Air conditioning running down... help!

[Pukka T Pie]

Ok i've done a bit of searching but cant find anything that helps me yet...

I've got a 2005 Ibiza 1.8T FR, with Climate control (standard fitting)
Got the air con recharged by Kwik Fit in July during one of the small glimpses of summer we had this year. 2 weeks after the recharge i started to hear a feint hissing noise when the aircon was turned on (went away when switched to ECON mode). After a few days i noticed the "cold" air was no longer cold.

Went back to Kwik Fit who ran a diagnostic on the system, which didnt detect any leaks (bear in mind i took it to one of the branches that has the proper diagnostic, not the bog-standard one). They recharged it and noted that it had gone down to 60g/m^3, instead of the full 550g/m^3, told me to come back if it happened again.
Lo and behold its started hissing again (started about 2 1/2 weeks after recharging for the 2nd time) and the air's not as cold as it should be.

Before i take it back to Kwik Fit again, i was wondering if anyone can tell me if the Air Con gas is used on any other parts of the car?? My dad (whos pretty handy with cars) says most (modern) cars have multiple systems that use the air con gas. Wondered if the Ibiza was the same and if so, where would be the best place to look for a fault?

If anyone's got any feedback / advice that'd be great.

Thanks in advance!
Pukka

 

[RUM4MO]

By the way, Kwik Fit are quoting weights not pressures, they will have recovered 60grams while the system load is meant to be 550grams.

So there is a leak somewhere - but you know that I'm sure.

Their way of accessing the system for being "gas tight" will be try to pull a vacum, if that is possible in x seconds then it passes that test. Youre way to sort this is to take it to a place that only does Air Con as they will know how to find the leak and fix it. Of course that leak could be a "running" leak, ie it only shows up when the system is running, again a proper Air Con place could sort that out.

No other part of the car uses the air conditioning system or its gas.

 

[kidinspace]

Mine is doing the exact same thing, Climate control screen was flashing, took it to a Seat Garage had the air con re-charged - two weeks later no cold air and a faint hissing noise.

Going in tomorrow morning to see if they can find a leak.

Hope it not an expensive repair!

Gareth

 

[Pukka T Pie]

Interesting. I also get a flashing Climate Control screen from time to time.

My issue is still not resolved (mostly due to laziness!) but I'd be interested to hear if the Seat dealer has a solution

 

[kidinspace]

Just heard back, £398 to repair, Air con pipework and a switch required.
Not going to bother, not worth the cost, will just live without Air Con.



Gareth

 

[Matt-V5-Duffy]

Take it and have it pressure/leak tested by somewhere else.
Normally they put a dye in that fluoresces under a UV light to find leaks... that how they found the huge hole in my S14a's condenser