Air Con N/working

[calamara]

Good Evening all,

I have owned a 2007 2.0 d4d for nearly 4 years, and never once had the air con on, ( probably due to the mpg issue), now with this warm weather we're having, and the fact the car is taking us to Spain in Sept, I thought better make sure a/c is ok,.......so when I press the switch on the green light stays on, but not surprisingly after that length of time,.... it doesn't work.

I know next to nothing about a/c, so dont really know where to start, could it be a fuse, or make or break relay, or regassing?......any advice would most appreciated. cheers.

[jumbojake]

it is highly likely the seals have all dried up and gas leaked out. They recommend you use the air con regularly (at least once a week, throughout the year) to preserve the system. I use mine more in the winter than summer as it helps de-mist on cold mornings.

It's a definitely specialist job, you need special licences to deal with the gas ... find a decent local garage, they should be able to do a pressure test, replace seals and re-charge ... (£50-£100 I would think)

[calamara]

Thanks jumbojake, my fault I know, will take to a local garage, cheers.

[jumbojake]

I suffered the same on the first car I had with air-con (was my wife's vauxhaul) ... I know a few people who leave the air con on all the time .. must kill their economy. Needs to be a balance I guess.

[alan333]

My air con is on most of the time. I have found on every car I've owned that it makes no difference whatsoever to fuel economy. Try yours for a tank full and see.

[calamara]

ALAN333, thanks for that, will definately try with a tankfull with it on, as opposed to off.

But first, I have got to get it working,....can anybody reccomend any where in the North West to take it, excluding Mr T,who will charge an arm/leg? cheers.

[Exvec]

Kwik Fit are pretty good with air con recharge although i wouldn't use em for anything else.. here's a ;link..

http://www.kwik-fit.com/mot-testing-and-servicing.asp

[spoofpig]

£40 for a aircon recharge i find aircon usage make little to no difference in mpg i allways use to demist in the winter

[Konrad C]

Diesel engines are not affected by use of the aircon compared with petrol engines, so the economy will only be slightly worse. I like other posters use the aircon during the winter and when there is condensation to clear the windows.

I have used QuikFit and found them okay.The aircon is still working 4-5 years later.

[My first toyota]

Most likely needs re-gassing but you could always begin by having a look at the fuse box.

Does your engine change its sound when you switch it on? As if its working harder? On my other car, it doesn't. After an electrician played about with it he found a pressure sensor had given way. Lets hope it not that on yours.

[jumbojake]

note... the compressor won;t engage if the pressure level is too low.... I'd head down to a trusty garage and ask them to check it out ... they should do a pressure test to start with.

[calamara]

If the fuse had blown, the A/C switch wouldn't light up ? but it does, I haven't noticed any different engine noise, and the compressor doesn't click in and out, which it should do, I think? Thanks.

[calamara]

Could it be a make/break relay thats faulty? I know this is a common fault on the civic air/con.

[Exvec]

If you take it to Kwik Fit for a regas they will do all the tests first before they actually try to fill it with gas,by evacuating the old gas then pressure test and only if it has no leaks will the machine refill the system,oh and they also put in a dye to see if there are any leaks and if there are any problems during the process you are not charged,as i said Kwik Fit are good for this service,just about anything else not so good...oh and i don't work for them either.