04 FR TDI Air Con Question

[RossIBIZATDI]

Hi All,

My air con is not cold when it's boiling hot outside but it seems quite cold when it's average temerature, like it doesn't work when it's really hot but does when it's average.

Like last night the air seemed "quite" cold but the other day when it was roasting it was just blowing out hot air.

Before I take it to get re-gassed is there any way I can tell if the compressor is working or not? Also, how do you switch on the air con? Just turn the temperatur down and if it needs the air con it'll automatically put it on? I don't know if it's ever been re-gassed and it's got 103k miles on the clock so could it just have lost all it's gas?

Thanks in advance.

Ross

 

[knight85]

mine has an econ button that supresses the cold air...if you dont realise thats on you wonder why its not cold..then you switich it off and its proper arctic. I only found out last week that you can turn off the fan compeletely buy turning the knob to the left one more click after you have turned it all the way down...Doh!

 

[Proff_CUPRA 180]

May need re-gassing, unsure of the price but im sure its around £100. Might be wrong though

 

[RossIBIZATDI]

Yeah I've tried with the Econ button off and it was still warm. I just don't want to pay £45 to kwik-fit to fill it up and it still not work due to the compressor being broken.

When you turn down the temperature can you hear the compressor kick into action?

I'm going to have a proper look and listen tomorrow before I take it. Get my Dad to listen at the front of the car when I turn down the temperature.

Cheers,
Ross

 

[beezanick]

Sounds like the air-con isnt working. The reason you get cool air when the temperature outside isnt that hot is just because its acting like a fan. To get the a/c working put the temp to low and select max fan speed. Make sure the econ mode is off.

You can see if the compressor is working by looking at the wheelwhich is driven by the belt, then look just to the left of that and you will see a wheel which is inside that. When the aircon is running it should turn with the outer wheel, when off it will be stationary.

 

[RossIBIZATDI]

Yeah I tried putting it at max with it on fully low and Econ off but it was blasting hot air at me! Couldn't put the windows down coz of my Hayfever so just had to put up with the heat lol.

I'll have a look and see if it's working after work. Cheers for your help guys!

 

[RossIBIZATDI]

Got home from work yesterday and did what you said to have a look if the compressor is turning on/off but there is only the wheel the pulley is attached to that is turning all the time. There isn't another wheel to look at to see if it's engaging/disengaging. Had a torch to see too but can't see anything. Any suggestions? Can you describe what the outer wheel looks like (the one that engages)?

 

[Leigh15]

It's pretty cheap to get the aircon regassed - depends on how fussy you are on who does it.

As a really cheap option - I think kwik fit will do it for £25 IIRC

 

[beezanick]

Sorry, im away tonight and am posting from my phone so cant post a pic, but will tomorow if i get home in time. your looking at what would be the hub of the compressor wheel which is driven by the belt. if you imagine you are looking at the compressor whel from the left end, its the centre of the wheel yore looking for. You can just see this by looking from the top.

 

[Makey_FR]

i had the same problem mate, it wasnt working at all and i thought the pump was gunna be goosed! i took it to my mates dad who owns a garage, hooked up the gas, recharged it and what the hell its like the north pole inside! the system takes 550mg (check units?) and if the gas drops below 50mg it completely shuts down the pump to stop it f*cking itself basically. yours will be like mine, probably never been done since new, id suggest getting it regassed, only cost me 20 quid and its much much better now!!

 

[beezanick]

As said above, its hopfully just a regas. but its free to check the compressor which is a common fault on these cars. saves wasting money.

 

[RossIBIZATDI]

Nice1 m8 cheers for the post. Will Deffo get it done now!

 

[Arnoldo]

As said above, its hopfully just a regas. but its free to check the compressor which is a common fault on these cars. saves wasting money.

Kwik Fit do a free check then?

 

[Nath.]

^^^^^^And they don't charge you if they can't make the air temp from the dash vents 10% lower.

 

[RossIBIZATDI]

Sorry, im away tonight and am posting from my phone so cant post a pic, but will tomorow if i get home in time. your looking at what would be the hub of the compressor wheel which is driven by the belt. if you imagine you are looking at the compressor whel from the left end, its the centre of the wheel yore looking for. You can just see this by looking from the top.

Ah don't think this spins round at all! Just remembered that we've got an air con machine at college so can do it free anyway. Doh!