a/c regased but still not cold!

[dave67]

new to all this but have found some good info on the site, i have a 51 plate 2.0ltr exec and have had the air con regased today but it is still not blowing cold, the system is not leaking and the compressor is cutting in when the ac button is pushed, the pipes do not get cold when the system is running, i have checked all the fuses and they all seem fine. Does anyone have a check list to work through to eliminate possible causes.

[teamster1975]

Welcome Dave! Didn't they check that the aircon was blowing cold after you had it topped up?!

[Welly]

Difficult to say really but any of the following could be at fault:

The system IS still losing gas (condenser or pipework up and under battery tray leaking).

The cabin fan unit is faulty (not supplying any or enough air).

The system has water contamination - intermittant icing/blockage of refrigerant flow within the pipework (has not been vac'd properly).

The receiver-drier is saturated (this is a dessicant bag in the top/side of the condenser. It's unlikely to be knackered completely unless the system has been open to atmosphere for any length of time for some reason?).

You have a *seriously* blocked cabin pollen filter and/or it's intake duct (resulting in icing of the evaporator and dissabling the compressor - you'd get huge pools of water underneah with this one).

Depending on who 'regased' you if it was me I'd be going to a garage based a/c 'repair' specialist for a UV leak detection inspection (just a torch and some funny glasses) then a proper pressure test to approx 250 psi, then a proper vacuum (40 mins or so) and a regass with 'pure' R134a refrigerant - Note: there are mobile regas merchants out there willing to plop in any old sh*t they've recovered from various cars to keep costs down (this is known as 'mixed') and this stuff performs badly in terms of air temps at the grilles.

[puggy]

All of what welly said and especially the last bit !!!!

[eoin27]

The very same thing happened me very recently €75 down the swanny. You should notice in a couple of days that the compressor won't start switching on when the rest of the gas leaks. The next step for me is to find a specialist although i havent a clue where to look (in ireland) and get the leak sorted once and for all.

[Welly]

Mmm, yes eoin have the trees started to grow back yet at all?

[eoin27]

Mmm, yes eoin have the trees started to grow back yet at all?

Anyday now . My 406 is green in colour. But thats where the 'green' ends.

[dave67]

The regas was done at kwik-fit and they did not argue when i told them i would not pay as they promise a 10% difference when finnished!

Where do i find the pollen filter and do i need to get a new one or is it something that can be re-used, the system seems to be full of gas as when the valve is pushed it blows back out.

Is the condeser a common fault and are they expensive to replace, this is really getting to me now as it will probably be something really petty that is faulty and i hate paying for something that i can fix myself if only i knew what to fix!

[Welly]

Here's the pollen filter thread for you.....viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3870

I wouldn't go releasing too much gas if I were you (there's only about 500 grammes in there and one 'squib' of the release valve could lose you a fair bit).

To replace the condenser is max £300.00 all fitted for you but you can buy them and fit yourself (you'll need new O rings for the joints) and then get an a/c man to test and gas it for you. This way you'll probably get it all done for £200.00.

Watch the quality of the condenser though! I had a brand new pattern part one fitted and it perished in 2.5 years

Bit of ringing around/research needed but don't always buy the cheapest one