Air Con is shagged...

[HLC]

ok, so my air con use to be really awesome and it would get so cold and steam or whatever that gas was came out of the vents. i was lead to believe it was the core freezing and it was steam/condesation. like what happens in winter with your breath or whatever. you guys know what i mean.


anyway in these last few days, my aircon has stopped working properly. it wont stay cool, it goes cool, then it just warms back up again then cool then warm. mainly staying on warm, and thats with the climate control set at like 16 degrees with the fan on high.


does it need regassing? a leak somewhere?


cheers

[mr302xd]

i have same problem with the steam thing. Also mine on real hot days will go warm, but once u like give it a rest it will go bak to normal!

[Bucknaked]

Mine used to get so cold, you could see the cold air coming out of the vent. Like steam. But mine is still working. touch wood.

[HLC]

Originally Posted by mr auxr8

i have same problem with the steam thing. Also mine on real hot days will go warm, but once u like give it a rest it will go bak to normal!

steam thing has been like that from day one with my car. no problem.

but for the last week the air con just hasnt been blowing cold properly or at all. its cooler with the windows down than to have them up and the aircon on.

[blackers10]

have you reset it??
the mixer door could be confused (like most things connected to the AU BEM lol)

i recall the self test was to hold the button on each end of the climate control options..(cant remmeber what they are off the top of my head)
sombody in the know will remember im sure

[Peuty]

Hope it isn't what the problem was with mine. I just finished personally changing the accumulator, condenser AND compressor on the XR and it was a of a job to do yourself. But I saved myself over two thirds of the price the local aircon place wanted.

Works as good as gold now!

[HLC]

well i got ford extended warranty so if worse comes to worse, ill give it to them and they'll fix it, like they did to the air con on my mum's fairlane (AU2) was hoping it was a simple fix as i cant be without a car.

the reset option sounds interesting???

[b2tf]

Henri run the self test on the MDC, see if it spits out any codes. If it says E2 be prepared.

[HLC]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Henri run the self test on the MDC, see if it spits out any codes. If it says E2 be prepared.

how do i do that? as blackers said?

where does it display as my display is shagged so i dunno if ill see it. lol

[b2tf]

yup blackers got it right, button on each end, hold it in till it starts

[HLC]

cheers boys, ill go have a test now lol

[HLC]

well i pushed the buttons, all the display lit up, i held them down for ages but it didnt go back to normal so i just turned off the ignition and on again.

put it down to 16 on high and it blew cold for longest its blown all week, but the real test will be when driving tomorrow.

[Peuty]

By the sounds of it, it should be just low gas.

[blackers10]

yeah it should have sort of gone nuts for a while

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by HLC

well i pushed the buttons, all the display lit up, i held them down for ages but it didnt go back to normal so i just turned off the ignition and on again.

put it down to 16 on high and it blew cold for longest its blown all week, but the real test will be when driving tomorrow.

you only hold the buttons until it all lights up, then it should do a few things, youll hear it moving around, if the test turns out ok it will turn itsel off, if it shows up a code on the screen thats when it has something wrong with it.

[SSVPom]

The wife drives the AU now, but she commented on how the air-con does not seem as 'chilly' as it used to, or indeed in my '07 Subaru... nothing malfunctions, and have a recon control unit from the LiqidXtal guy, so I'm assuming a re-gas is on the cards ?

The car is 7 years old and I know it has never been done before.

Be interested to see what's up with yours HLC...

[HLC]

Originally Posted by b2tf

you only hold the buttons until it all lights up, then it should do a few things, youll hear it moving around, if the test turns out ok it will turn itsel off, if it shows up a code on the screen thats when it has something wrong with it.

yeah nah nothing seemed to happen. i didnt hear any noises. maybe the car idle masked it or the aircon still running while all the screen was lit up. if it plays up, off to ford i go lol. up for a service anyway so yeah. get a new display under warranty while im at it too.

[mik]

Originally Posted by FairmontPom

The wife drives the AU now, but she commented on how the air-con does not seem as 'chilly' as it used to, or indeed in my '07 Subaru... nothing malfunctions, and have a recon control unit from the LiqidXtal guy, so I'm assuming a re-gas is on the cards ?

The car is 7 years old and I know it has never been done before.

