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Author Topic: Noisy air con - trouble?  (Read 5232 times)

Offline SRC

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Noisy air con - trouble?
« on: June 11, 2011, 06:18:02 pm »
What are the early symptoms of air-con compressor failure?  I know it's a common fault, and now I'm paranoid.  The system is working fine - cold enough to freeze the proverbials off the famous monkey, but I think I've detected a new noise...
It's quite quiet, but I can hear (with the music off!) a dry 'Darth Vader breathing' sound which stops when I press 'Econ'.  Sometimes it cycles on and off for roughly a second at a time.
Please tell me I'm panicking about nothing.


Shadow blue DSG 5 door with leather, sunroof, 18" Monzas, MFSW. 
Full list of mods:  Seat inserts and a VW bottle opener.  Each worth 20bhp.

Offline Geoffcarragh

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Re: Noisy air con - trouble?
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2011, 07:04:57 pm »
Mine makes the same noise. I've got my fingers crossed with you.
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Offline Boothy

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Re: Noisy air con - trouble?
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2011, 10:01:49 pm »
When mine went it started to make a slight mechanical rasp. Never started wheezing.

h4rdy

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Re: Noisy air con - trouble?
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2011, 10:14:48 pm »
Mine hasn't worked since I bought it over a year ago!

I have a new pump, just cant be bothered to get it sorted.

I turn it off most of the time anyhow. :signLOL:

Offline SRC

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Re: Noisy air con - trouble?
« Reply #4 on: July 04, 2011, 07:56:21 pm »
Update -

Ambient air temp today - 27C, but the aircon just wasn't cutting it.  I'll book a service / regas and see how it goes.  Fingers crossed it's not mechanically serious...



Shadow blue DSG 5 door with leather, sunroof, 18" Monzas, MFSW. 
Full list of mods:  Seat inserts and a VW bottle opener.  Each worth 20bhp.

Offline Tfsi_Mike

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Re: Noisy air con - trouble?
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2011, 07:57:21 pm »
Update -

Ambient air temp today - 27C, but the aircon just wasn't cutting it.  I'll book a service / regas and see how it goes.  Fingers crossed it's not mechanically serious...



Do Kwik fit still guarantee to make it colder or its free?? Might be worth asking

Offline SRC

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Re: Noisy air con - trouble?
« Reply #6 on: July 04, 2011, 08:07:58 pm »

Do Kwik fit still guarantee to make it colder or its free?? Might be worth asking

No offence to any K-F employees on here, but I wouldn't trust my local branch to stir a cup of tea without spilling it.  I've learnt that lesson after more bad experiences than I care to remember.


Shadow blue DSG 5 door with leather, sunroof, 18" Monzas, MFSW. 
Full list of mods:  Seat inserts and a VW bottle opener.  Each worth 20bhp.

Offline SRC

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Re: Noisy air con - trouble?
« Reply #7 on: July 04, 2011, 08:10:40 pm »
While I'm here.. any recommendations for mobile a/c engineers in S London / Surrey area?


Shadow blue DSG 5 door with leather, sunroof, 18" Monzas, MFSW. 
Full list of mods:  Seat inserts and a VW bottle opener.  Each worth 20bhp.

Offline phil1975

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Re: Noisy air con - trouble?
« Reply #8 on: July 05, 2011, 09:48:01 am »
While I'm here.. any recommendations for mobile a/c engineers in S London / Surrey area?



Try 'Faygate Air Conditioning' in horley surrey RH6 7HF   01293 822800, gave me good advice when I had problems with my compressor (eventually sorted for free by vw) and seemed to know all about the common problems with the mk5.

Or 'Sibot Services' in smallfield surrey RH6 9JN   01342 841777  again no personal experience but they have a good website and a good reputation locally.
Candy White 5 door mk6 gti  and a escort cosworth for wasting money on!!

Offline SRC

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Re: Noisy air con - trouble?
« Reply #9 on: July 06, 2011, 04:10:17 pm »
I rang Sibot and Faygate.  Neither do a mobile service anymore - it seems that there's no money in it.  However, Sibot's prices, and the fact that they include an ultra-violet dye in a regas to identify any future leaks, means that they've got my business on Friday morning.  Fingers still crossed for the compressor...


Shadow blue DSG 5 door with leather, sunroof, 18" Monzas, MFSW. 
Full list of mods:  Seat inserts and a VW bottle opener.  Each worth 20bhp.

Offline SRC

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Re: Noisy air con - trouble?
« Reply #10 on: July 15, 2011, 01:59:26 pm »
 :pomppomp:

Good news.  It wasn't the infamous VAG compressor.  Sibot professionally emptied the aircon system and replaced the gas with the correct lube and a dose of UV dye, which other garages usually charge extra for.  (Useful for detecting any future leaks.)   Climate control now works beautifully (one week on) and I'm a happy bunny.  Sibot are easy to find, and very good value.  A word of warning, though - he seems to spend more time building specialist BMX bikes than working on cars.  Don't take your son with you, or you'll be spending a lot more!


Shadow blue DSG 5 door with leather, sunroof, 18" Monzas, MFSW. 
Full list of mods:  Seat inserts and a VW bottle opener.  Each worth 20bhp.

Offline Tfsi_Mike

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Re: Noisy air con - trouble?
« Reply #11 on: July 15, 2011, 02:24:12 pm »
:pomppomp:

Good news.  It wasn't the infamous VAG compressor.  Sibot professionally emptied the aircon system and replaced the gas with the correct lube and a dose of UV dye, which other garages usually charge extra for.  (Useful for detecting any future leaks.)   Climate control now works beautifully (one week on) and I'm a happy bunny.  Sibot are easy to find, and very good value.  A word of warning, though - he seems to spend more time building specialist BMX bikes than working on cars.  Don't take your son with you, or you'll be spending a lot more!


Glad you got it sorted, just need some hot weather now  :P

Offline phil1975

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Re: Noisy air con - trouble?
« Reply #12 on: July 15, 2011, 03:53:09 pm »
 :happy2: glad you got it sorted
Candy White 5 door mk6 gti  and a escort cosworth for wasting money on!!