P38A Air con thoughts.

2001 dhse.
Aircon doesnt work, never had a car with ac so never had to work on or fix ac issues before.
I know it's bulb off when ac is on.
Should I just take it along to an ac place and hope a regas sorts it? Or is there some checks or tests I can do to save wasting gas or my time/money?
I have nanocom but green with it.
It's the only thing that doesn't work .
On another note, my book symbol doesn't come on anymore since I've done the matrix O rings, I guess the damp was upsetting the display? All the pixels are all there now too.

does the compressor run? does it turn by hand when the engine is off?
re. the book symbol, you probably nudged the blend motor and kicked it into life go HI-LO-HI a few times to give it a work out on both sides

As above does the clutch on the AC pump click in.
The center doesn't turn until you switch it on, you should see it if engine running and get somebody to switch it on.
If it doesn't turn on, its possible to force it, if it gets cold then 1 of the switches in the system is duff. If it doesn't get cold with it forced on then chances are no gas so time for and AC guy to check.

Don't know what Nanocom can see regards AC.

Ours was the tri switch down at the drier which can be checked with a DMM if you know you have gas, which ours did.

No need to spend money at the AC guys yet.

J

you dont get a book icon for low gas or non functioning etc, i expect nanocom just sees switch states

If there is no gas its usually a hole in the condenser top left hand side under the slam panel.

brianp38dse said:

If there is no gas its usually a hole in the condenser top left hand side under the slam panel.

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my condenser is on the garage no holes

kermit_rr said:

does the compressor run? does it turn by hand when the engine is off?
re. the book symbol, you probably nudged the blend motor and kicked it into life go HI-LO-HI a few times to give it a work out on both sides

Click to expand...

The book symbol used to go off once the cabin warmed up and sometimes come on when I changed airflow direction. I go from hi-lo twice a day 3 times a week taking and bringing the Doris to/from work. Early starts 5.30am it's chilly, late start 11am it's warmer . I'll go try to see if the compressor spins now. Can't watch to see if it pulls in as I'm home alone, try that tomorrow possibly.

marjon said:

As above does the clutch on the AC pump click in.
The center doesn't turn until you switch it on, you should see it if engine running and get somebody to switch it on.
If it doesn't turn on, its possible to force it, if it gets cold then 1 of the switches in the system is duff. If it doesn't get cold with it forced on then chances are no gas so time for and AC guy to check.

Don't know what Nanocom can see regards AC.

Ours was the tri switch down at the drier which can be checked with a DMM if you know you have gas, which ours did.

No need to spend money at the AC guys yet.

J

Click to expand...

How do I force it? Push the outer non spiney bit in with a wood stick or something?
Might get the Doris to do that, she's expendable, I'm not.

Flossie said:

The book symbol used to go off once the cabin warmed up and sometimes come on when I changed airflow direction. I go from hi-lo twice a day 3 times a week taking and bringing the Doris to/from work. Early starts 5.30am it's chilly, late start 11am it's warmer . I'll go try to see if the compressor spins now. Can't watch to see if it pulls in as I'm home alone, try that tomorrow possibly.

Click to expand...

Could be the distribution motor setting it off then.
You can check on your own. Engine off, the centre of the compressor pulley should turn by hand.
Engine on, AC on cold, you should see the centre spin. If it doesn't then first check fuses and relays

Flossie said:

How do I force it? Push the outer non spiney bit in with a wood stick or something?
Might get the Doris to do that, she's expendable, I'm not.

Click to expand...

I think you force it by bridging the connection of the relay.. not sure, ie send power to it even if there's a dodgy switch/relay etc. Do it with the engine off so it's not damaged, you should here the compressor click as the magnets engage the pulley

brianp38dse said:

If there is no gas its usually a hole in the condenser top left hand side under the slam panel.

Click to expand...

Hole in the left hand top or condenser is left hand top?
I think mine was full width but I'm crappie at remembering things.

kermit_rr said:

I think you force it by bridging the connection of the relay.. not sure, ie send power to it even if there's a dodgy switch/relay etc. Do it with the engine off so it's not damaged, you should here the compressor click as the magnets engage the pulley

Click to expand...

I'll have a go now as it's stopped raining.

Flossie said:

Hole in the left hand top or condenser is left hand top?
I think mine was full width but I'm crappie at remembering things.

Click to expand...

Leak in the top left of the condenser, that's looking from the front. The compressor will not run if there is no gas, Kwik fit and others will to a vacuum test and if it's passes re-gas on a no fix no fee basis. Gas is the place to start IMO as it is the most common cause of the aircon not working.

Flossie said:

How do I force it? Push the outer non spiney bit in with a wood stick or something?
Might get the Doris to do that, she's expendable, I'm not.

Click to expand...

I did it with a couple of leads to the connector at the AC pump, 12v, click, cold air.

Datatek said:

Gas is the place to start IMO as it is the most common cause of the aircon not working.

Click to expand...

I would have to disagree, of the 2 AC issues with our cars it was never lack of gas.

Gas pressure can be checked with the switches and a meter too

J

marjon said:

I did it with a couple of leads to the connector at the AC pump, 12v, click, cold air.


I would have to disagree, of the 2 AC issues with our cars it was never lack of gas.

Gas pressure can be checked with the switches and a meter too

J

Click to expand...

Could be both if it's not run in quite a while

Flossie said:

Hole in the left hand top or condenser is left hand top?
I think mine was full width but I'm crappie at remembering things.

Click to expand...

Looking at the front of the car top left off the condenser there is a bit of rubber fixed to the slam panel that seams to trap water and corrode the condenser

brianp38dse said:

Looking at the front of the car top left off the condenser there is a bit of rubber fixed to the slam panel that seams to trap water and corrode the condenser

Click to expand...

Ah..okey dokey.
Didn't get very far with this, couldn't get my hand anywhere near the ac compressor due to the under tray, got that off and noticed an oil leak from somewhere near the turbo,so got side tracked, then it started to rain again but not before I noticed the hot side short elbow jubilee clip wasn't clamping the hose properly. There are two 'stops' cast into the turbo stub (intercooler has them as well) and the clip was half on the hose and round one of the raised stops. If it was a rad hose water would be pouring out I should imagine.
I've not touched this clip so it's been like that a while, might pep up my performance a bit if it was leaking.
Thought of taking a pic but oily hands and rain discouraged me somewhat .
Did notice the single cable to the pump though so I may power that direct tomorrow and see what happens.

Just bridge the compressor relay pin 30 to 87 the clutch should be on then

When mine packed in it was the condenser that went think on one of the corners,.Got a new one a nissin one ,some green rubber seals,all good,,,but might be coincidental but my book light,symbol, came on briefly ...Now the compressor kicks in about three times a minute or so and is ice cold Dam it prob going to break nowbeen 3or4 years now

pete12345 said:

Just bridge the compressor relay pin 30 to 87 the clutch should be on then

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I've just had a quick look at the under bonnet fuse box lid and it's unclear, to me anyway, which relay it is. 3 relays on the sticker have a sort of snowflake symbol?