Problem with AC compressor?

[OdinEidolon]

Hi all,
last year when I bought the car the AC was not functioning. Regassed it and it was OK.
I noticed a lack of AC power in the last weeks. It starts andall but it just does not provide as much cooling as before.

Now I also noticed that if I start the car with no AC on, then turn the AC on, I can hear the clutch "click" then a clearly audible sound coming from the vents which lasts for about 10 seconds. The sound comes back on AC shutdown and after strong bends and turns (but less audible in the latter case).
It's hard to describe the noise, but I can tell you I first thought it was the blower fan hitting something or not seating right in its position. It's like a badly lubricated thing or something like that.

I do not think this is related, but sometimes the AC will not start (no "click") and will need some (~10-20 miles) driving before being able to cut in. Also sometimes PP2000 give me an error stating the faulty communication with some AC parts (faulty wires?). However this seem to happen rarely and does not implicate the malfunction of anything. Both the last two problems were there when I first bought the car, the described noise, however, wasn't.

Crankshaft pulley and tensioner changed 3 months ago.

Anyone can think of something that could point me in the right direction?

[Doggy]

The compressor relay in the BSI may be at fault, but I would set out to conclusivley prove it before considering repalcing it as its soldered onto the PCB.

I have a similar issue last year, but I had a BSI error message indicating the compressor clutch was short circuit . I unplugged the clutch solenoid connection and tried again, but it still reported a short circuit, despite it definitely not being.

More in hope than expectation, I cleared the BSi fault code and tried again and it worked, (and still continues to), so might be worth a look.

On fully mux cars, you can monitor the condenser pressure, exaporator temperature, clutch and radiator fan status on the A/C ecu the via PP2000, (but I think it's different on semi-mux cars like yours). You can see it cycle the compressor and fan on/off etc. It seems to want the evaporator temp about +1 degree and the pressure around 3 - 7 Bar.

[OdinEidolon]

The problem's not a relay since the compressor starts OK and all. The air does come out colder than without AC but still it's not enough to keep the car cool on a sunny day.

What worries me is the noise. That's the problem.

On my car PP2000 does not give much info about the AC sadly, I cannot diagnose it from there.

[Doggy]

The problem's not a relay since the compressor starts OK and all.

Yes, but are you sure it keeps running?

[OdinEidolon]

The problem's not a relay since the compressor starts OK and all.

Yes, but are you sure it keeps running?

Yes I am, I did several 2 to 3 hours trip and air kept coming out cool, but not cool enough. Also a relay cannot cause that noise.

[FarmerPug]

I am also having a problem with the AC, the compressor is working because if you look under the car you can see if it spins or not depending on whether its turned on. But yet there is no cool air coming through. There was a noise which i think is because of low refrigerant or not enough AC oil in the system.

[OdinEidolon]

I am also having a problem with the AC, the compressor is working because if you look under the car you can see if it spins or not depending on whether its turned on. But yet there is no cool air coming through. There was a noise which i think is because of low refrigerant or not enough AC oil in the system.

You can check how much refrigerant is there by carefully opening one of the valves with a screwdriver. Use a glove.
The valves are located on the AC pipes on the right side of the engine by stading in front of it. If something comes out fast, there is gas.

[rwb]

I'm told that a lot of hissing noise in the cabin is associated with being low on gas. However, after being re-gassed (I only had a quarter left in) this has not gone entirely.

The AC saps so much power that my car -- a 90 -- is actually difficult to drive at low revs when the AC is on. This doesn't feel as bad since the re-gas.

The climate control seems to be reluctant to operate the AC at low revs. For example, sitting in traffic the cabin was hot, temperature set to 17, and no AC. But when I got through the lights and up to a steady 35 it deigned to work. It seems to behave best on the motorway.

Even so, it does seem to cut in and out a lot, and cut out too soon and not cut back in again soon enough. All the cutting in and out seems to make it noisy -- the hissing. Would be better if it would just go on and stay on. Maybe this is just the way they are?

[OdinEidolon]

No, it should work even at low RPMs. It probably needs regreasing.

A good AC place will put new grease and oil with the new freon gas, but most don't. Most 10 yo 406 are probably running with the original compressor oil and grease... hence the noises. We are lucky we don't have VAG cars whose compressors are extremely weak and noisy even from new!

[lozz]

I am also having a problem with the AC, the compressor is working because if you look under the car you can see if it spins or not depending on whether its turned on. But yet there is no cool air coming through. There was a noise which i think is because of low refrigerant or not enough AC oil in the system.

Keep you eye on it mate,
the old d9 ihad the A/c compressor locked up on it because it had been run dry for along time,
idont know if you have got Kwik fit in Eire, but if you have iwouid go there , theyve a bad rep by most but atleast if the aircon dosent work after theyve filled it it will cost you nothing,
theyve just got the aircon working on the laguna for me, very cheap too,

if your aircon is working, a/c compressor kicks in, you can refil them your self, you can get the kit for under 40 quid,
if the A/c compressor isnt cutting in the kit is totaly useless (Halfords)

[FarmerPug]

lozz the compressor is working, i can see it spinning, but the cool air isn't coming in. Would it make sense spending £40 on the halfords kit if it has a leak?
Ill try kwik fit there is one close by and if its free if they can't get it going theres no loss.

[lozz]

lozz the compressor is working, i can see it spinning, but the cool air isn't coming in. Would it make sense spending £40 on the halfords kit if it has a leak?
Ill try kwik fit there is one close by and if its free if they can't get it going theres no loss.

halfords kit works if the compressor kicks in ,it needs to be running to draw in the refrigerant,
you buy the can and the gauge, both can be bought seprate but you need the Gauge or you can end up overfilling it, it works out around 40quid for the can and gauge iirc, kwik fit will vacume out the system and recharge it . 9.99 diffence id go with the kwik fit way nowt lost then, and atleast you know its accurate,
the kwikfit lads are professionaly trained up to work on air-con so atleast you know there not cowboys in that respect, everything else, id take a rain check

http://www.kwik-fit.com/about-air-conditioning.asp

[FarmerPug]

I just had a go at the valves both the high pressure and low pressure let out a good decent hiss when pressed down, so it might just be low pressure, if it was a leak there wouldn't be any gas.

[lozz]

correct

But your looky you havent lost a finger or got serious frost bite by releasing the preasure in the valve,
be careful

[OdinEidolon]

Anyone knows how many work hours are needed to replace the compressor?