Hi,

I'm looking for someone to put my mind at rest, with the hot weather recently I used my air conditioning for the first time. I've noticed a noise that happens every time I press the AC button. It's a little odd to describe but it sounds like a "whosh" noise which stops after 1-2 secs, this is then followed by a low pitch scraping/fan noise which can be heard over the normal rushing air noise even on fan speed 2. The noise sounds like its coming from within the fan outlets on the dash. it disappears as quickly as it started if you turn off the AC. Is this "Normal"?

Regards,

Mike.

I think its just the aircon pump starting to work. Dont think its anything major to worry about, mine makes a noise too and like you its hard to describe. My aircon is working fine with no problems.

HTH

Best advice with aircon:

1. Use EVERY week for at least 30 minutes

2. Make sure you switch it off (via the AC button, not by turning the dial to '0') for a minute or two BEFORE turning off the engine

Doing these things will reduce the chances of the aircon failing.

People who use it for a few months in the summer but not at all over the winter tend to have aircons that fail!

I think its just the aircon pump starting to work. Dont think its anything major to worry about, mine makes a noise too and like you its hard to describe. My aircon is working fine with no problems.

HTH

Yes the air con seems to be working fine it was just the noise that worried me.

Thanks

My a/c doesnt work...

Whats the usuall causes? just needs a regas?

In your case Jas...you've probably just broke it! lol kiddin mate

personally i would suggest never turning the aircon off... when its colder, just use the heater as normal, and the aircon will dry the air aiding demisting... I've never had aircon fail on my cars, and I run it permenently all the time (it does switch itself off when temps drop below 5 celcius to prevent damage)

I don't believe there is a fuel advantage to turning it off either, as I believe the vRS runs the aircon pump permenently anyway.....

The pulley on the air con pump turns permanently on the same belt as the alternator, the pump only turns once you operate the switch and a magnet kicks in carrying the drive from the pulley through the pump.

Our las has a problem on hers , where it will work for so long and then go warm for a while, and then work again, its been regassed and had a new air con rad and accumulator, this only happens when moving, when left ticking over it chills up nicely

The pulley on the air con pump turns permanently on the same belt as the alternator, the pump only turns once you operate the switch and a magnet kicks in carrying the drive from the pulley through the pump.

Not on the Fabia or the Octy 2 or any of the new cars. they no longer have a magnetic clutch. The compressor is constantly running as correctly mentioned above. this means the gas/oil is constantly circulating.

My A/C is doing exactly the same as mentioned above...turn it on and it makes that whooshing noise and the car doesnt get cold. you can feel a slight temperature difference but nowhere near as cold as you want it when the cars been locked up in the sun for a few hours!!

if i turn the dial to blow at you thats when you can hear the whirring noise the most..doesnt matter if you have the fan on at 1 or 4. Also, when the A/C is turned off it makes the same whirring noise but goes away (bit like a song end fading) my dad says its normal and his car makes th4e same noise.. (think if my dads 08 plate civic is making that noise with climate control something must be up lol)

i bet these A/C threads are doing peoples nuts in but what would people recommend to get it sorted? ive tried running the A/C but it isnt getting any better/quieter/cooler

Thanks all

Adam,

I've been reading up on this last night and this morning and it appears that a re-gas and service might hopefully be the answer.

Something like this: Offers : Volkswagen UK

Would hopefully do the trick. Would you agree Lummox?

Also, does anyone know if that VW offer is specifically for Volkswagens as it doesn't state that on the website?

Its will want a regas.

Its the nature of the motor buisness. A/C faults in the summer, water leaks in the winter.

Also, does anyone know if that VW offer is specifically for Volkswagens as it doesn't state that on the website?

You can but ask. Personally I think the dealership I work at would take money off anyone that will give it to them at the moment.

personally i would suggest never turning the aircon off... when its colder, just use the heater as normal, and the aircon will dry the air aiding demisting... I've never had aircon fail on my cars, and I run it permenently all the time (it does switch itself off when temps drop below 5 celcius to prevent damage)

I don't believe there is a fuel advantage to turning it off either, as I believe the vRS runs the aircon pump permenently anyway.....

Whenever i switch mine on the fuel computer readout drops dramatically!!!! It roughly halves!!! Last summer i drove up to Edinburgh for my brother-in-law's stag do. Had the air-con on for most of the journey back. Had to fill up twice, compared to just one fuel stop on the way up (but that was just outside edinburgh).

