MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: J400uk on April 17, 2014, 03:13:25 pm
-
So its that time of year again where the hot weather starts and you realise that your AC no longer works :sad1:
I've just got back from Kwik Fit where I went to have a regas done but I was told the Compressor is buggered, as apparently although the gas was low recharging it didn't make a difference. Have since done a VCDS scan and under Auto-HVAC the following error is showing:
1 Fault Found:
00229 - Refrigerant Pressure
002 -- Lower Limit Exceeded
Also had a go looking at the measuring blocks which showed the following:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fx267%2FJ400uk%2Fautohvacmeasureblocks_zps05946f1d.png&hash=90d299cebe93cf7eaaaaaa84f449e82dbbc283f3)
My question is, was the Kwik Fit diagnosis of failed compressor correct? The reason I'm suspicious is the VCDS "Compressor Shut-Off Code" of 3 would seem to indicate that the reason its not running is "pressure in refrigerant circuit is too low". I've read elsewhere it might just be a switch/ sensor that's gone. I rang VW UK for a laugh who were as unhelpful as ever denying its a common problem, along with the corroded wings I also noticed this week...
Any suggestions appreciated :happy2:
-
I had my aircon recharged last year. The chap told me the compressor in VAG cars is different as it tends to be on all the time. There is always some gas leaking and over time this can accumulate into a significant loss by which time there's too little gas. It's akin to too little oil in the engine. Your car is older than mine. Have you ever had the gas topped up? If it's truly buggered you're looking at £1k for a replacement.
-
I had my aircon recharged last year. The chap told me the compressor in VAG cars is different as it tends to be on all the time. There is always some gas leaking and over time this can accumulate into a significant loss by which time there's too little gas. It's akin to too little oil in the engine. Your car is older than mine. Have you ever had the gas topped up? If it's truly buggered you're looking at £1k for a replacement.
Don't think its ever had any work done on the AC before as I've looked through all the invoices from the previous owner and nothing is mentioned. Bit annoying as when I bought it a couple of months ago I specifically asked the seller if it was working. And yeah I've seen a few posts mentioning £1k compressor replacements, crazy expensive as that's pretty much 20% of the cars value!
-
Ross Tech Wiki seems to think that the low refrigerant pressure is the fault, not a compressor issue. Link. (http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/00229)
Also, kwik fit? They have trouble fitting tyres the right way round, never mind discharging and refilling air con systems. :laugh:
-
VW are doing a summer health check for £25 which includes checking the air con
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/summer-check
I don't think they charge too much for a top up either
-
Hmm.. I had new compressor and condensing radiator on my MK5 which was done under warrenty not long after I bought it.
The compressor had a distinct louder than normal whining sound that was linked to revs which i noticed from inside the car ( told its compressor internals disintegrating and metal shavings clogging the system so had that changed and AC system cleaned through).
Later my AC gas escaped and I only got the refrigerant low fault code. Compressor refuses to cut in also ( so it doesnt get damaged?) .. Dealers regassed and it escaped in 24hrs. They then regassed with a UV tracer which found a pinhole in the condensing radiator which was swapped out and a stone guard added for protection from the road.
So back to your story and enough of my past troubles.. You need gas for the compressor to kick in.
If you regas and the gas stays in and compressor kicks in and you get cold AC then jobs a good'n
IF you regas and gas stays in and compressor isnt working (faulty compressor or pressure switch/sensor) or sounding rough (failing compressor).
If you regas and lose gas quickly, but compressor works fine briefly with none of the above issues you have a leak in the system... Get a UV tracer pumped in with regas and use a uv lamp to examine all of system components and parts.
Its a long winded process but methodical and will help pinpoint the issue and not spend ££ unnecessarily!
Hope that lil essay helps you :happy2:
-
Thanks guys. I think I'll first try and get the pressure switch/sensor replaced and go somewhere that knows what they are doing for another regas. Fingers crossed that fixes it!
-
no one should be gassing up the system until it has been checked for leaks with an inert gas and dye especially if the system is known to have leaked out at some point.
Air con gas is VERY harmful to the environment and yourself .
-
Mine was leaking and it turned out to be the condenser
-
So I bought the new pressure switch and had been planning on fitting it myself and having another regas done, but am having a bit of a nightmare getting it installed. There is very little access space to reach down and certainly not room for a spanner. I also took it to a local garage who initially thought it would be a 5 minute job to change but then decided it would be 1 - 1h30 in labour because they wanted to remove the front.
Not sure what to do nowas its looking like the pressure switch is going to be a lot of work to fit and theres a risk it might not even fix it. Is it worth just biting the bullet and changing that at the same time as the compressor (and another regas)? Otherwise just feels like a gamble :sad1:
-
Oh and just for clarity the system is currently de-gassed, nothing in there at all so perfectly safe. Climatronic is surprisingly effective even without AC otherwise I think it'd have driven me mad by now!
