Air conditioning not working.

[guest5562]

The seller told us the aircon wasn't working when we bought my daughter's Jazz last week and I'm determined to get it going at whatever cost as the car was very good value so we have a bit of leeway. The button on the dash brings its light on but no fans and no click of the compressor starting.

I didn't want to take it to a KwikFit type place with not a clue what was broken as I like to think through stuff myself so...

Bought a gauge from Halfords to see if system was empty... pleased to see a 10% reading so at least it's holding some gas. Wondered about fuse/relay/compressor clutch problems but realised without pressure I couldn't test them. So back to Halfords for a DIY can.

Used as per instructions and very quickly got into the bottom of the green range on the gauge and hey presto compressor and fans cut in... but no cooling effect at all. Took it to about midway on the gauge but no improvement.

Quite happy to take it somewhere now to pay for a proper re-gas and diagnostic if it still doesn't start... but anyone had a problem like this before where there is pressure and a running compressor but no cooling?

[olduser1]

Recommend you find a local a/c specialist - they will be able to check if condensor is damaged leaking in minutes.
Try your nearest trade estate repair shops.
Good luck

[guest5562]

Thanks. Yes it will end up at some place or another by the end of the week. I do know though it's not leaking gas as it stayed up to pressure overnight.

Just hoped someone had experienced this before to say it is likely to be this or that.

Once an aircon place has it they could tell me anything and some repairs would equal the car's value!

[VicW]

It sounds as if the AC hasn't been used or serviced so be prepared for a problem such as seals leaking.

Only use a reputable AC fixer as it is one of those items where you can be easily conned.
Where do you live approximately? 

Vic.

[guest5562]

I'm in NW Cambridgeshire. Agree with using a guy of repute but I'm finding it hard to see anyone online at all listed near me.... just the usual Kwikfit type guys.

Very wary as in the past I've been advised I needed a new ac compressor on a Mondeo as it was erratic cutting in. A Google search found this was often an issue with slightly excess ac compressor clutch clearance so it wouldn't lock in.

The shims from Ford (a selection of thinner ones) were less than £2 and I sorted it myself in 20mins.

So far I've proved this Jazz at least holds pressure overnight and all the elecs cut in as they should... i.e. compressor clutch and the under bonnet fans so it narrows down what they can tell me is wrong!

[VicW]

From NW Cambridgeshire you may be within reach of Spalding in Lincolnshire, if so you could use my son who runs his own car/motor cycle repair business including air con work. I went on his air con course with him some years ago.

Details are as follows:-   GF Autoservices,  PE11 3TY.
                                   
                                  Tel;-  01775 769046  Mob: 07774 911298

It's near Morrison's in Pinchbeck.

Vic.

[VicW]

So far I've proved this Jazz at least holds pressure overnight and all the elecs cut in as they should... i.e. compressor clutch and the under bonnet fans so it narrows down what they can tell me is wrong!

While it may be holding pressure if the pressures are too low the air con will not work properly. The compressor turns the gas back to a liquid and it is then cooled before being turned back to a gas when the cooling effect takes place. If the pressures are not right the cooling effect will not be either.
Simply putting the pressures right does not put back the lubricant which is essential to the well being of the system.

Vic.

[guest4477]

Hi Vic, i always read your coments,because in my book and my age 76yrs you are one of the old school very honest and genuine well done ,happy Jazzing,Graham Stafford.

[guest5562]

Vic that's really temping thanks and a much appreciated contact... but sadly distance (we are near Huntingdon) might be the problem. It's a near 1.5hr round trip without the waiting time while the initial gas/diagnose is done... and then assuming a repair of some sort is fairly likely the same distance again on a second day with the likelihood I'll need someone else to do the round trip twice to give me a lift home then back again.

I'm just doing the last bits of the service today and tidying the garage after waxoyling the whole underbody so I'll have a think while I'm working away.

Vic: Update. I'm having a set of tyres fitted at the local Halfords on Friday so they are going to run the standard evac/leak test/re-gas at the same time. If it doesn't cool there is no charge and they will give an opinion on the likely fault. So I've nothing to lose and we'll see what comes out of that.

[VicW]

Good Luck.

Vic.

[guest5562]

Well not too bad. Turned out to be a leak on the HP side, the condenser. Just waiting for a Halfords quote to replace. The condenser itself looks easy in its two bolted connections to the AC hoses but I'm guessing the bumper needs to come off to access which may mean Halfords want a fair bit.

Condenser is around £75 from most places so if they want too much might fit myself and get them to gas.

They didn't make a charge to test & diagnose.

[guest5562]

Quote now in. £234 which includes £50 for the re-gas not charged so far. So taking out the condenser cost that's about £100 labour for the fitting... and yes the bumper does need to come off.

Going to let them do it.

[VicW]

Condensers are a major cause of AC failures because of stone damage.  That's not a bad price.

Vic.

[guest5562]

Yep I thought this was fair. We had a budget to buy this Jazz and get it spot on for daughter and it's not far over... and it's loads better than expected... so happy.

[guest5562]

Turned into a bit of a saga. Took the car in twice for a new condenser radiator and both times the one they pulled out of the box was about twice as large as the existing. Seems the early models like ours up to 2002 had a small condenser and 2003 on much larger ones which are far more common.

Anyway at last the correct one was fitted today... £222 inc re-gas.

What we noticed immediately was that the aircon hardly works at idle but is ice cold once above around 2000rpm. I'll just check the aux belt isn't slipping and the same re the compressor clutch. If those are fine it may be a worn compressor and then we'll accept how it is.

I wonder if they increased the condenser size from 2003 on because it proved marginal??

Another thought I'll ask in a new thread to best get noticed.... http://clubjazz.org/forum/index.php?topic=7283.0