Sorry about two questions in one post, but I was wondering if anyone has had problems with the aircon switching itself off during operation? We had a stinking hot day here yesterday (39deg C) and I noticed how ineffective the aircon had become. I discovered by switching the aircon button off and on again and it would belt out cold air again.

On another matter entirely, I use this car primarily for short urban drives so I admit I haven't used it much. Though it's my first diesel car, I have driven heaps of different work diesel vehicles over the years. I'm struggling to remember one that is so easy to stall off the mark. I did it twice yesterday. Like if you're not concentrating on it, as you let out the clutch it just cuts out. I am begining to notice the turbo lag too, and even though I am pretty used to that from other vehicles, it'd be nice to not have it. Anyone else experience the cutting out business?

I have ordered a Racechip tuning box and a K&N air filter so hoping the combination will help a bit with the laggy feel and stalling (though am not expecting miracles, a small incremental imprvement would be great). I have read so much negative about tuning boxes but I don't have the time or money to seek out a chip tune. I'll report on results when I've got the parts installed.

The air conditioning will automatically cut in and out based on certain engine load conditions. Mine I know cuts out with high revs/throttle position and also very low revs. However, yours sounds more long term, unless you were driving full throttle all the way its unlikely.

So my other option would be that in humid or very hot areas the air comes though the heat exchanger and instead of just condensation forming it freezes. This means that after a while less and less cold air comes through the unit. Ideally it should not be allowed to get this cold, but i know a rental car i had in america one year that would constanly freeze after about 20 minutes use in new england at around 30 degrees. Other than that my only other option is that there is some fort of electrical fault.

The stalling i have noticed is worse than my old 1.5 deisel peugeot, however you have to bear in mind such a small alloy engine will have very little torque at low revs until the turbo kicks in as there is very little in the way of rotating mass in the engine.

the car a/c system has safety switches to protect the system if it loses gas,
this will cut out the compressor,
all a/c should be run for a short time weekly summer and winter to lubricate the seals.
i suggest you get it checked over it may have lost some gas,

Hey thanks guys for the input. I had wondered about a leak in the system, just thought a 3-yr old car wouldn't suffer that problem. The freezing over is something I had never considered but I'll check it out.

OzGP said:

Sorry about two questions in one post, but I was wondering if anyone has had problems with the aircon switching itself off during operation? We had a stinking hot day here yesterday (39deg C) and I noticed how ineffective the aircon had become. I discovered by switching the aircon button off and on again and it would belt out cold air again.

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I had my aircon on on the same day(39 deg C) and it worked fine. No issues at all. I would definitely get it checked out..