Aircon problem

[thelaminator2]

Hi All
My aircon has stopped working and i'm at a loss with my fault finding

the switch lights as normal put the pump is not cutting in and out
I pulled the relay and bridged across it and the pump runs checked the system pressure and its spot on and when the pump is running its cold as Siberia in the cabin
Where would the fault be any pointers would be much appreciated a hot weekend and two young kids in the car is not fun
Many thanks
Ian

[paolo]

Could be the clutch, if the gap gets too big, it will prevent the system running.
Happened to me a few years ago, simple fix for a mechanic.

[thelaminator2]

Hmmm
not sure about it being the cluth as if i bridge the relay everything works
new relay fitted and still no aircon

[sophierich]

Hi matey, just noticed the weekend just gone my t5 has come down ith the same problem, all appears to be working fine but no cold air! I'll keep at it and if i come up trumps i'll let you know. Don't think it's the got anything to do with clutch as mine is an auto.

[gjd]

Originally Posted by thelaminator2

Hmmm
not sure about it being the cluth as if i bridge the relay everything works
new relay fitted and still no aircon

Hello

On my V70 the aircin was serviced, fully gassed and pronounced leak free. The vent temperature was icy. However, t.he air cut out after 5 minutes, and all I got was humid warm air.

After checking the forum, I read that the compressor gets warm, and its magnet cannot pull the clutch shut. I got an aircon specialist to remove a shim from the clutch, and all is well. The job took 20 minutes and was done at the roadside.

Check the forum for clutch gap and you will find lots of advice and even a "how to" photo essay.

[noscralc]

Originally Posted by sophierich

Hi matey, just noticed the weekend just gone my t5 has come down ith the same problem, all appears to be working fine but no cold air! I'll keep at it and if i come up trumps i'll let you know. Don't think it's the got anything to do with clutch as mine is an auto.

auto doh!!

[thelaminator2]

Originally Posted by gjd

Hello

On my V70 the aircin was serviced, fully gassed and pronounced leak free. The vent temperature was icy. However, t.he air cut out after 5 minutes, and all I got was humid warm air.

After checking the forum, I read that the compressor gets warm, and its magnet cannot pull the clutch shut. I got an aircon specialist to remove a shim from the clutch, and all is well. The job took 20 minutes and was done at the roadside.

Check the forum for clutch gap and you will find lots of advice and even a "how to" photo essay.

but if its the clutch on the compressor why would the system run fine when i hard wire across the relay
it has to be a switch or sensor somewhere in my mind

[sophierich]

If it's any use to you, i have a few responses to the exact same issue and all have said that it will be because the system needs re-gassing, apparently the aircon should be used regularly, about 15 minutes or so weekly, my car was garaged for about 9 months with the abs problem, the rubber seals in the system dry out when not in use and refidgerant passes the seals, there is a fail safe to prevent compressor kicking in when the system becomes de-pressurised. kwickfit apparently re-gas for around £50 and if they don't succeed in making the system cooler or there is a fault, apparently they don't charge, hope this helps.

[gjd]

Originally Posted by thelaminator2

but if its the clutch on the compressor why would the system run fine when i hard wire across the relay
it has to be a switch or sensor somewhere in my mind

Hello

I am not an engineer - for a definitive answer, take the car to a recommended aircon engineer.

I would imagine that it works as long as the compressor hasn't heated up enough for the electromagnet to be affected. When I had the aircon service, they insisted that they ran it for a full 5 minutes to test the whole system. I found that it packed up after around 5-10 minutes. Apparently the heat affects the effectiveness of the magnet.

[sophierich]

Alright there, took my v70 to a recommended air-con service centre today, they checked the system, cleaned it out re-gassed and treated the system and now all works fine, run for well over an hour set at 21c and its like siberia in there (£75). The symptoms you described are exactly what i was experiencing, sometimes somethings require only a simple fix. When the fella at the garage checked the system there was only 60 grams of refriderant in the system, there should be 750 grams on a v70 t5. The system was serviced a year ago, the gas loss is purely down to non use of the air-con as the vehicle was off the road for about 9 months.