-
You need a crow foot spanner!! :happy2:
-
I got a compressor laying about for sake if you need one
-
Yeah might be interested if you could PM me over the details Pikey Motorsports.
@ richwig83 - haha that's the same as what my mechanic friends told me, trying to find somewhere to buy one
Shame there doesn't seem to be a way to tell whether the cars needs a new compressor or the pressure switch/ sensor without changing one!
-
My switch broke and VW charged me around £230 to diagnose, replace and re-gas. Felt a little ripped off that they didn't supply the switch for free, as it's a known common fault.
-
You need a crow foot spanner!! :happy2:
+1^^^^
The VCDS fault code as previously directed points to no gas.
I'm puzzled at the pressure sensor being an issue to change (I've done a couple and found them no trouble on 07 cars) but that has to be your starting point if your going to have the system regased.
You must do both the pressure sensor and the seal (the sensor is the common problem as the gas seeps though the plastic housing) as below States it changed part numbers a few times so they know it's a problem!
Now the sensor(G65 is it's technical description) was originally 1K0 959 126 A
Today that is 1K0 959 126 E - £61:36 full retail inc vat
Seal 8E0 260 749 - £0.77 part number remained the same thus no improvements needed!
Online parts catalogue details http://www.partscats.info/volkswagen/en/?i=cat_vag_models&brand=vw&number=1714&set=1728&ein=2007&f=474&hauptgr=1234567890&hg=2&grf=026041409&bf=26041&hgug=260&ug=60&parent_id=2341754&detail_id=2341814
Now when the system is recharged "request they fill it with the dye mix" cause some people don't so they can charge you again!
This allows fault finding using a UV. Light after a period of usage (typically 14 days).
Now major leaks are normally quite obvious and show at the time of recharging if a stone has holed a condenser etc.
However, sometimes you can get leakage so small without the dye you would never detect the fault!
A recharge in Newcastle can be undertaken for £35:00 including the dye.
Now the system can suffer from many problems but this re-gassing should really be undertaken every 24 months (as both system oil and gas loss is expected) so for it to be an efficient system they recommend this!
-
Mines 2006 and aircon seems to be still working fine.
Have never had it checked or regassed,am I better just leaving it alone rather that have someone start poking about at it?
-
My next move would be:-
Using VCDS do an output test which will run the system and you'll be able to check it at various stages.
-
Hi Julian,
I am getting the AC looked at next week (I bought the car from Julian) - what's strange is that cold air does eventually start coming out of the vents.
I also took it to kwik fit as they have a guarantee system, so I was able to get it leak tested and recharged for free. There was approximately 400g of gas already in there.
From what I understand, you had the compressor and drier replaced - are you able to confirm this please? I recall you mentioned that the expansion valve never got replaced.
I'll report back once diagnosed/fixed.
Thanks,
Irfan
-
Compressor and G65 valve were replaced last year. Not sure about the other bits as I don't have the paperwork anymore, but should all be with the car. Unfortunately the lady who had it before me never used the AC so I don't think that helped. Good luck!
-
Ok cheers, will report back once solved!
-
It turns out the compressor was on the blink, so had a new one put it.
I am really impressed with the climatronic system - I have been advised never to use ECON mode unless I really want to save fuel, however the A/C system we have is meant to be very efficient. I used it all weekend and not noticed a major drop in mpg.
-
Strange the compressor failed so quickly as that was brand new last year, guess it must have been faulty from day 1. Glad you got it sorted anyway!
-
Keep this in mind if you want to repair your compressor yourself at a faction of the cost of a new compressor:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-AUDI-SEAT-SKODA-A-C-COMPRESSOR-CONTROL-VALVE-SANDEN-1K0820803-PXE14-PXE16-/191413381173?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c91206835
Easy to remove and check then if you see the filter choked solid buy one of the above.
-
Can deffinately confirm the ac system on our cars is very eco friendly
My mate is a aircon specialist and says use it all year round
On a recent 400 mile journey i lost 0.2mpg with the aircon on :laugh:
£230 to supply and fit a pressure switch is a absolute rip off
My mate charged me £60 to diagnose, change switch and regas system, ok that was mates rates but said even to a usual custemer he only charge about £80-£90 for that job
No crows foot spanner needed either as a watched him change it with a stubby spanner with ease :happy2:
-
Strange the compressor failed so quickly as that was brand new last year, guess it must have been faulty from day 1. Glad you got it sorted anyway!
I know, strange really but I agree in thinking that the replacement you had fitted was broken from the start!!
Loving it now though :jumpmove:
-
If AC not flushed properly, bits can get into the new compressor and could cause premature failure like that :ashamed: