Aircon Problems

[gazza007]

Well air con has been fixed again.
Shock horror

[seatkid]

Doesn't it say something when new models are just as unreliable as old ones?

Evidently the joint Ford/VW venture restricts development to bits of chrome wrok only....

I for one won't buy another one, (this one of mine will have to last the distance)

[Guest martin shaw]

Just found the forum. 3 year old (mine from new) Ghia Tdi with total aircon failure. Probable cause, compressor failure with metal contamination and destruction of everything else. Replacing complete system and pipework. Full price doesn't bear thinking about, but has a labour estimate of 30 hours plus parts. I'd guess minimum of

[Guest exemplum]

My Aircon packed up on my 1998 2.3 GhiaX in March 2003, was quoted

[Ivor_E_Tower]

I am willing to play a "supporting role" but I don't think you will get very far with Watchdog and the like. It needs to be a "sensational" story to grab the headlines.

[Guest OXO2 PUB]

Rear Air con unit went today, just startred blowing hot air almost instantly even though it was set to low that and drivers lecy window in 1 week, fantastic, thanks

[Guest chrisgjc]

Just for the record, I also have a Galaxy with failed Aircon. Dealer clueless as usual. Apparently waiting for a "part" ... 3 weeks now although I could get it next day via independents. It's a lease vehicle so I have to use a clueless dealer ... although at least I will not have to pay the extortionate repair cost.

[jkspoff]

Take an extended warranty from a 3rd party company that covers the repair costs of air con.....My warranty cost

[maghouse]

1. Flashing panel on dash - established it was an error and that the condensor had failed - leaked ... hence all coolant drained and running on empty system - system clever enough to know this - hence the shutdown & error flash etc.
Main dealer -

[Guest Tone]

So far so good, no problems yet... on my 1 year old Galaxy that I bought in June.

But watch this space.

The two year warranty runs out in 6 months time, so you can be sure I'll be putting through its paces before then...

Tone

[Ivor_E_Tower]

1 month before the warranty expires, get it re-gassed with the old gas/oil being weighed, so you know how much it lost. If it's significant go to dealer and register a fault within the warranty period. If it's OK, then you may have spend around

[Guest Tone]

[quote name='Ivor_E_Tower' date='Oct 8 2004, 11:45:24']1 month before the warranty expires, get it re-gassed with the old gas/oil being weighed, so you know how much it lost.  If it's significant go to dealer and register a fault within the warranty period.  (SNIP)[/quote]
Thanks for that Ivor_E_Tower,

What should the gas/oil weight in the system be? and what is an acceptable level of loss?

Another question occurs to me: Is there any particular age of vehicle in which these faults occur?

Does the level of usage determine possible timing on failures?

Lots of questions...

I use mine very rarely, and mainly for demisting. I tend to prefer fresh air, whatever the teperature.

[Guest fredt]

[quote name='Ivor_E_Tower' date='Oct 8 2004, 12:45:24'] 1 month before the warranty expires, get it re-gassed with the old gas/oil being weighed, so you know how much it lost. If it's significant go to dealer and register a fault within the warranty period. If it's OK, then you may have spend around

[italiastar]

This is beyond a joke!

I do know of someone who has an N-reg Sharan who's never had any air con problems - it's not fitted to his car!

Had I known this before I bought the car, I certainly would have thought twice - a VW dealer even told me that facelifted models with CC did not have any Air Con problems.

This was my first new "VW" (yes I know I bought a Seat) and I bought it because of the excellent build quality and percieved reliability - sounds like in this case, there's nothing more unreliable than a VW - I hope my Skoda is better!

[Guest KEITHAMBLER]

I had the whole lot replaced in 2001 on my old galaxy a 1998 tdi ghia x at a cost of

[seatkid]

[quote name='italiastar' date='Oct 8 2004, 21:09:09'] I hope my Skoda is better! [/quote]
Czech it out...Skoda are maybe planning an MPV!

Take notice, Italiastar, the fabia uses flexible connections to the bulkhead and IIRC the compressor (which looks tiny compared to the Alhambra) also has lots of protective cover/insulation trunking over the pipework. Something tells me a bit more thought has gone into that design - but remember its a VAG car - it may all be an illusion

Also, I understand changing a pollen filter doesn't require major surgery...

[i]The shalaxy is not much longer for this world[/i] - even if it were, I dont think I'd buy another.

