The aircon has never really worked properly (as in not freezing cold) since I got the car end of last year. But as we started getting warmer weather,  it would be cool for most of my commute and then go colder, so I assumed the AC system must be working and just need a regas. About 3 weeks ago I went to a specialist who took out 190g of gas and proceeded to put in the 750g listed for my vehicle. It was nice and cold but I started noticing it being not so cold. Using a digital thermometer, the air from the vents would normally be around 14-15C but occasionally drop down to 5-6C. I called him and he believes there must be a leak and he could remove the gas he put in and weigh it to see if it's leaked. 

 

So before doing that, I thought I would replace the second (larger) cooling fan which was broken, check the compressor engages and get my mate to run diagnostics. What I found on the compressor was a constant 12v with engine running or just ignition on and 10.8v with ignition off. This is regardless of the AC being on or off. Surely that can't be right??

 

Diagnostics also showed up codes:

 

00603 - Footwell / Defroster Flap Motor (V85)

01271 - Positioning Motor for Temperature Flap (V68)

01274 - Air Flow Flap Positioning Motor (V71)

 

Could any of those codes be anything to do with my AC issues?

 

I have the climatronics heating system in my car.

 

Thanks for any guidance on this

 

Vijay

By any chance does anyone have a wiring diagram for the aircon circuit?

Those fault codes will certainly effect the cooling of the AC system. 

 

Id have a look at the four pin connector on the top of the starter motor anyhow as that’s a common place to have issues. 

I disconnected the connector and checked for any corrosion, it was completely clean.

 

Does anyone know how accessible those flaps/motors are for those 3 fault codes?

 

Any help with a wiring diagram if one exists?

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

Been trying to investigate this. I found an Octavia workshop document for the heating/aircon and it suggests that there's a pressure switch (F129) that will stop the compressor running if the gas is low. Can anyone confirm that's the case?

 

The reason I need to know is my car is going back to the AC guy who believes my car has lost the gas, so he's going to remove it and weigh it. My compressor definitely kicks in so if it's right about the pressure switch, then it can't be the gas?

Getting pretty desperate to sort this now and getting quite confused 😞

 

The expansion valve at the bulkhead is getting down to between 5 and 9C, so ice cold. The pipework along the bulkhead have condensation on them so all that shows my compressor is working (as well as I can see the the clutch engaging). 

 

Today I decided to check the pipework in the car, to verify if the fault lies with the expansion valve. I removed the glovebox and heater fan, where I could see and feel the evaporator and pipework to/from it. It's getting down to between 5 and 9C too, so I assume my expansion valve is working correctly.

 

So I'm very confused. If the evaporator is getting cold, what could stop the cold air from coming out of the vents? The ambient air coming into the blower is not getting cooled at all by the evaporator, which the fan/blower blows directly over.

 

I'm trying to get my head around the motorised flaps, but could any of those be causing the problem? My mate run VCDS and it showed now issues with them now (which they previously did as per my first post)

 

Thanks for any help,

 

Vijay

Sounds like the flap motor isn’t working to me. 

The V68 flap? From what I have read, wouldn't that cause warm air to come out when it's set on cold and vice versa?

 

Anyone know the function of the G263 evaporator outlet temp sender??

If the flap is stuck it will just direct air at whatever temp its stuck at. 

 

The evap temp sensors monitors the temp of the evaporator as the name implies. Used for climatronic operation or if the AC gets too cold to prevent icing.  

It seems I have full control over the temp, from ambient outside air temp, to heated air from the coolant exchanger. I just can't get the temp lower than ambient. So could that still be the V68 flap? Anyway I can test it or is it a case of swap and hope?

 

I have climatronic, so could a faulty evap temp sensor cause lack of AC? Nothing showed up when my mate ran VCDS but I don't believe he looked into any sensors fully, just a general scan and then one of the heating system

Just thought I'd post up the problem. It was the receiver/dryer that was causing the issue. A new one fitted and I'm glad to say aircon has been nice and cold for the last month