Technical 2013 aircon

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Technical 2013 aircon

gullyfoyle

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Hi chaps, question for you, wife's Panda doesn’t have climate control, but it does have a pull out knob on the fan speed control, that when pulled out a little light on the knob comes on, imperceptibly, only visible at night really.

So the question! What effect should I expect on operating said switch? Because I detect zero difference on or off...
 
it does have a pull out knob on the fan speed control, that when pulled out a little light on the knob comes on, imperceptibly, only visible at night really.

Interesting that it's a "pull-out knob". On my 2012 Panda, the fan speed knob presses in (like a non-latching push-switch) and toggles the state of the air-con on or off, and the LED is clearly on or off in daylight. Maybe Fiat changed the design later.
 
Hi
If you can't here the pump clutch cut in then I would think you need a regas
The light on the switch is not visible if it's not working [NO GAS]
The pump is located on the left on the engine at the top with a load of pipes
LUIGI
 
Hi chaps, question for you, wife's Panda doesn’t have climate control, but it does have a pull out knob on the fan speed control, that when pulled out a little light on the knob comes on, imperceptibly, only visible at night really.

So the question! What effect should I expect on operating said switch? Because I detect zero difference on or off...

Sounds like your car might have aircon, for clarity take a picture of the switch and under the bonnet.
 
If the switch looks like this you have air con
 

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Thanks, its A 2013 TA 4x4 and the switch pulls out and a very faint orange light comes on, but it’s very dim, looks like no gas then, hasn't worked from the day we got it at two years old with 12500 miles on the clock, tyres, discs and exhaust goosed, didn't think to check given the age and milage and a dealer purchase, top guys Fiat dealers.
 
Before regassing check that teh air con condenser radiator is sound, These are prone to failure. The 2012 model is cheaper than the 169 previous Panda. I had the 169 changed recently for about £250 at the main dealer. Other places sholuld do it for £175. The 312 Panda condensers are about £60 on ebay.

The system is powerful when working properly and can chill the car even when its 35C outside.
 
It’s a 2013, we bought it at two years old an 12500 on the clock, its not that we haven’t used it, it’s usually in the on position, but nothing happens, to be fair, I’m not the kind of guy that gets fussed about something not working if it doesn’t affect performance or safety.

But with the weather we’ve had lately it would be useful, for the last 4 years or so we’ve been abroad in the summer months here, so only this year have we noticed or been bothered by it, still I’ll see if I can get a mobile guy to look at it, if it’s only a re gas fine, otherwise I’ll live without it.

Thanks for all the reply’s appreciated.
 
@gullyfoyle Are you sure you have a pull-out switch?
On each of my Pandas with air con (2013, then 2017 and now 2018 models), you push it in - when it clicks and a bright orange light comes on. You push it again to turn it off.

Note: it will only work if the fan is set to something other than '0'. The aircon switch doesn't have an 'on' position - it always sits flush with the panel around it, except when it is being pushed to operate it.

Three photos - first shows the Panda's fan control (note: not the same as in @2668GRIFFIN's Fiorino), the second shows the button being pushed in, and the third photo with light (and a/c) on - in daylight. (You can push the middle of the control - I only have my finger on the edge so you can see the LED in the photos)
 

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Before regassing check that teh air con condenser radiator is sound, These are prone to failure. The 2012 model is cheaper than the 169 previous Panda. I had the 169 changed recently for about £250 at the main dealer. Other places sholuld do it for £175. The 312 Panda condensers are about £60 on ebay.

The system is powerful when working properly and can chill the car even when its 35C outside.
Never had one fail: 2013 car covered 70k miles with plenty of fast motorway or loose offroad stuff. Rads all fine when sold... I suspect the reference to 'pulling the switch' is the issue here :)
 
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@gullyfoyle Are you sure you have a pull-out switch?
On each of my Pandas with air con (2013, then 2017 and now 2018 models), you push it in - when it clicks and a bright orange light comes on. You push it again to turn it off.

Note: it will only work if the fan is set to something other than '0'. The aircon switch doesn't have an 'on' position - it always sits flush with the panel around it, except when it is being pushed to operate it.

Three photos - first shows the Panda's fan control (note: not the same as in @2668GRIFFIN's Fiorino), the second shows the button being pushed in, and the third photo with light (and a/c) on - in daylight. (You can push the middle of the control - I only have my finger on the edge so you can see the LED in the photos)

Ah’ I’m stupid, I’ve been misremembering how I’ve been operating the switch push on push off...why I thought I’d been pulling I don’t know, just had the wife looking at me like I’m mad, which is a bit rich since I fitted a new front door today that she’s been on about for years!!!
Any way, no cold air.. try to get it re gassed soon.

Thank you all, sorry about the wild goose chase. ?
 
Never had one fail: 2013 car covered 70k miles with plenty of fast motorway or loose offroad stuff. Rads all fine when sold... I suspect the reference to 'pulling the switch' is the issue here :)

2013 4x4 TA with 78000 miles on the clock, aircon on almost all the time - Devon winters and Italian spring and autumn - never any issues - had pressure checked last year.
 
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