[Guest MATT]

DAM i meant to pick Partial Failure, not full, now it wont let me vote again ive lost all control of this mouse, blame it on the cherry, can't even remember where ive put some posts, so if i never repliy, its because i can't find them, even spelling gone down the greek, without a paddle, I do hope skoda dont attempt a skoda, its like them kia people carriers, did anyone so top gear Or 5th Gear (Which ever it is now) where they tested Kia and hyundi - and they said they were all complete $@%* , Mother in law ha s a skoda, its blown a gaskett or something, cost more than what the cars worth to fix it anyway best go and take the dog a walk, (Quote wife said, Ill feed it, ill walk it, ill pay for it, Ill deal with everything) YEAH RIGHT.

[tim-spam]

Having visited the Hella website re. aircon. systems, the fact that the majority of new cars now sold in the UK have aircon. as standard is presented as an opportunity to the trade, due to service requirements and the high frequency of failures (note that this is directly from the suppliers to Ford, VW, Seat, etc.)!! However, it goes on to emphasize the importance of annual servicing. This should involve:
1) Visual inspection of all components.
2) De-gassing the system and measuring the amount of charge removed.
3) Subjecting the system to a deep vacuum to check for leaks and remove any moisture.
4) Re-gassing the system, appying UV dye and putting in the correct fill of oil to lubricate the compressor.
5) Replacing the filter / drier every 2 years.
6) Disinfection of the evaporator.
7) Replacement of the pollen filter.
I guess that 1) and 7) should be DIYable, and 6) probably does not affect system reliability.
If this is done, the system reliability should improve considerably.
It appears that manufacturers are offering aircon. as standard on more and more of their models, but are not putting any preventative maintenance schedules in place, presumably to avoid having uncompetitive servicing costs (after all, when negociating a fleet deal, warranty costs are probably ignored!)

So, I intend to have my system serviced annually (probably in the spring), if I can find a local aircon. specialist who doesn't charge the earth - does anyone know of one in the Stoke-on-Trent area? A commercial vehicle specialist would probably be better, as they tend to have far, far more knowledge and experience.
From what I've read, it appears that aircon. systems give trouble whatever the make of car (although I suppose the Japanese are probably better than most), and that much of the expense is due to poor or non-existent maintenance and the usual woefully poor knowledge and workmanship by the average main agents.

[Guest paule230]

My Benz was 8yrs old when I recently changed it for the Galaxy, it never needed regassing once and was still nice and cold when I sold it.

What Mercedes did though was to put the switch the other way round, so that the switch was illuminated when you switched the A/C off, that way most people drove around with it switched on most of the time and therefore prevented loss of gas.

I believe the gas also has a oil in it to lubricate the pipes and stop the seals from cracking. I was told the biggest cause of A/C failure is due to lack of use.


Saying that I think the air con in my Galaxy is out of gas because when I switch it on the rev's alter as the compressor runs but the air isn't very chilled. Or, is that how most Galaxy's are ????

[Guest MATT]

Ive just had mine regassed -

[Guest vr6galaxy]

[quote name='paule230' date='Jan 17 2005, 19:42:18']


Saying that I think the air con in my Galaxy is out of gas because when I switch it on the rev's alter as the compressor runs but the air isn't very chilled. Or, is that how most Galaxy's are ???? [/quote]
Welcome to the not so efficent AC owners club

[Guest harri_m]

My then 3 year old Galaxy suffered from failure only when the outside temp was over 77f. (Whats the point of the air con I ask you say!) While in France on holiday, I couldn't understand why first thing in the morning it ran fine, then while on the road at midday blew out HOT air. On arriving back to UK and into the garage they said they change a faulty valve! They could explain in technical terms any further. Mumbled about the computer readout. I just hope that in the summer I find that the fault is fixed!

[seatkid]

It took just 3 weeks to find out the "faulty valve" they changed on mine wasn't.

bet they didnt change the dryer after "opening up" the system by removing the valve

be prepared to be disappointed...after all the stats from the poll say it all.

SHALAXY A/C (+dealer network) IS C**P!

[Guest paule230]

Booked mine in next week to have a system test and re-gass. Hope it's not anything other than gas thats required , but as I got the car only last week from a indepedant dealer hopefully if it's gonna cost bucks he should pay for it...shouldn't he ????

[seatkid]

I think he probably had a "duty of disclosure". But contact him and get him to agree his responsibility [b]before[/b] you do any work otherwise you will be on sticky ground.