Air conditioning not coming on

[Hogster]

Hi all

Gosh it's a long time since I posted on here! I had my 2010 CDI AC regassed last summer and it was icy cool. I'm afraid it didn't get used over winter and now nothing happens when I press the AC button aside from the LED coming on.

As pretty as the LED is, I was hoping for a similar cool-air feeling to the one I had last year! There is no sound of a pump engaging when I press the button and the fuses relating to the AC are fine - should I just get someone to check the gas levels?

Many thanks for any help

David

[ColSmart]

Sorry I cannot answer your actual question, someone will be along to help you soon I expect.

But I do tell everyone on the many car websites I have been on for years (depending on make), is during winter always operate your A/C for a short while each week to ensure it does not jamb up from non-use.

Also for convertibles, to open and close the roof every week or so, during the winter, for the exact same reason.

[Denis O]

I had the air con re-gassed on our 451 last August when we bought it. I'm guessing the previous owner hadn't used it so there was no cooling at all. It was used all the time over the winter, primarily to aid the demisting process.

Come March and a relatively warm day and the cooling is gone again. Took it back to the guys that re-gassed it last year and they re-did the process. Also checked for leaks and nothing so don't know where the gas went. It also needed to be done as the car was being permanently exported to Greece.

It's been in Greece for 3 months now and the air con is as cold as a cold thing. It really has to work hard here but it handles it without a problem.

One small point about running a convertible roof during the winter which is definitely good practice. Be careful if the window is plastic as cold plastic can crack which is not good.

[Yorkshire Devil]

Hi all

Gosh it's a long time since I posted on here! I had my 2010 CDI AC regassed last summer and it was icy cool. I'm afraid it didn't get used over winter and now nothing happens when I press the AC button aside from the LED coming on.

As pretty as the LED is, I was hoping for a similar cool-air feeling to the one I had last year! There is no sound of a pump engaging when I press the button and the fuses relating to the AC are fine - should I just get someone to check the gas levels?

Many thanks for any help

David

Does the motor engage without using the aircon? How long have you left it to se if it comes on?

[Evilution]

I'm afraid it didn't get used over winter and now nothing happens when I press the AC button aside from the LED coming on.
David

Use it or lose it. A minimum of 5 minutes a week to keep the oil flowing and the seals lubricated.
If you lose the gas, the pressure switch will stop the compressor from kicking in.

[Hogster]

Thanks for the replies everyone

Sounds like the gas has just escaped then, and it makes sense for there to be a pressure switch to stop the compressor coming on if there's no coolant in the system ... I just wasn't sure!

I will let you know how the re-gassing goes. Does anyone have any recommendations for a company to do it? I've left a message with the WeChillAnyCar mobile air-con service company:

http://www.wechillanycar.com/

as they look pretty competent, and they will throw in an antibacterial / odour-removal treatment for free ... or is that just a gimmick to attract customers like me who think it's worth it?

Thanks again!

David

[Denis O]

Any Bosch Auto Centre. They put their name on the machines so should be good.

http://www.boschcarservice.co.uk/

Any Smart Specialist should also have the equipment and will probably be better at connecting the 2 hoses as they are quite awkwardly located.

[ColSmart]

One small point about running a convertible roof during the winter which is definitely good practice. Be careful if the window is plastic as cold plastic can crack which is not good.

Good point about the plastic window at the back on a Fortwo Convertible cracking,.

Cheap budget rubbish, not using glass

[mccsmart2002]

The good thing is the machine they use should do a vac test beforehand to ensure you have no leaks.

If you do, it should show up if they add UV dye to the PAG oil for the compressor.

[Evilution]

Ah Steve, just the man, can you email me?

[Denis O]

Cheap budget rubbish, not using glass

Just like early Porsche Boxsters all those years ago. I believe it was called the Boxster chop.

[Hogster]

All done by WeChillAnyCar today

Apparently there was absolutely no oil or refrigerant left in the system! But also there were no bad leaks detected during the vacuum test which is good. The antibacterial treatment consisted of opening a can of antibacterial spray, shutting the door and leaving the air-con switched on with recirculation to get the spray into the heat exchanger. Apparently it's worth doing every 3 months or so to stop bacteria building up.

Glad nothing was broken, thanks for the help everyone, smart forums rule!

David

[ColSmart]

As a matter of interest, what was the cost for recharging the A/C?

[problemchild1976]

£49 at kwik fit

its a plug in and leave system (so no useless mechanics getting involved)

if it doesn't work there is no charge!!USE your air con!! its not air cooling, its air conditioning.

if you don't use it the gas doesn't circulate and doesn't keep the seals and compressor lubricated.

its a false economy if you are turning it off to "save" money

JJ

[Evilution]

Apparently it's worth doing every 3 months or so to stop bacteria building up.

If you have more money than sense, yeah. There are cheaper and quicker methods that don't cover the inside of the car in **** and potentially damage electronics.