Technical Aircon leak?

[Finlay H]

Hi all,

I recently had my aircon regassed as we were going into the summer months it didn't feel overly cold and it has been running fine for a couple of weeks.

However it's recently started making a hissing and what sounds like a metal on metal scraping noise that is most audible from the center vents whenever the aircon is turned on and the best way to describe it is it pulses as the aircon runs.

I've also noted that you can hear a low hum of the AC compressor while it's operating but nothing to suggest any issues.

And just now today, on a good 15 minute drive, it is now just blowing ambient air on LO with the AC on. I know a bit about cars and to my untrained eye I think it could be an aircon leak, but I still don't know much about the system.

What could this possibly be? Thanks!

Finlay

2017 Tipo Lounge 1.4 MPI

 

[Richard Morris]

When you’ve had the ac on can you check the refrigerant pipes from the compressor? One should be cold and possibly covered in condensation and the other hot. If not there’s a problem.
I’ve just had my trusted mobile AC guy check and refill the system on my 2021 car which he sat was down 40% on gas. So 10% a year loss.

 

[ZaphodB]

I recently had my aircon regassed as we were going into the summer months it didn't feel overly cold and it has been running fine for a couple of weeks.

So it was only regassed a couple of weeks ago?
Was it a proper evacuation and vacuum test ? - or just a top-up ?

The proper job would have pinpointed a leak and the aircon person should/would have stopped there and suggested hardware repair first, then another test and fill.
If it was just a top-up then it's odds-on a leak won't have been tested for.

The usual place for a leak is the condensor (rad) up front