Air con/climate failure

[Lean]

Thanks Mike - I had an interesting conversation with warranty direct on Saturday. - I explained to the engineer the dealership cost of £178.00 for more investigation.

He was pretty miffed with them charging that!  Basically he told me that the dealer has quoted them £302.00 to replace the condenser inc all fitting, and that the £178.00 is half the job done - so asked me to call them to confirm with them that if it's 'my' fault (stones etc) - that the £178.00 is not charged on top of the £302.00.

He also suggested I try a different garage as well hmmz I have so little time off work I'm not sure the best thing to do.

ps. Mike have you replaced yours then? If so do you want to do mine?!  I'll happily give moola to you mate than the dealers!

[Lean]

Found a cheaper one now: £77.95+vat (£91.59)

http://www.autoairconparts.co.uk/Car-Air-Conditioning-Condenser-Radiator-for-Volkswagen-GOLF-MK5-2.0-FSi-Petrol-Manual-or-Automatic-Oct-03-to-Oct-08-Part-16-1054.html

--------------------

Found a new one (first initial look) for £101.79

http://www.automotive-air-conditioning-vehicle-parts.com/air-conditioning-condensers-results.aspx?models-for=VOLKSWAGON&Model=GOLF%20MK5&part=Condensers

Hmm seriously thinking of cancelling the dealer trip on Tuesday now - and taking to local garage - any thoughts in the Leeds area?

[tony_danza]

I'm not touching mine, can't find the time to do anything these days! It's going to Votex tomorrow.

As far as I know though, it's just a case of popping the bumper off and swapping it. I'll ask how long it took them and how easy/hard it was and let you know tomorrow night.

[Lean]

Thanks mate 


I'm going to cancel the dealers I think, and try for something in a couple of weeks time (whilst I'm at Glastonbury) 

[dazjb69]

I have the same air con problem as the OP on my 07 plate leon cupra, everything seems to be working as it should except no chilled air! I have had it regassed with no improvement, if it's got no leaks I'm leaning towards a sensor or maybe pressure switch faulty? Should any sensor fault show up with vagcom??

[rdfcpete]

if it's got no leaks I'm leaning towards a sensor or maybe pressure switch faulty? Should any sensor fault show up with vagcom??

+1  ?

[tony_danza]

I'd imagine a sensor or switch not doing its job should come up in VCDS, as it is a measurable factor.

How do you know it isn't leaking though? Have they compared PSI since re gas??

[rdfcpete]

^ Haven't run a VCDS diag yet Mike but based on that info, I will do. Seems logical.

I have however had 2 recharge runs at Kwik-fit and it produced no errors or negative results in the feedback it gave. I understand a re-charge unit will tell you if you have any splits or leaks?
I don't know exactly was was checked, I can only assume they base it on the before and after PSI?...

[dazjb69]

Mine too regassed without a fault on the machine they use, since looking again today I can see green dye (which they put into the gas) around and below what i think is the pressure sensor (you can see a small cable loom going to part of the air con pipe down opposite the alternator and compressor sort of area), if I pull up on that sensor you can hear a hiss of the gas escaping, and the compressor won't engage if there is any chance of a leak, I'll be taking it for a check later in the week but the guy I spoke to today at the place I'll be using said he'd bet his bottom dollar it would be a leak somewhere causing the problem.

[Lean]

Mine is going in tomorrow now - It will cost me £302.00 if it's a stone or similar that caused the problem - if not Warranty Direct will cover it.

 

[dazjb69]

Best to hope it ain't a stone!!

[dazjb69]

Mine is now fixed it turned out to be a leaking pressure switch, about £40 for the part, £55 for the re-gas all done by a local mobile air con specialist, spot on!!

[rdfcpete]

Mine is now fixed it turned out to be a leaking pressure switch, about £40 for the part, £55 for the re-gas all done by a local mobile air con specialist, spot on!!

Top effort Daz  

How did you/they diagnose it was a pressure switch?  

[dazjb69]

When it gets regassed they add a green dye and I spotted that around the top of the pressure switch, it pays to get someone who specialises in air con not just a garage that can have a 'go' at most things, so I picked up the local yellow pages and a chap came out within the hour and fixed it. A proper air con specialist would actually pressure test with nitrogen first and I guess this would show any leak, when he removed the switch under the multiplug (3 wires) was soaked with green dye and he knew this was the problem as he said he'd seen tons of them.

[Lean]

£428.00 total cost


But good news all round as it was a mechanical problem and not the fault of stone chips.. so warranty direct are picking up the cost - phew! (Less my £50.00 excess)