air conditioning not working in the cold weather!!

can anyone help?? got a 2002 p38, 4.0 westminster, tried useing the air con today to clear the windows and the system didnt want to know, only used it a week ago and it worked fine?? i know the system is all gassed up and normally works great (to perfection dare i say it) but today the compressor didnt click in and wouldnt operate, all normal ventilation working fine,, no blown fuses or relays gone dodgy, no fault symbol on the hevac screen, checked the lot, could it be that below 0c degrees the system has some type of safety cut off?? as it was bloody cold all day out here in the sticks,, anyone had this problem before??

Air con systems are usually programmed not to work once the ambient air temp gets to 4 celcius and below, there's a risk of ice build up on the evaporator if it did, blocking the heater air intakes

Nickpen said:

Air con systems are usually programmed not to work once the ambient air temp gets to 4 celcius and below, there's a risk of ice build up on the evaporator if it did, blocking the heater air intakes

Click to expand...

+1 i think the p38 system is below 5 degC

thanks guys, i thought it would be something along those lines,, i am going to try it again tomorrow as we have been forecast a milder day at 10c, fingers crossed,

either missing something here, or because i've been used to 32c+ for the last 6 years, but why would you want A/C in the cold? i want the heat!

sas1810 said:

either missing something here, or because i've been used to 32c+ for the last 6 years, but why would you want A/C in the cold? i want the heat!

Click to expand...

aircon will clear the windows quicker,p.s where you been dave

sas1810 said:

either missing something here, or because i've been used to 32c+ for the last 6 years, but why would you want A/C in the cold? i want the heat!

Click to expand...

Aircon dehumidifies

Datatek said:

Aircon dehumidifies

Click to expand...

well, you learn something new everyday

sas1810 said:

well, you learn something new everyday

Click to expand...

Look under the car on a warm humid day and you will see the condensate dripping out unless the drains are blocked, in which case you will have wet carpet

Datatek said:

Look under the car on a warm humid day and you will see the condensate dripping out unless the drains are blocked, in which case you will have wet carpet

Click to expand...

yeah, i noticed that back in August. anal nerve gave way as i thought i had a leak

sas1810 said:

yeah, i noticed that back in August. anal nerve gave way as i thought i had a leak

Click to expand...

It was the car not you it is to be hoped

Datatek said:

It was the car not you it is to be hoped

Click to expand...

deffo the car if it was me it would of been a lump down the back of my leg