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Air Con problem

Started by columbiers, July 13, 2015, 08:37:18 PM

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July 13, 2015, 08:37:18 PM
My air con has never been cold since owning the car (2005 Alhambra 1.9)
Too it to be regassed  today at a Kwik fit type place only to be told it wouldn't take in any gas at all. The guy doing it didn't know what the problem was and suggested taking it to an air con specialist. I don't want to spend that sort of money on an extra like air con so I'm hoping to diagnose it myself, with the forum's help!

I was hoping it would just be a sensor but vcds shows no error codes at all, nothing.  Can anyone advise what to test next?


July 14, 2015, 12:59:11 AM #1
When you say it 'wouldn't take in any gas' do you mean that the gas they were putting into it was leaking straight back out again? It's not that uncommon for the aluminium refrigerant pipes to fail and allow the gas to leak out (and there are a few known weak spots) but we really need more info before trying to make any useful suggestions. Is there any gas in it now?
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July 14, 2015, 12:52:29 PM #2
The garage just said it wouldn't take any gas at all.

Took it to another place this morning who confirmed it was empty so it must have a leak I assume.
July 14, 2015, 05:01:24 PM #3
Somewhat misleading, they should have said it wouldn't hold a vacuum so they couldn't put any gas in if there is nothing in it. On the plus side, big leaks are easy to find :)

The most common failure is the 180 pipe where it exits the compressor and heads back up to the side of the intercooler so worth a check in that location first!
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July 14, 2015, 05:26:51 PM #4
As above, they seem to be prone to failing forward of the engine, around the compressor and front panel- some pictures for guidance here, here and here.
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July 14, 2015, 09:13:18 PM #5
Thanks!
Just checked and unfortunately all the pipes are intact and there is no obvious leak anywhere. I think I may have write off the AC for now, there doesn't seem to be a way to track down the leak without adding dye.
July 14, 2015, 10:19:08 PM #6
There's plenty of other places the gas can leak if it's not one of the usual suspects, such as a holed or corroded condenser. If the gas is escaping or it's losing vacuum quickly enough for Kwik Fit to tell you it's not holding gas at all then whatever it is must be pretty bad.
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July 15, 2015, 04:38:37 AM #7
The two pipes that are hidden in the wheel arch are difficult to see they also tend to fail where they are supported with the rubber clips this is where mine failed a few years back.
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July 18, 2015, 04:14:37 PM #8
Hi guys , most places that offer air con service will be able to pressurise your system with oxygen free nitrogen . They put 150psi into it , any leaks show up pretty quick. Should not be too expensive and it's safe and legal. The OFN can be vented to the atmosphere as it is not a greenhouse gas unlike R134A.
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