Be interested to see what's up with yours HLC...

mine was same last service i was under the car and i looked at the ac pump it had more leaks than the titanic it was dry previousley, so i bought orifice tube and reciever dryer and ac pump, neerly 7 year old time for a reco pump i thought, bought it off off ebay, $257 +12 for delivery, the pump was sold by bayfords (remanufactured) ....yes on ebay (a newey was $387 at the counter) i was under the impression it reman by ford but the aircon guys told me no its an outside bloke that repairs them, anyway the aircon "specialist" fitted the goodies and it works and cools however it does`nt seem to get quite as cool as before, he assured me everything is to spec, i might have a look at the heater tap after the heat wave abates

[big_fletch]

im a autoelec but also re-gass cars, i have an au and mine was doing the same thing, as well as regassing u will also probably need a new tx valve and heater/dryer. the tx valve will be blocked and wont be letting the cold air through prpoerly. that is my opinion from working on Au's

[blackers10]

hey fletch what state are you in??

would be handy to know a sparky who knows fords

[big_fletch]

in vic, in shep lol.. and yer i always workin on fords.. i got 3 au's in atm that some iraqi guys bought in, all have been completelt underwater and i get the wonderful job of fixing them lol.. Wont that be fun, but it will teach me all about them.

Currently i gotta get fixed mine, i came out of macas the other day and some F@#^ has taken out the back passenger corner so yer, that i cant fix :(

[The Dok]

This is the correct procedure for the diagnostic test (in climate control models) it should at least tell you what (if) there are any problems.
Simple procedure, ignition on (engine not running) press the 2 buttons at each end of the "climate control unit" (off & face/floor) at the same time, the unit will go into a "self diagnostic mode" effectively re-setting itself.
Henri, in your case it does sound like low gas, most company's that re-charge the air con will also conduct a leak test & the whole job should only cost @$60-70.

[HLC]

cheers! thanks heaps guys!!!!!

i did the reset thing, and when driving to work yesterday the aircon stayed cool the whole time. not as cold as it use to be. but cool at least. which was good. cause it was pretty warm!

ill do what you wrote Dok, and go from there!

:sm_headba

[bingoTE50]

Originally Posted by big_fletch

im a autoelec but also re-gass cars, i have an au and mine was doing the same thing, as well as regassing u will also probably need a new tx valve and heater/dryer. the tx valve will be blocked and wont be letting the cold air through prpoerly. that is my opinion from working on Au's

Fletch , I think that if the car has leaked refrigerant ,this needs to be leak tested. If the seal has gone it needs a new shaft seal. ( holds a vacuum)The tx should be fine , it meters refrigerant not 'cold air" . The receiver drier should be replaced as this is standard practice . If it holds a vacuum ,then regas with your service gauges fitted .The only way the tx will need replacing is if the bulb is not sensing and opening the valve to allow refrigerant into the evaporator or the compressor has had a mechanical failure and debris has blocked the tx valve.( the service gauges will show this)
In this is the case the system mightl need flushing depending on how bad it is.

[big_fletch]

if it is a leak i would go over the air con hoses and try to identify it, as bingoTE50 said it could be a shaft seal or a simple o-ring, maybe even a valve. if the leak connot be found i would regass the car and put in dye, after a week get the car checked again and identify the leak.
If there is a blockage in the TX then the guages will show this as already said.

[fordon]

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

Mine used to get so cold, you could see the cold air coming out of the vent. Like steam. But mine is still working. touch wood.

My AU SR wagon does the same :

[Eu-GenixX]

can i ask a question those with a problem... if while running the air con.. the pipe that runs along the passenger side of the engine bay right at the top.. does that freeze up?... i have been havng probs with my air con.. similar to what ppl are saying...

i replaced the accumulator and tx valve.. and it worked a treat... for about a week... and now it's doing the exact same thing again.... could there be a blockage somewhere else in the system causing this?... any help would be awesome...

i have a series 1 Futura... going to see my mechanic again tomorrow.. he has been closed for 2 weeks.. heh..

Thanks
Trent

[mr302xd]

Yes is that pipe supose to freeze up? I know nuthin bout air con, but that pipe that runs down the side gets almost frozen and the air con is having fits of late. It goes warm but turn ot off for 30 secs-1min its normal for a few mins more but does it again??

[HLC]

well i did the reset on mine. and it didnt seem to be as cold lately.

but the last few days its been doing the cold air steam trick again, so i dont know wtf is going on lol.

this crazy hot-cold weather is playing havoc on our cars lol

[Eu-GenixX]

Originally Posted by mr auxr8

Yes is that pipe supose to freeze up? I know nuthin bout air con, but that pipe that runs down the side gets almost frozen and the air con is having fits of late. It goes warm but turn ot off for 30 secs-1min its normal for a few mins more but does it again??

it's meant to get cold.. but it's not meant to freeze....

mine doesn't even really get cold.... but the compressor cycles out rather quickly... and won't cycle back in.... atleast not for ages.....