air con problem, tried regas

[car_guy143]

I had my aircon regassed today thinking it would solve my aircon problems. The mechanic came back and said the gas in the system is fine and there are no leaks at all, he just topped it up slightly.

He said he can't get the compressor pump to engage, but thinks it could be something as simple as a problem with a fuse or a relay.

Does anyone have any ideas of what and where to check? Also where is the compressor on the 2.3 v5 10 valve engine?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tartan58]

I had a similar problem with my TDI - regas made no differance.
I got a sepcialist to check it out and it turned out that the 'clutch' which engages the compressor had broken (common fault apparently) - garage quoted me £900 to replace
Surprisingly I decided not to bother with it and just open the windows if I get too sweaty!!

Not sure how easy it is to do DIY on the air-con system with all that pressurised stuff and so on.

 

[malcpw]

I realise this is very late but as you were just going to leave it this still may be of use to you.

My car's a 2001 Ibiza TDI Sport. The outer part of the compressor clutch had fallen off and was sitting on the engine under tray. The shim that sets the clearance was also missing but I tried different thickness shims until I had one that allowed the clutch to run free and also lock up when energised.

Did this about 9 months ago and it's been fine. Worth checking.

Also worth checking are the 30 amp fuses on top of the battery. One of them controls the additional fan for air con, if fuse is corroded(mine were very badly) then the air con will also not work. I'm assuming your model has similar fusing.

Malcolm

 

[car_guy143]

Thanks Malcolm. I had a look at the clutch a few weeks ago after doing more research and as you say, it's the outer clutch that has fallen off. I don't know where it is though and i don't think i even have an undertray on my car as it looks like the sump has been replaced.

Where'd you get the shims from and how easy was it to put the outer clutch back on?

Thanks.

 

[malcpw]

I suspect it's not possible to buy the clutch outer member on it's own. You can get a complete clutch from an aircon reconditioning supplier.

With the shims you're in the same boat. I had a selection of washers in different thicknesses. The inside dia was too small so I filed them out until they were a clearance fit over the shaft, then started with the thickest one. If the shim it too thick when you engage aircon the pump will still not drive, you then need to fit a thinner shim until the clutch runs free when aircon off and drives the compressor with aircon on.

The fixing nut is a standard 8mm. I fitted a self locking nut and loctite when I finally fitted it after experimenting with the different shims. I also fitted a washer under the nut against the outer clutch member.

One problem is how to lock the clutch assy while you try to tighten the nut. I made a lead up from some twin core cable, pair of croc clips on one end and two small crimp on female spade connectors on the other(as used for speaker systems). By disconnection the plug in socket on the compressor attaching the spade connectors and then clipping the crocodile clips to the battery the clutch is energised and locks. Allowing you to tighten the fixing nut.

I also used the jumper leads when doing the initial selection of the shims.

If you find what kind of compressor you have you may find you can get an outer clutch disk and shims from a scrap yard. They often have a collection of aircon compressors already removed from vehicles. The beauty of repairing your own clutch, even if a bit of a fiddle, is you haven't got to go through the system evacuation repressurising thing.

Hope this helps

Malcolm

 

[Nutkin]

i wonder if this happened to me, My air con doesnt work but the motor clearly engauges as the revs drop. so im lost as to what could be causing this and dont want to pay out for a regas i dont need.


Possibel anyone could post up a picture of what im looking for?

 

[car_guy143]

i wonder if this happened to me, My air con doesnt work but the motor clearly engauges as the revs drop. so im lost as to what could be causing this and dont want to pay out for a regas i dont need.


Possibel anyone could post up a picture of what im looking for?

If the clutch is missing the aircon will not engage at all. The clutch engages the fanbelt and compressor when power is sent to the magnetic part of the clutch. If the outer clutch is missing the compressor will not drive at all.

Go to Kwikfit for a regas. They have a specialist machine that cleans and regases the aircon system. It takes them about an hour to do.

THe good thing is, if they can't get your aircon any colder then they don't charge you. I took my car to them for a regas and they didn't charge me as they couldn't get the aircon to engage. They said it would have only been £25 for the clean and regas if it had worked, so it's hardly breaking the bank.

