Air Conditioning System / Exterior Temp Sensor

[anoyceperson]

Hi Guys,

I am hoping someone might be able to help me diagnose an issue with my aircon. I have just had my system regassed today. Prior to this, you could engage the air con system, ie when you pressed the auto button it would show the little ice symbol, and it would stay engaged, however it was kicking out warm (or hot depending on the external temperature) air into the cabin.

Since it has been regassed it now will not let me engage the air con at all. When you press the air con button the ice symbol appears, however it will disappear again almost immediately (I had a similar thing happen when the outside temp was very low, which is to be expected). However, even though the symbol does not stay on, the air coming out of the vents does appear to be considerably colder than it was previously (could be my wishful thinking).

One other thing that I think could possibly be related, is that I have identified that the exterior temperature sensor, located on the inside of the bumper on the passenger side, is not there. By that I mean that the cable with the socket is in place still, however the actual sensor is not! What is very strange though is that the temp reading in the dash is still showing a sensible temperature. Not quite sure how its managing to do that! (I did at one point last week have the problem that the dash temp was reading -43 and the car just constantly kicked out red hot air into the cabin - not much fun in this weather as you can imagine!)

So... my plan of attack is to get a replacement sensor from Seat and get that fitted and see if this sorts the issue. Is there anyone on here who would happen to know if thats likely to fix it and if not what else I should be looking at to try and fix this.

Regards
Andy

 

[Muttley]

I'd recommend that you get the fault codes read, it will tell you which sensor (if any) is going wrong. There is a temperature sensor in the air inlet after the pollen filter. That one will also mess up your climate temperature settings but not the dashboard outside air reading

 

[anoyceperson]

I have a cheapo odb2 reader and that is not showing any errors. Will get it to someone with a proper one at some point to get the codes read.

 

[aymen_a22]

If you have climate control then you might be able to check for faults on the screen.

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

 

[anoyceperson]

I do indeed have climates control, that is very useful! Will give it a go in a mo and see what I get

 

[anoyceperson]

So I have used the climate control error code retrieval message and I am getting 3 codes flashing up in a loop.

I have these two which I found on the list on that link you sent me:

05.3 Outside Air (Ambient) Temperature Sensor, front, sporadic open
22.3 A/C Refrigerant High Pressure Switch, sporadic open

I presume these two probably just need new sensors? (05.3 I knew about as the sensor isnt there as mentioned previously).

However I am also getting 50.3, this one doesnt appear on the list. Does anyone know what this is refering to?

 

[LEE69]

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=174377

 

[aymen_a22]

I would say that the 05.3 would be your missing temperature sensor in the bumper.

The 22.3 will be the sensor at the back of the engine right in the middle of the car. It is screwed into the high pressure AC line which is about 10mm diameter and is silver in colour. I sounds like the connector might be loose or potentially a wire broken.

 

[anoyceperson]

I would say that the 05.3 would be your missing temperature sensor in the bumper.

The 22.3 will be the sensor at the back of the engine right in the middle of the car. It is screwed into the high pressure AC line which is about 10mm diameter and is silver in colour. I sounds like the connector might be loose or potentially a wire broken.

Thanks, will take a look at the sensor on the back of the engine this evening.

Any idea what that 50.3 code means? Strangly if I google it I dont find anything at all for that code!

 

[aymen_a22]

Not sure, I just had a look and cannot find anything about it. I am guessing if you sort the first two errors then the 50.3 will probably go as well.

Either that or try and get someone with VCDS to scan the car for you. That should point you straight to it.

 

[anoyceperson]

Yeah I suspect you are probably right. Is it best to just get these sensors through Seat, or is there a more cost effective way of getting these? Are there patent parts that can be bought for example? I had a look on Euro Car parts but couldnt see these sensors on there.

 

[LEE69]

Get the genuine from seat, pm seremotors or ask in his section on here, genuine parts at discounted prices

 

[LEE69]

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=249

 

[aymen_a22]

Personally I would get the temperature sensor from a scrap yard as there is little that can go wrong with it. As for the pressure sensor I would probably get from the dealer.

Also be aware that you will have to empty the account system of refrigerant before you can replace the pressure sensor. This can only be done with a machine as it is a criminal offence to vent it to the atmosphere.

You will obviously have to refill the system afterwards as well.

 

[anoyceperson]

Thanks Aymen, the place I got it regassed said that if any work was required to get the air con system up and running they would regass it for me free of charge. (I need to just double check with them that that also counts if I do the swap of the parts myself!)

 

[Tessitura]

hate to necro but i have this problem, but i still have nice cold air con, climatecontrol diagnostic reads 22.3, and i have EML on, but air con works fine. ive wiggled the wire that goes to the sensor, but not made any difference, it all sees secure. So just a broken sensor you rekon??