Aircon Condenser In.......

[ghr]

Got the old one out and the new one in and drove it to Kwikfit without the bumper bar and the bumper itself held on by the four torx screws at the top. KwikFit did what they do and no leaks. They reported it as blowing 5 point something degrees and I have to admit it was cold but not as I remembered it being but then again maybe I was expecting too much and it has been a long while since it was working. At least the display wasn't flashing. Took it home to get the rest of the bits on and noticed that they had only put 700g in and it's a dual system so I took it back and spent what seemed an age to put the other 300g in. Drove back and it wasn't blowing as cold. Put everything back together and did a run and it was not blowing cold.

 

Put the Vagcom on it and got the fault: A/C Pressure switch - Intermittent.

 

 

Is this switch changeable without getting the system emptied first? Could this be the compressor?

Edited July 9, 2011 by ghr

[ghr]

Sorry, just done a search on this and this question has been asked before......by me and I received all the replies I need (looked for an appropriate emoticon but couldn't find one for tosser). Edited July 9, 2011 by ghr

[ghr]

This is from an earlier post by SeatKid:

 

"AC pressure switch is a 3 way device i.e. lo/normal/hi. So it looks like yours is a high pressure problem due to too much gas (has it been regassed recently?) or a faulty switch or possibly a dicky connector/wiring."

 

and from Chris

 

" they are only OK for a straight forward regas (providing they put the correct amount of gas and oil in) a specialist is guy who has a good working knowledge of auto aircon systems on a variety of vehicles and is able to diagnose a fault without the guess work. "

 

 

Back to KwikFit tomorrow to get some of the refrigerant out then?

Edited July 9, 2011 by ghr

[seatkid]

Woah there GHR!

 

Are you sure you have a dual system? They are very rare indeed. Dual systems have roof mounted airvents at the back and only one rear quarter light that opens (due to the a/c piping in the other side pillar).

 

Just because you have temp dials/controls front and rear does not mean you have a dual system. The standard single system has front/rear display/controls.

 

You probably ended up overfilling the system - the 3 way pressure switch will trip on over pressure. Check on the rating plate next to the bonnet latch to check the correct amount of gas that should be put in.

 

BTW 5 deg C is very good for a galaxy a/c.

Edited July 9, 2011 by seatkid

[ghr]

I paid for the option when I bought it back in 2002. It has roof vents in the back. The plate under the bonnet says:

 

 

Does this imply that a total of 1.75 kgs is required? I took it back to KwikFit a minute ago and was told that they first put in 0.7 kgs and when I took it back yesterday they put in another 0.6 kgs so 1.3 kgs in all.

 

It definitely blew cold (ish?) yesterday after they put in the 0.7 kgs but didn't after they put in the extra 0.6 kgs.

 

If it is a dual system then is 1.3 kgs enough? Is there a quick way to tell or see if the compressor clutch is engaging/disengaging?

 

 

At a loss. KwikFit manager will get aircon guy to have a look tomorrow.

 

 

 

The original KwikFit print out says:

 

Recovered: 00.000 kg (so much for the 3 psi reported by Halfords)

Recovered Oil: 0000 ml

.

.

.

Charged : 00.700 kg

Oil Charged : 0010 ml

 

Temperature was 10.1 degC

Now 5.2 degC

[ghr]

Also is 10ml of oil enough? It says 50g on the plate but without the density I don't know how many ml that is.

[seatkid]

Does this imply that a total of 1.75 kgs is required? I took it back to KwikFit a minute ago and was told that they first put in 0.7 kgs and when I took it back yesterday they put in another 0.6 kgs so 1.3 kgs in all.

 

The correct quantity for your car is 1050g (1.05kg) - That's why its not working now (the pressure switch is tripped to protect the compressor) and why it didn't seem too cold first round (not enough gas).

 

The +50g on the plate refers to the absolute maximum gas quantity allowed, i.e. 1050g+50g = 1100g

 

sheesh.....

 

Don't go messing with the oil quantity - kwikfit will only put in the quantity recovered + 10ml to replace anticipated average loss. There will already be enough oil in (the total quantity is not much anyway) and putting too much oil in will bugger your system. Not much oil is lost even when there is a gas leak.

 

Just get the gas quantity right and it should be fine....

Edited July 10, 2011 by seatkid

[ghr]

Tolerance and not oil amount, right.

 

KwikFit report says "recovered oil 0 ml" and "oil charged 10 ml" so did they get sod all out and only put in 10ml then?

[seatkid]

KwikFit report says "recovered oil 0 ml" and "oil charged 10 ml" so did they get sod all out and only put in 10ml then?

Yes that's normal since you had no gas in, and oil is only recovered if its in suspension in the gas. You will only get an appreciable amount if the a/c has been working for several mins immediately prior to evacuation of the the system.

 

From memory I think there's only about 160ml-200ml of oil in a Galaxy system anyway (dont quote me on that though)

Edited July 10, 2011 by seatkid

[ghr]

KwikFit report says "recovered oil 0 ml" and "oil charged 10 ml" so did they get sod all out and only put in 10ml then?

Yes that's normal since you had no gas in, and oil is only recovered if its in suspension in the gas. You will only get an appreciable amount if the a/c has been working for several mins immediately prior to evacuation of the the system.

 

From memory I think there's only about 160ml-200ml of oil in a Galaxy system anyway (dont quote me on that though)

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

I took it back to KwikFit and the guy there was insistent that he had put 1050 + 50g in. I checked the pressure switch and it's okay and the compressor clutch engages when I switch the aircon on but still no cooling. Gauge says pressure is there. Did I read on here that the shaft in the compressor could be sheared?

 

It's the only thing I can think of. Run out of time to get an aircon specialist to look at it before my travels due to the summer demand. The condenser was leaking at the receiver/dryer and also at the pipe connection on the right hand side where the o-ring had perished.

[ghr]

Update: Aircon works. Icy blast.....for about 5 minutes then warms up. Switch off then switch on after 5 mins and icy again for a further 5 mins etc etc etc. Compressor clutch works when aircon switched on; pressure switch works; no faults reported on vagcom. Read here someone had the same problem and someone else mentioned an 'ice sensor'; does this exist? Despite autumn approaching I've become aircon obsessed now :blink: Clues appreciated.

 

Mk2 Tdi 2002 Dual system (one opening window at the back and roof vents with 5 mins of icy air).

Edited September 5, 2011 by ghr