Just had the car in for an air con recharge (garage not a tyre place) and it wont take any more than 115g of gas which is way too low (should be 525g).  It's holding a vacuum, just wont take in the gas.  Anyone with any suggestions? 

How much vacuum has been pulled and for how long?

That I don't know but will ask tomorrow.  

On 12/06/2019 at 17:56, Tech1e said:

How much vacuum has been pulled and for how long?

He said he had the vacuum on for a good 45 mins and got it very low, he's happy with the vacuum.  His thoughts are expansion valve though he's got something else to try but will be doing it on another car with the same issue.  

So an update on this.  Went to an air con specialist recommended by numerous people in the trade including the garage I originally visited.  He had it gassed up in no time, no leaks found, fans working, compressor working, condenser fine.  Air con started cold then went warm, very strange as everything appeared to be working.  A scan should a code for refrigerant pressure lower limit exceeded.  So, code cleared we tried again, same thing.  After a few more goes the temp stayed cold and the code didn't return.  The best guess at the moment is the pressure switch was stuck or sticking.

 

It seems to be working fine now but I'm wondering if its prudent to change the switch?

But with the new guy it took the correct quantity of gas straight away with no issue? 

If so the other guys charging station could be faulty as a pressure switch would not prevent filling.

Yep, took out 150g put in 530g without issue.  To be fair the first garage suspects his unit might be faulty, think he's right, I'll tell him this morning the good news!

Edited 1 July, 20197 yr by StuH78

Ok, I hope you had a refund from the first partial recharge, sounds like the first garage had run out of R134a.

Edited 1 July, 20197 yr by 3T51704x4

Never charged me.

 

Can't complain if he did not charge.

 

Get a refund anyway.

 

Edited 1 July, 20197 yr by Danny 57

So, I've just got off the phone to the original garage; "two things; your air con machine is knacked and the Briskoda massive think I'm entitled to a refund, let's call it £65".  He replied with language that was unnecessary. 

Let’s hope they weren’t trying to upsell a new compressor or evaporator with the “It’s not taking any gas gov”.........Snifffff

4 hours ago, 3T51704x4 said:

Let’s hope they weren’t trying to upsell a new compressor or evaporator with the “It’s not taking any gas gov”.........Snifffff

Nah, he's not that type.  I'm sure if I'd have gone to a dealer the parts cannon would've been well and truly loaded and ready to fire!

Where is the pressure sensor? I've a sort of idea from the workshop manual but looking around I couldn't see it.  

13 hours ago, StuH78 said:

Where is the pressure sensor? I've a sort of idea from the workshop manual but looking around I couldn't see it.  

The high pressure sensor G65 will be screwed into the high pressure pipe (thinner one) on the left side front of the engine as you look down, Follow the thinner pipe from the compressor and it will be screwed into that line.

Where the red circle is, looks like the loom goes to the sensor there.

Edited 6 July, 20196 yr by 3T51704x4

Had a look, think this is it:

 

 

If so, think I can get to it from the top especially if I remove the lock carrier.  Will save a few £££s if U decide to change it.

Edited 6 July, 20196 yr by StuH78

Ah, its gonna be a bit tighter with that engine shoehorned in there. Try removing the wheel arch liner first.  It unscrews, has a Shrader type valve so you won't loose your gas.

 

Edited 6 July, 20196 yr by 3T51704x4

 

 

 

On 30/06/2019 at 08:38, StuH78 said:

 

It seems to be working fine now but I'm wondering if its prudent to change the switch?

Just a though:

The fault could have been introduced by the first repair attempt then driving it with low refrigerant pressure? Look at the time stamp when the fault occured, that will clear up that issue.

The compressor will be shut down until the code is erased, it will then need an ignition cycle of upto 30 seconds off to allow you to erase the code.

You MAY just have needed a regas. How much gas did the first garage recover from your system prior to him filling with 115g (which, if his charging station was empty of R134a, could have been how much he removed from your system), it could be your system was low on gas which shut the system down in the first place. 

Access isn't quite as bad as it looks but going in through the wheel arch might be the best idea.

 

We did, well the air con guy did quite a few cycles to clear the code and it didn't return though I've not scanned it since.  The air con does work but it's not very efficient when it has to work.  It might just need a few more blasts on low to get it really working and free up that switch.  However, if it doesn't I'll change the switch and I'd like to do it myself.

Recent post shows exactly where it is 👍

Still working out by form of attack 🤣