This was before i found the aircon clutch was missing by the way..

 

[malcpw]

If you get hold of the missing outer clutch disc VW do a repair kit including nut and selection of shims - part no 1J0298912

Your compressor will probably be a Sanden. They seem to often dis assemble themselves.

There is a site carbasics.co.uk that is also useful.

Malcolm

 

[AndyC567]

If you have the climate module fitted to your car, I believe you can use some secret code to get in the backdoor and get data from it.

One bit of data I think you can get is the RPM of the compressor ?
I guess this will ultimately tell you if the compressor is turning !!

Code 29 springs to mind, anyone confirm this ?

 

[Fl@pper]

If you have the climate module fitted to your car, I believe you can use some secret code to get in the backdoor and get data from it.

One bit of data I think you can get is the RPM of the compressor ?
I guess this will ultimately tell you if the compressor is turning !!

Code 29 springs to mind, anyone confirm this ?

Top Job 29 it is


http://www.wak-tt.com/tt/climatecontcodes.htm

20 A/C Compressor (A/C Clutch) voltage (Volts)
22 Cycle condition of A/C Refrigerant High Pressure Switch (F 118)
23 Cyclings of the A/C Refrigerant High Pressure Switch (F 118)
29 A/C Compressor speed in rpm (Equals Engine Speed x 1.28)

 

[car_guy143]

If you get hold of the missing outer clutch disc VW do a repair kit including nut and selection of shims - part no 1J0298912

Your compressor will probably be a Sanden. They seem to often dis assemble themselves.

There is a site carbasics.co.uk that is also useful.

Malcolm

Yes it's the Sanden type compressor. I've had a good poke round under the car and remember the name Sanden from the side of the compressor.

If you have the climate module fitted to your car, I believe you can use some secret code to get in the backdoor and get data from it.

One bit of data I think you can get is the RPM of the compressor ?
I guess this will ultimately tell you if the compressor is turning !!

Yes i have the climatronic (as Seat call it) display and have checked all the codes.

1. All temperature sensors read correctly, both indoor and outdoor.
2. There is Voltage to the compressor when i turn it on, and no voltage when i turn off the aircon so i know the wiring is just fine.
3. The high and low pressure switches are getting power and are working as required, showing a 1 when open, and a 0 when closed if i remember rightly.
4. The compressor RPM is always at 0 which upon further inspection is right because i am missing part of the clutch lol.

All i need now is to hopefully find a compressor clutch that will fit my car, problem is a lot of people won't like to sell the clutch seperately i guess. I keep checking Ebay to see if anything comes up, but most seem to be the wrong part number as the letter at the end is always different to mine.

Thanks to everyone for their help on this. I will dig out the part number i need and post it on here when i find it.

 

[alix]

I am having similar problems with my ibiz
a tdi 110, tried re-gas, replaced fuses on battery still no joy. AC light does not flash so am thinking it's the pump. Does anyone know if the whole MK3 Ibiza range would have used the same pump-believe it's made by sanden?

 

[Cheshire_Tom]

Unfortunately my compressor clutch also span off on the motorway, so I'm left with no air con.

I went to the Seat dealer and they quoted me £227.54 + VAT for the clutch alone (not including fitting!).

The only part that's missing on mine is the outer clutch plate and the spacer and washer, as well as the nut that fell off in the first place.

It is possible to refit just the clutch plate without having to remove the whole compressor, but as has been said, it's hard to find a used clutch without a compressor attached. I'm not buying new, so the only option seems to be getting a used compressor and removing the clutch on mine, which I can fit myself.

The dealer printed me off a copy of the ETKA diagram with all the part numbers on it, but it seems there are a number slighly different part numbers available on ebay.

 

[Tartan58]

Thinking of having a bash at fitting a new clutch to mine as well.
I've found a few compressors on e-bay but not one which exactly matches my part no.
The one on my car is 1J0 820 803 A - I can find one for other suffixs i.e. 1J0 820 803 B, 1J0 820 803 J etc. does anybody know if these will work (I'm only planning on removing the clutch and fitting to the one I have on the car?