Air-con is thirsty!!!!!!

I just open the windows unless i really really need to switch it on. Especially with Diesel now £1.25/litre round here!!!!!

Whenever i switch mine on the fuel computer readout drops dramatically!!!! It roughly halves!!! Last summer i drove up to Edinburgh for my brother-in-law's stag do. Had the air-con on for most of the journey back. Had to fill up twice, compared to just one fuel stop on the way up (but that was just outside edinburgh).

Air-con is thirsty!!!!!!

I just open the windows unless i really really need to switch it on. Especially with Diesel now £1.25/litre round here!!!!!

wow... thats astonishing... but what model do you have? I had a 1.25 fiesta once, that wouldn't even make it up hills if I put the aircon on... but with over 270lbs/ft of torque, the engine in my fiat could pull a train up a hill, so an aircon compressor is niether here not there..... was the same when I had the vRS... and like lummox said, the compressor is run by the engine all the time anyway.... so it physically can't make any difference......

do you have a lower powered model? if its that bad, then surely its not worth having aircon fitted....., makes no diff to my fuel economy at all.... BP ultimate compaired to standard BP makes more of a difference...

I have a question. On my old car on which the AC had a magetic clutch, once the AC was on the pump started turning and the engine load changed as it span the pump. If the pump on the Fabia is spinning all the time why does the engine load change when you switch the AC on?

Whenever i switch mine on the fuel computer readout drops dramatically!!!! It roughly halves!!! Last summer i drove up to Edinburgh for my brother-in-law's stag do. Had the air-con on for most of the journey back. Had to fill up twice, compared to just one fuel stop on the way up (but that was just outside edinburgh).

Air-con is thirsty!!!!!!

I just open the windows unless i really really need to switch it on. Especially with Diesel now £1.25/litre round here!!!!!

Hmmmmmm.........But have you thought about the fact that one direction may have been more uphill overall???? I get roughly 10-15mpg better readouts when i drive the 20-odd miles TO work than i do on the way back home.

I've never noticed any drop in fuel tank range whether i've had the a/c on or off.

Cheers

Dave.

I have a question. On my old car on which the AC had a magetic clutch, once the AC was on the pump started turning and the engine load changed as it span the pump. If the pump on the Fabia is spinning all the time why does the engine load change when you switch the AC on?

It spins will no load on it (or very very little) so you won't notice it if the button is not depressed.

Only when you press the button will the pump ramp up the required loading to drive the system.

Ben

Yeah, thats what I don't get. If it is pumping the gas round all the time it should be at the same load all the time and the air should be cold all the time. If the pump varies the amount of gas it pumps that means it is altering load on the engine (when the revs drop). That means the engine is working harder and using more fuel, so it must increase fuel use when running the AC otherwise there would be no change in engine load when you turn it on and off.

Makes me miss the simple electro clutch systems.

Its a variable load compressor. A 'wobble' plate inside alters the speed in which the gas is flowed around the system. When the system is off the solenoid on the comprssor is duty cycled and the wobble plate alters its angle and just circulates the gas. When its activated the anlge changed and so does the load.

In theory not unlike a VNT turbo.

Thanks Lummox, that explains all.

wow... thats astonishing... but what model do you have? I had a 1.25 fiesta once, that wouldn't even make it up hills if I put the aircon on... but with over 270lbs/ft of torque, the engine in my fiat could pull a train up a hill, so an aircon compressor is niether here not there..... was the same when I had the vRS... and like lummox said, the compressor is run by the engine all the time anyway.... so it physically can't make any difference......

do you have a lower powered model? if its that bad, then surely its not worth having aircon fitted....., makes no diff to my fuel economy at all.... BP ultimate compaired to standard BP makes more of a difference...

I have a black magic vRS thats standard except for the wheels (bent one on the M25!!!)

Audi 5 spoke reps now

Its a variable load compressor. A 'wobble' plate inside alters the speed in which the gas is flowed around the system. When the system is off the solenoid on the comprssor is duty cycled and the wobble plate alters its angle and just circulates the gas. When its activated the anlge changed and so does the load.

In theory not unlike a VNT turbo.

"wobble plate"???

I have a black magic vRS thats standard except for the wheels (bent one on the M25!!!)

Audi 5 spoke reps now

love those audi wheels

but really, the aircon shouldn't effect the fuel that much....

70 mph one way , and 90mph they other would affect the fuel that much! lol.....:P