MKII Galaxy (admittedly at the vent outlets with only the front centre on) even when he has just regassed it!  

 

Just driven York to London to Leeds in a day (over 7 hours driving) and not got even a twinge.  I've never had a car that comfortable!  I've heard some people have issues with comfort on the MKIII's, though I guess that can happen to with any car - all down to personal preference/shape!

[gregers]

thats nice to know 'beast' coz to be honest mines crap.so dont think ill bother getting it checked.

 

still think the best aircon was on a mk1 i test drove,made the missus pleased to see me. :16: very very cold.