Does my AC work!
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From: Brighton - ish
Does my AC work!
maybe im suffering from autohypochondria here but im sure my AC hasnt been working the past few days.
in my old car when the AC was switched on you could noticably hear the revs drop and hear the compressor click as it started. the air also starts blowing harder from the vents inside. i cant remember if the S does this! its definately not doing any of this at the moment.
ive checked the pressure in the system with a guage i had from when i repaired the last car! its bang in the middle of the 'correct pressure' indicator. so no problems there. also i've heard some AC systems wont work under a certain temperature - its been cold here but probably no less than 2 or 3 degrees.
can anyone shed any light????
cheers
in my old car when the AC was switched on you could noticably hear the revs drop and hear the compressor click as it started. the air also starts blowing harder from the vents inside. i cant remember if the S does this! its definately not doing any of this at the moment.
ive checked the pressure in the system with a guage i had from when i repaired the last car! its bang in the middle of the 'correct pressure' indicator. so no problems there. also i've heard some AC systems wont work under a certain temperature - its been cold here but probably no less than 2 or 3 degrees.
can anyone shed any light????
cheers
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No changes in noise from my car when ive turned it on.
When i had mine serviced last time they recommended that i have the air con re gased. Maybe use just need that?
It happen to my Audi where no cool air was coming out. They regased it to.
I suggest you find out when this was last done and if it was over a year then id prob go for a regas. No gauges required
When i had mine serviced last time they recommended that i have the air con re gased. Maybe use just need that?
It happen to my Audi where no cool air was coming out. They regased it to.
I suggest you find out when this was last done and if it was over a year then id prob go for a regas. No gauges required
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From: Brighton - ish
99% sure it doesnt need a regas - the pressure in the system is fine according to my gauge - which was accurate last time i used it a few months back.
im thinking either its working and i cant tell because its winter, its too cold to work or my compressor is shagged!
when you turn on your ac (without recirculate) does the air blow out harder???
im thinking either its working and i cant tell because its winter, its too cold to work or my compressor is shagged!
when you turn on your ac (without recirculate) does the air blow out harder???
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From: Newbury
If you're windscreen is misted up, and you turn on the aircon, does it start to clear faster? I think the aircon pump is in the passenger footwell, I can hear it starting up in there when I first turn the A/C on.
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i got mine from a mate who got it with a bottle of gas from hellfrauds. dont know if you can buy them on their own
thing is i know my gas is fine. it may not even be broken i just cant tell as its too cold outside!!!! arggh
no one knows of a fail safe way to check if its working or not? do the vents blow harder when the AC is switched on?? i know they do on recirculate but what about just AC
thing is i know my gas is fine. it may not even be broken i just cant tell as its too cold outside!!!! arggh
no one knows of a fail safe way to check if its working or not? do the vents blow harder when the AC is switched on?? i know they do on recirculate but what about just AC
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Originally Posted by mattg4321' date='Jan 30 2009, 03:04 PM
99% sure it doesnt need a regas - the pressure in the system is fine according to my gauge - which was accurate last time i used it a few months back.
im thinking either its working and i cant tell because its winter, its too cold to work or my compressor is shagged!
when you turn on your ac (without recirculate) does the air blow out harder???
im thinking either its working and i cant tell because its winter, its too cold to work or my compressor is shagged!
when you turn on your ac (without recirculate) does the air blow out harder???
Dont know why you need a compression test though. Doesnt it just use a rad to cool the air (aided by cooler fluid - hence the g'as) which is then send into the cabin. I would of thought that would be compressed more than the 'norm' of atmosohere presure. But then im not mechanic or engineer.
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From: Plymouth
The compressor is in the engine bay and is driven by that long 'serpentine' rubber belt.
The fan motor is in the footwell, along with the heater (hot water) and the chiller (refrigerant gas) matrices.
Quick test:
Select any temperature on the dial, blower fan to lowest speed, and select the ">" or side vent mode.
Start car.
Open bonnet and locate the compressor pump.
Get a helper to now turn on the A/C by pressing the button button.
The green LED should light in the dash.
Under the bonnet you should hear the compressor clutch clunk, and normally a small drop in revs as it loads up the engine.
Eventually the second fan shold start at the radiator that cool the A/C radiator (seperate to the water rad).
If no clunk - i.e. no compressor clutch dropping in, inspect the clutch fuse in the drivers footwell fuse box. It is labelled something like CLUTCH. This clutch is electric.
If left to idle a few minutes with A/C on, and temperature set about midway, you ought to detect the system cycling in and out. I can always hear the clutch click out and a little gurgle in the passenger footwell as the liquid gas stops circulating - a bubbling / hissing noise.
It is possible the compressor is shot, but there are a few other things that will cause a system not to run.
One of which is the temperature/pressure switch.
For proper diagnosis you will have to go to an A/C specialist though.
There are small gauze filters and traps in the pipes that get blocked and stop operation too.
HTH
Steve.
The fan motor is in the footwell, along with the heater (hot water) and the chiller (refrigerant gas) matrices.
Quick test:
Select any temperature on the dial, blower fan to lowest speed, and select the ">" or side vent mode.
Start car.
Open bonnet and locate the compressor pump.
Get a helper to now turn on the A/C by pressing the button button.
The green LED should light in the dash.
Under the bonnet you should hear the compressor clutch clunk, and normally a small drop in revs as it loads up the engine.
Eventually the second fan shold start at the radiator that cool the A/C radiator (seperate to the water rad).
If no clunk - i.e. no compressor clutch dropping in, inspect the clutch fuse in the drivers footwell fuse box. It is labelled something like CLUTCH. This clutch is electric.
If left to idle a few minutes with A/C on, and temperature set about midway, you ought to detect the system cycling in and out. I can always hear the clutch click out and a little gurgle in the passenger footwell as the liquid gas stops circulating - a bubbling / hissing noise.
It is possible the compressor is shot, but there are a few other things that will cause a system not to run.
One of which is the temperature/pressure switch.
For proper diagnosis you will have to go to an A/C specialist though.
There are small gauze filters and traps in the pipes that get blocked and stop operation too.
HTH
Steve.