Aircon that doesn't.

[Castor]

Me again,

I've got aircon that doesn't.
The only time I get the Cheque Book symbol on the HEVAC display is when the system calls for cooling - and the system doesn't cool.

From the history it was working fine five years ago- last owner did zero maintenance of any kind and I suspect it has just slowly depressurised rather than failed catastrophically.

Do I just get it regassed? What should I check first?

What does the team think is the best strategy here?

 

[Grrrrrr]

Any fault codes stored? Low gas normally calls one, although I cannot remember which. 32, maybe?

If it is kicking in you can hear the engine note change and when you switch it off the note changes again.

If all looks good I'd be tempted to take it somewhere. They should do a leak test anyway. The thermostatic expansion valve had gone on mine so it was venting and losing gas. Less than £30 to fix and didn't take long. I think that was a rare failure though. Pretty certain Wammers said it was one particular corner of the condenser that usually fails.

 

[wammers]

Any fault codes stored? Low gas normally calls one, although I cannot remember which. 32, maybe?

If it is kicking in you can hear the engine note change and when you switch it off the note changes again.

If all looks good I'd be tempted to take it somewhere. They should do a leak test anyway. The thermostatic expansion valve had gone on mine so it was venting and losing gas. Less than £30 to fix and didn't take long. I think that was a rare failure though. Pretty certain Wammers said it was one particular corner of the condenser that usually fails.

No fault code for low gas. Mine has had no gas in for over a year. You may get compressor open circuit but that's all. Should not put book symbol on. Top left hand side looking from front.

 

[Grrrrrr]

No fault code for low gas. Mine has had no gas in for over a year. You may get compressor open circuit but that's all. Should not put book symbol on. Top left hand side looking from front.

That's the one! Open circuit is what I got with low gas.

 

[Grrrrrr]

No, tell a lie. It was a 32 one last time: (32) Compressor clutch control circu (fault type = current)

Regassed and it went away and has been OK since.

 

[wammers]

That's the one! Open circuit is what I got with low gas.

With low or no gas pressure, pressure switch is open circuit so compressor cannot run.

 

[tomcat59alan]

Kwikfit or ATS will vacuum test and recharge system, if it doesn't work then no charge

 

[Castor]

Kwikfit or ATS will vacuum test and recharge system, if it doesn't work then no charge

*That* sounds like a plan - I shall investigate....

Update: ATS are 5 mins from home & do full pressure testing before committing to the recharge as suggested. 30 quid. I'll get the Volvo done too.

Result!

Thanks chaps.

 

[tomcat59alan]

*That* sounds like a plan - I shall investigate....

Kwikfit did mine, didn't work after regas so no charge. The problem was a bad contact on one of the pressure switches, quick fiddle and everything fine.

 

[wammers]

Kwikfit did mine, didn't work after regas so no charge. The problem was a bad contact on one of the pressure switches, quick fiddle and everything fine.

Did you go back and pay them then?

 

[Castor]

I dunno who's worse......

 

[tomcat59alan]

Did you go back and pay them then?

What do you think, making money is easy, hanging on to it is the hard part. Daft bugger