Technical Aircon not working

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Technical Aircon not working

Red Devil

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In my wife's recently bought '09 500 sport the aircon has just stopped working. It's been regassed recently by a reputable local family garage and has been working fine. I noticed that when the aircon is switched on there's a noise coming from what appears to be slightly left of centre of the dash - a sort of fan sound (but different from the variable speed fan). Sounds like the magnet is kicking in - anybody have any helpful ideas. I can't see any obvious leaks.
 
You won't see or hear any leaks, chances are that the gas has escaped again, there was a reason it needed gassing in the first place and a very small slow leak can quickly empty the system after a few days without there being any obvious problems when the system was filled.

When they did fill the system did they add any UV dye as a uv lamp will usually be able to find where the leak maybe.

As it's an 09 model I'd hazard a guess it might need a new condenser, due to corrosion or stone damage.
 
It's been regassed recently .......
Why was it re-gassed?

Obviously it has been an issue for a while?
Was anything suspected at the time?

We have a 2001 Renault Clio since brand new, and the aircon works perfectly and has never had any maintenance. Our 2011 500TA has aircon too, and that hasn't been touched.

Main thing, is to leave it on permanently.

Regards,
Mick.
 
Both my 500s needed regassing at around the 3 year mark, as the air was no longer freezing cold.
Unlike Mike, I do turn it off when I am not using it, as the MPGs do drop.
My first thought is the condenser, it is very easily damaged by stones.
 
The aircon wasn't working when we bought it but hadn't noticed because the weather was quite cold at the time. The aircon in both our Alfas have been fine, although I did have to have a new condenser fitted on mine.

I should have said in my first post that I hadn't noticed this noise before.
 
The noise is likely what remains of the gas passing through the expansion valve, fiat expansion valves can be quite noisy when running low on gas. The noise will come and go as the compressor kicks in and out

In a fully charged system you'd not expect to hear anything.
 
Have some uv dye added if they did not add it at recharge and recharge again, at night with a bright uv light (black light) look for leaks everywhere under the bonnet should shine where the leak is most likely to be may find traces on floor or under tray bumper etc
 
Have some uv dye added if they did not add it at recharge and recharge again, at night with a bright uv light (black light) look for leaks everywhere under the bonnet should shine where the leak is most likely to be may find traces on floor or under tray bumper etc

The noise you hear when you switch the air con on is the electric solenoid valve that engages the air con pump to turn the system on and off.
 
Aircon isn't for making the car cold.
Aircon is for Air Conditioning.

It conditions the air, removing the damp by dehumidifying it. You can have aircon switched on, and have a warm/hot car if you want, and we frequently do.

Given the choice of hot weather and a cold car, or cold weather and a damp car, I would chose the latter. The benefits are huge.

Regards,
Mick.
 
I'm definitely in the hot weather cool car camp - however I'm taking the car back to the garage tomorrow.
 
Did they pressure test the system when re gassing? AND leave it for 10-20 mins to see if it leaks rather than just a few mins. Once fixed which may require a new condenser try to leave it always on, and if fully auto climate control is fitted DON'T use max or min temp.
 
................ because it can drive the flap mechanisms fast and hard against their stops, and they tend to break .............. and it's mega expensive. :eek:

Not something I know personally, but what I've read on here.

Mick.
 
................ because it can drive the flap mechanisms fast and hard against their stops, and they tend to break .............. and it's mega expensive. :eek:

Has little to do with temp settings. The flap in question will already be at full extension well before max or min temps. In fact, having it in the middle could be the worst as it may be cycling open and closed constantly.

About all you could do is replace the solid control rod with a friction slip joint or force limiting spring.
 
Has little to do with temp settings. The flap in question will already be at full extension well before max or min temps. In fact, having it in the middle could be the worst as it may be cycling open and closed constantly.
All I know about this issue, is what was discussed earlier this year on here.
It's there on the first page.
https://www.fiatforum.com/500/448013-heater-flap.html

Regards,
Mick.
 
Has little to do with temp settings. The flap in question will already be at full extension well before max or min temps.
Indeed. Therefore avoiding min and max temperature settings won't help much to keep the climate control system healthy.

About all you could do is replace the solid control rod with a friction slip joint or force limiting spring.
The real problem seems to be that the climate control system sometimes forgets what the end positions of the flaps are. Therefore there is another thing you can do: Use MultiEcuScan to check the climate control system as soon as you think you notice any unusual behaviour and use the "flap actuators learning" function to "recalibrate" the system if necessary.
 
The noise is likely what remains of the gas passing through the expansion valve, fiat expansion valves can be quite noisy when running low on gas. The noise will come and go as the compressor kicks in and out

In a fully charged system you'd not expect to hear anything.

I don't know exactly what sort of sound you are inferring, but we have had 2 500s and a Panda with air con (all 1.2s, two from brand new, one bought at 18 months), and they have all hissed merrily away as the compressor stops and starts. The only one that has been quiet was my 62 plate Punto 1.4 Easy, you could barely hear that at all when A/C is on.

I would never describe the 500 system as quiet, but as with all sounds/niggles it depends on the individual!:)
 
I don't know exactly what sort of sound you are inferring, but we have had 2 500s and a Panda with air con (all 1.2s, two from brand new, one bought at 18 months), and they have all hissed merrily away as the compressor stops and starts. The only one that has been quiet was my 62 plate Punto 1.4 Easy, you could barely hear that at all when A/C is on.

I would never describe the 500 system as quiet, but as with all sounds/niggles it depends on the individual!:)



I stand by my original statement and as confirmed by your 62 plate punto, a properly gassed and working system should not make any loud or intrusive noise during normal operation.

When running low on gas the hiss can become very loud and noticeable just after the pump clicks off.
 
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