Justin Case Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Guess what? On the hottest day of the year so far, the air-con (climate control to be precise) on Mrs A's 2004 Almera has decided to take a holiday. The fan is working as normal on all speeds, even on the 'auto' setting, and air is coming out of all the vents as it should, but the compressor doesn't cut in when you press the air-con button, and a current of warm air continues to waft over you I'm not an expert on air-con, so I don't know if it is a simple case of it needing regassing or something more expensive. I would be grateful for any advice on what to do next. Taking it to an air-con specialist is the easy option, but I wonder if it could actually be something really straightforward and easy to fix. *hoping desperately smiley*
Father Ted Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 On a serious note it might be lack od gas causing the compressor not to cut in, but Citroens eat something called the Bitron unit which is a pair of relays controlling the whole shebang and resulting in similar symptoms, so it may just be a relay thats gone FUBAR.
Bren Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 More than likely a lack of R134a - take it to the local specialist. I have had regasses done for £40 in the past.
tonedepear Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 kwik-fit (shudder) used to do an offer where they re-gas you, and if it's not more than 50% colder than it was before they did it you get your money back. Obviously they're all a shower of grunting mongs, but if you get it done and it turns out not to be that, at least you haven't spent owt? I took my appalling vectra there, and it worked for all of 2 hours (turned out it was leaking). I took it back later on the same day and they gave me a refund anyway with minimal fuss. Edit: they're not advertising it as heavily as they used to, but it's still there: Cooler air-conditioning or your money back http://www.kwik-fit.com/about-air-conditioning.asp
Split_Pin Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Compressor stops working if the system is low on gas as it uses that as a lubricant. Will have likely developed a leak somewhere. Mine has, but I'm buggered if I'm paying to have it fixed so its window down until further notice lol.
RoadworkUK Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 I might hijack this thread for my own end, as it's relevant to my interests. My Audi has been carrying around a disconnected A/C compressor for the entire time I've had it, costing me £££ on extra weight and causing misery by extra weight in the bows for added understeery goodness. Thing is, I've no evidence that there is any leak in the system, but I don't know the actual status of the compressor. Could be the comp', could the the clutch. Can the clutch be replaced on its own? Is there a tame a/c specialist in the North East Essex area who will tackle such a job for buttons and gratitude?
Split_Pin Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 A decent garage should be able to check that all the components are ok. My local place checked the compressor, switches, relays or whatever were all ok, so its defo a leak somewhere, so I'd get that done first. You could always have it removed as well?
Justin Case Posted May 25, 2012 Author Posted May 25, 2012 Thank you for all your replies Update: I took it the local garage that we always use; they didn't have the equipment to test it, but recommended a specialist a few miles away. I took it to them this afternoon and their findings were that there was gas in the system, but the pressure was too low for the compressor to cut in. They carried out a pressure test, regassed it and checked again. All is now OK, the gas had either leaked out through a seal in the springtime when the air-con wasn't being used, or the hose had become very slightly porous, but it shouldn't need another top-up for at least a year. Hope this will be useful to anyone else faced with the same problem. I am now £40 lighter in the wallet, which isn't too bad, but it is a small price to pay for a happy Mrs A
Pete-M Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 Opening the window is a poor substitute for a/c. I know, I tried it for the tail end of last 'summer' in the Heep. All you get it hot air being blown into the car. Bollocks to that. Aircon, windows shut, nice and cool. I suspect the 604 won't be used again until the weather gets back to 'reasonable'. It's not got A/C so it's not being driven. Simples.
Father Ted Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 Simples. Ahh, each to their own. I have never owned a car with A/C - the wifes last four or five have all had it, but none of mine.I like the wind in my face - I would love a rag top, now that I would drive around with the roof down in unsuitable weather. I only use the A/C in Mrs Teds motor when driving it to demist the windows.I suppose if I lived somewhere hot I might think differently.
Split_Pin Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 I do fine without my Air con bacause it is supposed to use more fuel so never really used it anyway. And I'm a miserable cunt. The Corsa with cloth seats seems to get so much hotter inside during hot heather than my other 2 with shiny leather. Heat reflection maybe????
