Technical Air con problem

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Technical Air con problem

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Aug 5, 2007
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Hi
Not sure if this is a problem or not but have recently noticed the aircon is not very cold. My GF uses the car mostly and she has mentioned its not particularly cool. To be fair I don't really use it on the coldest setting often and mainly just for demisting etc but yesterday the car was baking and even after half an hour it was still not that cool.

Has anybody else had issues or is it just the car?

Are others air con usually icy cold?

Might mention it to the dealer but its 14months old now, I am thinking they might say needs a re-gas but surely not after only a year.
 
If you haven't used it much in the year the seals may have perished allowing the gas to escape. The lubricant for these is suspended in the gas and the system needs to be worked regularly (at least every couple of weeks), summer and winter, to keep it gas tight.

Try overriding the auto function (if you have it) and setting it on cold for a good long run to see if it can in fact chill the car. Failing that get the gas tested for the coolant level.

It shouldn't need a re-gas in such a short time. Mine was done after four years, but didn't really need it, and is still working well after six years. I have had A/C for thirty years now in various cars and never had a problem. A/Cs are generally reliable, but they have to be used regularly.

By the way. When the car is really hot use the A/C with the windows open for a few minutes to get rid of the stifling air, then it is only having to cool ambient air, not the super-heated variety.

It may be fine, and it is under guarantee, so if there is a problem you will tell them that you use the system very regularly, for deminsting, and for keeping the cabin cool in almost all weathers - so it has not been left idle ;)
 
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I've noticed lately that mine doesn't seem as cold as the air con I've felt in other cars. It still chills the car to a decent temperature but it's nowhere near as good as my dad's Corsa or my friend's Swift Sport. You'd have thought it would feel as if it's more effective in such a small car!

Could it be because it wasn't used for a few months?
 
A/C varies. Some systems are just better than others, but you could always get the gas checked, just in case.
 
To tell the truth the A/C system was much better in my Golf. The cold air came somehow "invisible" and quickly cooled down the car. But in my lovely Dondolo I always have to switch to the upper part, then to the lower part and I get cold on my shoulders then on my feet because the air is coming too direct, especially to the legs. It needs longer time to cool it down even I open the sunroof and the windows for a while to change the air inside first.
 
Mine's not all that powerful either, and neither was the demonstrator I tried out. Given thta, it seems plenty to do the job, although it's nowhere as entertaining as those old mercs which could blow snow out of their vents!
 
Thanks guys.
I have always used it regularly so seals should be fine just not really used it to the cool the car as such more just for general heating and demisting. I even gave it go on re-circulate. My other car is a golf and the system seems cooler maybe its just not as effective.
I'll see how it goes and maybe mention to the dealer. There as always been a very slight burning smell through the vents, was bad for the first few miles when new but it's still there faintly 9000miles in, especially when putting a/c on. Dealer had a look abd said will fade with time.
 
hmm seems odd, mine is v.cold at the vents (center vents anyway) almost straight away, there just isn't much puff though. I used to have an Octavia which although much more advanced controls wise wasn't nearly so cold.
 
On my old Saab you could see the cold air stream from the centre vents on a hot day, and when stationary you could put ice on the inside of the widscreen when on 'defrost' setting and max fan speed :D

As already stated you should run your air con at least once per week, all year round even if its only for 20 minutes at a time.
 
I have to say my air con is cold once it gets going. Put on coldest setting and recirculate - it doesn't take long. The boyf was driving it the other week and his hand was freezing so we had to turn it off lol (y)
 
be careful with that, there was some poor sod had to have a toe amputated a couple of years back after driving from Manchester to London with it stuffed in the vent....
 
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