Hi all,

Past few weeks my Air Con hasn't been feeling particularly cold. Called out a specialist who pressure tested the system (no leaks) and re-gassed it. Air con was nice and cold at the time.

Fast forward to today, turned air con on (21ish degs outside) and its no warmer than it was before the re-gas was done. Took the car to the specialist who did another pressure test and the full amount of gas was still in the system. He said the inward/cold side was too high and the outward/hot side had no pressure at all. He diagnosed it as a dead compressor and offered to remove the gas in preparation for repair but I opted to leave it there so I can make sure 100% that is the fault.

Question is, where do I go from here? Can I test the compressor some how? I've also read bits about clutches and pressure sensors?

I've checked fuses and they are ok.

Any advice would be appreciated

Phil

Edited 28 July, 201213 yr by Philip W

Is the clutch kicking in when the a/c is switched on?

Is that when you should hear/feel it kick in? If so no, can't hear or feel anything kicking in!

I'd see if you had 12v at the compressor to engage the clutch, if not check back along the wiring. There is a four pin plug on top of the starter motor, two of those pins are for the compressor clutch and quite often break or corrode.

Will get the multimeter out today and start eliminating things

Right, turned the air con on today and unplugged the compressor. Got the multimeter out and there is a constant 12v feed going to it, I'm assuming then that there is no wiring issue and the problem potentially lies with the clutch?

The air con fan kicks in so I know that pressing the button is still asking for the right things....

Decided to scan with VCDS again just in case anything comes up...

I'm hoping a replacement pressure switch will cure the problem but i think i'm going to bypass it first to see it the AC System kicks in

Edited 31 July, 201213 yr by Philip W

Pressure switch fault can also indicate low gas or pressure.

Yeah, i've just been sat thinking about it.

When the car was regassed there was next to no pressure in the system. I'm now thinking there was/is a leak which is what caused the pressure switch to fault.

The system is still charged at the moment but has not been used, which indicates if there is a leak it will be after the compressor rather than before it, right?

Any leak will empty the entire system given time.

Going to have to just suck it up, reset the fault, turn it on and try and see where the leak is coming from!

Ok, just been out and cleared the fault code, turned AC on and got nothing.

Turned it off/on on the Climatronic panel, checked VCDS again and the fault code appeared straight away. Fan isn't kicking in at the front of the car either. Finish work tomorrow so i'm going to try and bypass the pressure switch and see if anything changes.

The compressor isn't kicking in at all, i clear the code, put AC back on and the code appears straight away.

So many different avenues to go down with regard to faults its unreal :(

Edited 31 July, 201213 yr by Philip W

So many different avenues to go down with regard to faults its unreal :(

Welcome to my world.

Probably no gas.

Bought a HP/LP switch as a matter of ruleing it out as faulty, £22 on ECP after brisky discount, will update when it's fitted.

Want to come fix mine once yours is sorted?

HP/LP switch fitted, pressed the nib whilst it was off, no gas at all. AC guy is coming at weekend to fill it with Nitrogen and try and spot a leak!

Found the cause of the problem, inflicted by who ever fitted the Intercooler, started by filling the system with Nitrogen, pressure held to start with but then started dropping off.

Took the front end off to try and see where it was leaking...

Re-filled the system with nitrogen, sprayed some fairy liquid about and spotted the culprit..

Clamp part of the jubilee clip was chaffing on a pipe on the condenser and wore a hole through...

Phone pic but you can just about see the pin hole...

Tried to solder it but heating it up created another hole, new condenser time! Happy we found the leak though!!

Will also need a new drier with the age of the vehicle, but more than likely that pipe will be difficult to come out anyhow.

OrderIng a new drier as well, had that undone today so shouldn't be a problem getting it out!