Vin Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 I've never had a car with air con either. I suppose it is one of those things that once you've had you can't not have... I remember when air con was the big thing and everything was being offered with air con. Late 1990s was it???? Can't remember exactly, but it was every newspaper/magazine car advertisement... Papa Vin's C reg Volvo 760 GLT estate had aircon. Well it had it, but it never ever worked in his ownership, I think the condenser radiator was fugged. We went to France in it in 1994 and it was bloody hot, windows down all the time. It would have been nice with working aircon mind, but then you never miss what you've never had in the first place... When I went to Spain in 2003 in my Tipo turbodiesel, that summer was BLOODY HOT. I got to Santander and it was just as hot there as it had been when I left Plymouth. I left Santander at 8am and got to my destination - Montaverner (20 miles this side of Benidorm) at 6pm. I had a 1/2 hour lunch stop at Madrid. I had no aircon, but I had windows and sunroof open all the way. It was a knackering drive to say the least ...I also got a case of truckers sunburn on my right arm...
gallondrunk Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 Each to their own, but I love air con. Car doesn't have it, which is a shame, but we've got a brutal looking Toshiba portable unit in the living room. Knock it if you like, but for me just being able to spend a bit of time out of the heat on a hot day is a pleasant luxury.
gtd2000 Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 I do fine without my Air con bacause it is supposed to use more fuel so never really used it anyway. And I'm a miserable cunt. The Corsa with cloth seats seems to get so much hotter inside during hot heather than my other 2 with shiny leather. Heat reflection maybe???? Mythbusters did an episode about the use of A/C vs winding the windows down. I'm sure the result was that winding the windows down below say 30 MPH was better but after that, the increased drag increased fuel consumption beyond the A/C system. My last Proton Persona didn't make much difference using A/C or not to be honest but it did feel like you were driving with the handbrake on! As I suffer from bloody hayfever, I'm a big "fan" of A/C and wouldn't buy a car now without it.... wherever possible.
gtd2000 Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 I do fine without my Air con bacause it is supposed to use more fuel so never really used it anyway. And I'm a miserable cunt. The Corsa with cloth seats seems to get so much hotter inside during hot heather than my other 2 with shiny leather. Heat reflection maybe???? Mythbusters did an episode about the use of A/C vs winding the windows down. I'm sure the result was that winding the windows down below say 30 MPH was better but after that, the increased drag increased fuel consumption beyond the A/C system. My last Proton Persona didn't make much difference using A/C or not to be honest but it did feel like you were driving with the handbrake on! As I suffer from bloody hayfever, I'm a big "fan" of A/C and wouldn't buy a car now without it.... wherever possible.
Split_Pin Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 Aye that's a fair point right enough. I've got those wind deflector thingies on the Windows, maybe they will help lol.
Split_Pin Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 Aye that's a fair point right enough. I've got those wind deflector thingies on the Windows, maybe they will help lol.
ProgRocker Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 My Almera has climate control. Never quite fathomed out how it worked fully - I must consult the owners manual. Mine seems to be blowing out cold air...but not ice cold as such. I've never had a car with air con either. I suppose it is one of those things that once you've had you can't not have...I remember when air con was the big thing and everything was being offered with air con. Late 1990s was it???? Can't remember exactly, but it was every newspaper/magazine car advertisement...D Probably mid 1990s after a few very hot summers. Back then we got limited editions like the Vauxhall Astra 'Arctic'.
ProgRocker Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 My Almera has climate control. Never quite fathomed out how it worked fully - I must consult the owners manual. Mine seems to be blowing out cold air...but not ice cold as such. I've never had a car with air con either. I suppose it is one of those things that once you've had you can't not have...I remember when air con was the big thing and everything was being offered with air con. Late 1990s was it???? Can't remember exactly, but it was every newspaper/magazine car advertisement...D Probably mid 1990s after a few very hot summers. Back then we got limited editions like the Vauxhall Astra 'Arctic'.
Negative Creep Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 I've only had one car with working air con........an MX5. Must admit I never saw the point until I went abroad, and now I do rather wish my car had it
Negative Creep Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 I've only had one car with working air con........an MX5. Must admit I never saw the point until I went abroad, and now I do rather wish my car had it
Lord Sterling Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 All my Rover Sterlings have air-con, they have just never worked. I'd like to get it regassed but as I understand it, the old system has been banned. Not really sure what to do here, besides I've never really worked out how to get the air-con to work, there isnt a big A/C button like on the earlier cars, the owners manual is useless. Looks like another summer of having the bleedin' windows down.......
Lord Sterling Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 All my Rover Sterlings have air-con, they have just never worked. I'd like to get it regassed but as I understand it, the old system has been banned. Not really sure what to do here, besides I've never really worked out how to get the air-con to work, there isnt a big A/C button like on the earlier cars, the owners manual is useless. Looks like another summer of having the bleedin' windows down.......
Ian Nexus Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 Its OK to fill an older system that took R12 with R134a, you just need an adaptor to fit the connector to the low pressure porthttp://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Quest-R134a-high-mileage-recharge-and-retro-fit-kit/_/N-259q?itemIdentifier=513609_0_0_
Ian Nexus Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 Its OK to fill an older system that took R12 with R134a, you just need an adaptor to fit the connector to the low pressure porthttp://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Quest-R134a-high-mileage-recharge-and-retro-fit-kit/_/N-259q?itemIdentifier=513609_0_0_
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