Aircon died - any recent experiences?

[barlimow]

Well, we get a mini heat-wave, and my aircon died today. It's now just blowing air out of the vents, the a/c is not working at all. From a quick search, it appears that a/c compressors are a common issue, and very expensive!! Not happy!!

Has anyone had any recent experience of getting VW to pay for this out of the warranty period? Judging by the number of comments on this, it's hardly an isolated issue and obviously a quality fault in the compressor - no way should they only last 5 years. I'm almost thinking Sale of Goods Act / not fit for purpose, but I'm probably wrong. FWIW it's a 07, full VW SH etc.

Am I flogging a dead horse even talking to VW?

If I get nowhere, I will endeavour to get the contact details for the VW MD, and write to him/her to vent my frustration. After VW told me to f#ck off (in as many words) about my rusting windows (they're "trim") I am not in a happy place with VW at the moment.

Thanks for any replies.

[Dan.b]

Sorry to hear about the issue.

It's a 5 year old car so you cannot quote the not fit for purpose line.

Get it fixed and carry on mate. Going after VW will achieve nothing.

[barlimow]

I'm just ranting...

But i still don't think having to pay >£1000 (per previous threads) is acceptable on a 5 yr old car (and it's hardly an isolated failure).

[Dan.b]

I know I feel the same. I work in the trade and see the dealers get away with a lot worse.

Get your current ac compressor repaired. Will cost a fraction of the new one.

[Wolf Burger]

This happened to me recently.

Wind the window down and take your shirt off!

i had a number for an air con repair place in Sheffield somewhere

[barlimow]

I am making as assumption here of course that it's the compressor that has gone. I'm assuming it doesn't just need a recharge, based on the fact that the day before it was blowing icy cold and now suddenly nothing.

But just to check... I've just read here via a search that the fans behind the radiator should be spinning if the AC is working, but if they're not then the AC is shot. This may be really obvious when I look at the car (which is at home, I'm at work) but where am I looking for these? Thanks.

[omeydz]

The documented issue with compressors is a whining sound thats related to the engine revs and it gets worse. I got mine done under warrenty. Its to do with metal filings shearing in the mechanism.

The fact yours has gone pop overnight means it may be something else, I suggest vagcom if you can access one to see if any fault codes appear.

[Poppa Dom]

Having had a lot of dealings with AC on my own Mk5 over the past few years, all of which I managed to get under warranty. I would suggest the following. Go to an AC specialist and get them to do a recharge, but check before doing so - ask them if they find a leak do they charge. My local AC company doesn't By doing so the UV dye they put in will identify any leaks. If no leaks it's £25 gone but a more informed position. The next thing I would be checking is the high pressure switch - a relatively cheap part. If it is the AC compressor then you can get some good brand new units from ebay.de for 2-300 euros and then fit. It is worth noting that if you do go back to VW and get a replcacement part - that will be warrantied by VW themselves so this is probably the route I would go for peace of mind. There are 2 different oem parts that VW use the Borg Warner compressor is the one to try and get hold of 

hope this helps,

Dom

[WT007]

Mine broke recently also it was fixed with a £65 switch. If you open you bonnet and look between the engine and the rad to the left hand side you should see it has a clip and wires on it..........good luck.

[mhurley]

Well, we get a mini heat-wave, and my aircon died today. It's now just blowing air out of the vents, the a/c is not working at all. From a quick search, it appears that a/c compressors are a common issue, and very expensive!! Not happy!!

Has anyone had any recent experience of getting VW to pay for this out of the warranty period? Judging by the number of comments on this, it's hardly an isolated issue and obviously a quality fault in the compressor - no way should they only last 5 years. I'm almost thinking Sale of Goods Act / not fit for purpose, but I'm probably wrong. FWIW it's a 07, full VW SH etc.

Am I flogging a dead horse even talking to VW?

If I get nowhere, I will endeavour to get the contact details for the VW MD, and write to him/her to vent my frustration. After VW told me to f#ck off (in as many words) about my rusting windows (they're "trim") I am not in a happy place with VW at the moment.

Thanks for any replies.

I bought a 55 plate in 2010. Discovered the following summer that the compressor was kaput.
Had the funds this year to get it repaired. I found www.sinspeed.co.uk the cheapest about £245 inc delivery for a compressor
My local garage fitted it and regassed it for £150...

http://www.sinspeed.co.uk/store/volkswagen-golf-mk5-air-conditioning-compressor.html

[jason_rmh]

Mine broke recently also it was fixed with a £65 switch. If you open you bonnet and look between the engine and the rad to the left hand side you should see it has a clip and wires on it..........good luck.

Where did u get the switch from?
I need one for mine but was told they are not available separately.
Jas

[KC_Gti]

Read this topic the other day and thought, crap wonder if my air con works, AND guess what, hot day today, thought I'd cool down and this is what I got..Hot air and a lotting of hissing (and swearing), quick clip

From what i've read it sounds like a compressor issue, thoughts?...

[omeydz]

If the sound changes and gets higher pitched with revving then its your compressor

[DSG-GTI]

I have just had the very same thing with mine... 58 reg with 33000 miles on the clock... I had it re-gassed and pressure tested, the fella that did it said it was low on gas but not empty maybe 250 grams left in it and should of still worked with that amount in.... he did say that the compressors seem to give trouble on MK5 Golfs, tried it a few days and it seemed to work now and then but eventually gave up totally. I bought it from a VW dealer in Shrewsbury so Booked it in for them to have a look at it under warranty... They even ordered a new compressor before It went in which tells me they already had a good idea that it would be needing one... Took it over to them and they confirmed it was the compressor and fitted a new unit and re-gassed it. Not good on a 3 and a half year old car just glad I never got the bill for it.

I think someone else has said it but the engine fans do run when the system is running,  I would get the gas and leak test done before you condemn the compressor though... you never know  

[barlimow]

Thanks all.

From a previous thread, it said to check if the fans behind the radiator were working when the AC was on. They don't. Which apparantly is the compressor?

Checked on the my other VAG car, and sure enough, when the AC is on the fan is working; turn the AC off and the fan goes off.

So I suspect it's the compressor. But good call on getting Kwik Fit or someone (that says you don't pay if no improvement) to do a recharge first, just to eliminate that (but given that it was working fine 2 days ago I suspect is not the case).

(ps. what I don't understand about AC servicing is everyone saying that it needs doing every 2 years - my other VAG car (10 yrs old, 70k miles) has never been done and the AC is icy cold still).