Technical Air Con only works whilst car in motion

[spookeytookey]

Hi
we have a Grande Punto 1.4 2008.
The Air con only works whilst the car is in motion. When stationary with engine running the air con doesnt work. Hotter air is produced.
Any Ideas how to solve this?

 

[keat63]

And are you sure it actually works when moving, and that you're not just feeling ambient air being wind chilled via the movement.

If i think on, i'll have a listed to mine when i go out this evening, so see if i can hear any relays or anything kicking in.

A really common fault on aircon units is gas discharge. Either through a leak, or generally weepage overtime.
You can get them recharged for about £30, i think KwikFit will do this.

 

[spookeytookey]

Yes definately workd whislt in motion.
today its 30 degrees c here, so you really feel the aircon working. but when your stationary its only hot air !

 

[portland_bill]

As above, but also check that the cooling fan is running.

 

[willmott1992]

today its 30 degrees c here

Jealous, I was close to Geneva three weeks ago and sitting in 3 degree snow!

 

[spookeytookey]

Thanks. cooling fan will be checked.
its hit 34 Degrees now. melting

Will confirm cooling fan is running.
cheers

 

[jameshobiecat]

And are you sure it actually works when moving, and that you're not just feeling ambient air being wind chilled via the movement.

Bad physics allert siren! nee nor nee nor.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

As above, but also check that the cooling fan is running.

:yeahthat: sounds like fan isn't running when stationary, might be low on gas also and under more strain when stationary?

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I would say the system is in dire need of a regass

when the gas runs very low, ticking over isn't enough to compress the gas so as to get a pressure difference across the system, only when you start traveling and get the revs up is the compressor capable of creating a pressure difference and get the cool air flowing.

the cooling fan will only work when the system needs cooling so without pressure in the system it might not kick in when stationary and the air con not working

don't be tempted to buy a cheap aircon refill kit, they are not that cheap and they do a crap job of sorting issues like this out.

 

[phil0254]

With the engine idling, switch on the aircon and recirculating switch .Within a minute or two the radiator cooling fan should kick in at 1/2 speed for 30 or so seconds then switch off..It should continually do this..If it doesn't ,look at the radiator shroud where the coolant resovoir is,you should find a plug going in a switch ,it's a resistor held in place by 1 screw ,replace that..Obviously that is taking it that you have gas in the system

 

[jameshobiecat]

Spookeytookey, did you ever solve this?

I'm suffering the same problem on my t-jet and have found that the engine cooling fan isn't cutting in when the air-con is on.

The fan works when the engine gets too hot in big traffic jams (at which point the air-con goes cold). I've had a re-gas and swapped the high and low speed fan relays around with no impact. Any one got any other ideas?

 

[Westie200]

Had this on my old GP t-jet, went back to fiat and was told by the technicians that when the system senses it's too low on gas it won't activate the cooling fans, giving you the hot air in traffic, but cool air when moving, it needs a regas that's all, but I would have the system checked for leaks or the problem will return

Ash

 

[Westie200]

Spookeytookey, did you ever solve this?

I'm suffering the same problem on my t-jet and have found that the engine cooling fan isn't cutting in when the air-con is on.

The fan works when the engine gets too hot in big traffic jams (at which point the air-con goes cold). I've had a re-gas and swapped the high and low speed fan relays around with no impact. Any one got any other ideas?

Ahh I didn't see you have already had a regas, I needed a relay changed as well and this solved the problem on mine

 

[jameshobiecat]

I've just had the multi-meter on the fan connector and found that a few seconds after the engine started (with air-con on) the RH pin gave 8.6V. About thirty seconds later it went to 11.2V and stayed there until I switched the engine off several minutes later. The LH pin stayed at 0V throughout (I assume this is normal because the engine temperature didn't get high enough to need the fan?).

I guess this means that the fault lies with the fan?

I could connect 12V straight to the RH fan pin and see if it sparks into life; as an alternative, does anyone know what the resistance should be and if it would change if the fan was knackered? Also, is it possible for the fault to lay with the fan when it works to cool the engine?

 

[jameshobiecat]

Hang on, is the fan earthed to the chassis separately or through the second pin in the connector plug?