Technical Air Conditioning Not Working

[PuntoHowTo]

Not so cheap you should be paying it for nothing id say

Maybe that’s why the garage runs these sorts of scams the Labour price per hour might be cheep…. Doesn’t mean he’s actually doing any work during the hours that he’s charging.

The tax man probably doesn’t care that one mechanic is doing 48 hours of Labour a day either as long as the tax gets paid

 

[ahmett]

Not so cheap you should be paying it for nothing id say

Ok I may take it to another guy in the morning

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Not so cheap you should be paying it for nothing id say

I would say just ask him to do a basic regas while you stand and watch, but I’d put money on him not having the kit to do that, hence the fun little scam he runs.

His “electrical specialist” is probably his mate down the road who does have the kit and he just has to wait for a slot to get your car in. Mate charges him €50 for a basic regas, he charges you €250 for all that specialist electrical work you definitely needed

 

[ahmett]

I would say just ask him to do a basic regas while you stand and watch, but I’d put money on him not having the kit to do that, hence the fun little scam he runs.

His “electrical specialist” is probably his mate down the road who does have the kit and he just has to wait for a slot to get your car in. Mate charges him €50 for a basic regas, he charges you €250 for all that specialist electrical work you definitely needed

Haven’t paid anything yet

 

[John202020]

Greece is a hot country there must be lots of ac specialists try one of these independants first?

 

[ahmett]

Greece is a hot country there must be lots of ac specialists try one of these independants first?

Yes will do

 

[ahmett]

The other guy says I need a compressor

 

[Mike1alike]

First thing connect MES to the car and take a look. You should be able to read the AC pressure. Normal pressure when gas is full level and compressor was not turned on at least one day before (stand-by pressure) is 8~9 bar. If the pressure is ~1bar (about atmospheric pressure) means there's no gas in the system but there's a hole instead. You will find the hole by putting air in the system through service valve and listening where it comes out through. If MES cannot read the pressure means the pressure sensor is off and there should also be an registered error about it.
No way you need a new compressor. This guy is as bad as the first one. @PuntoHowTo is right, first thing you (or the AC specialist) need to do is make sure there is refrigerant gas in the system and in the correct amount and the system is not leaking. You kept saying they told you there is gas inthe system, I thought those are people who know what they are talking about and took that info as real. But that was bogus. So first thing is that. If there isn't gas in the system means there is a leaking point and just refill won't do anything as the gas would fade away again. If there is no big hole in the system (condenser usually has it) the leaking poins would be the orings and service valves caps. Watching around you should be able to see a greenish layer deposited on the pipes next to where the gas got out.
Easy and normal way to find out and fixed it is how @PuntoHowTo described it here

The way any normal garage would/should deal with such things is connect it to an AC regas machine. suck all the gas out, hold it for 20 - 30 minutes to make sure there are no leaks and if all is good put the right amount of gas back in, with maybe a little oil and some dye to look for leaks in the future.

But I don't know why the guys you went to didn't start with that. Makes no sense. Just wasting your time and money.

 

[ahmett]

Aannddddd it’s working now! Went to a specialist auto electrician who checked the fuse box and replaced the fuse and the compressor started working again! He said might be a good idea to refill the freon anyway as when it’s low it can cause issues ( I told him when engine is at idle there is no cold air so he said yes low freon) but his machine is broken so told me to come again in a few weeks regas it when it’s working. So got it working again for free.

Will keep an eye on the fuse box if the fuse blows again maybe an underlying issue but will keep on driving it with the AC on until it breaks

Thanks so much for the help guys, if any of you are in Athens a drink on me!

 

[Mike1alike]

How about the first guy? He jumped to say you need to replace the fuse box (and saying he's done it multiple times before) but did not check the fuse and didn't realize the fuse is burnt!!! That is whack!
Good thing you've fixed it.
I recommend not to run it on low refrigerant gas as you risk damaging the compressor. The gas is mixed with oil and if it's low is no good for compressor. Do a refill, it's not expensive. But before that, make sure you cover the leak points. So have new orings put on the system, you have one on every pipe connecting to different part like pipe-compressor in/out, pipe-expansion valve in/out, pipe-condenser in/out, pipe-pressure sensor. And definitely put new service valves caps. If you're is 8 mm (they shoud be), these are great and very cheap: Thermotec KTT500012.

 

[steveras57]

How about the first guy? He jumped to say you need to replace the fuse box (and saying he's done it multiple times before) but did not check the fuse and didn't realize the fuse is burnt!!! That is whack!
Good thing you've fixed it.
I recommend not to run it on low refrigerant gas as you risk damaging the compressor. The gas is mixed with oil and if it's low is no good for compressor. Do a refill, it's not expensive. But before that, make sure you cover the leak points. So have new orings put on the system, you have one on every pipe connecting to different part like pipe-compressor in/out, pipe-expansion valve in/out, pipe-condenser in/out, pipe-pressure sensor. And definitely put new service valves caps. If you're is 8 mm (they shoud be), these are great and very cheap: Thermotec KTT500012.

plus the cost of a baseball bat to go visit the first "technician"

 

[ahmett]

How about the first guy? He jumped to say you need to replace the fuse box (and saying he's done it multiple times before) but did not check the fuse and didn't realize the fuse is burnt!!! That is whack!
Good thing you've fixed it.
I recommend not to run it on low refrigerant gas as you risk damaging the compressor. The gas is mixed with oil and if it's low is no good for compressor. Do a refill, it's not expensive. But before that, make sure you cover the leak points. So have new orings put on the system, you have one on every pipe connecting to different part like pipe-compressor in/out, pipe-expansion valve in/out, pipe-condenser in/out, pipe-pressure sensor. And definitely put new service valves caps. If you're is 8 mm (they shoud be), these are great and very cheap: Thermotec KTT500012.

Yes good thing is summer is basically over so will not be needing to use the AC full blast anymore. I think the underlying issue of it not running well when stopped will be solved when I regas it so will go to my new electrical specialist and do it there in a few weeks and we can see if there are leak etc. but noting urgent to do but needed before the next summer

 

[PuntoHowTo]

weeks regas it when it’s working. So got it working again for free.


Thanks so much for the help guys, if any of you are in Athens a drink on me!

Really glad you got it working, first guy clearly was doing exactly what I said and running a scam, second guy I’d not be surprised if he put a blown fuse in or blew the fuse messing about with it. 3rd guy seems to be the guy to go to shame you had to go to 3 people to get a proper answer but shows the value of a forum like this

 

[ahmett]

Really glad you got it working, first guy clearly was doing exactly what I said and running a scam, second guy I’d not be surprised if he put a blown fuse in or blew the fuse messing about with it. 3rd guy seems to be the guy to go to shame you had to go to 3 people to get a proper answer but shows the value of a forum like this

100%
thanks so much

My main take away is for electrical/ac issues isgo to a specialist that deals with that and now I found one in Athens so I know where to go now!