Technical Air conditioning non functional...

Currently reading:
Technical Air conditioning non functional...

AMMJ

Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2018
Messages
51
Points
68
Having hardly used my Tipo throughout lockdown, I began to suspect last week, despite the light coming on, that the A/C wasn't working well or indeed at all. I checked in the engine bay for the magnetic clutch engaging on the A/C compressor to find it wasn't, at all. Very disappointing especially as it has just got hot here and the car is 2 months out of warranty....I have multiecuscan on my laptop and by both flicking the Schrader valve on the low pressure side of the system and checking the readouts on ECUscan, I established that there is still some pressure in the system and that it was approximately 1.2 bar, well below what it should be. This leads me to some possible conclusions...The refrigerant (new stuff r1234yf) must have leaked away somewhat slowly to a pressure below that required to trigger the compressor, maybe through a bad seal...somewhere, and that also living in normally cool Scotland, is it really worth getting it fixed as I suspect maybe 150 pounds for an initial re-gas / leak investigation and who knows how much more if it's condenser/compressor/evaporator etc. I continue to ponder this. I do however think to myself, the A/C did work didn't it?, it did seem to demist quickly in the cooler mornings and when it was raining etc, and why didn't I check this sooner, arrgh! But if your car is still in warranty, perhaps you should check your system and particularly the engagement of that magnetic clutch! If anyone has any better information or better ideas about this, I'd be glad to hear them! Should I just get a chamois leather sponge?
 
Aye lesson learnt and all that. Lack of use being the main factor here I think, just like electric windows, every time you are in your car use these. I’m afraid you are just going to bite the bullet A, and take the car to somewhere that can help you if you need it functioning. AC systems tend to be a bit more complicated than your usual DIY, you need the specific machines and tools to start with. Best of luck. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.
 
Hi folks, it looks like no way around it, I know these things are complex, I have certainly done all the DIY I can do with it...0h well...

Chris, I was originally under the impression it was the low pressure side.On multiecuscan there is only one reading available, presumably only one side is sensored, it just says a/c system pressure. However on reviewing a video of someone re filling a Punto air conditioning system and checking it with multiecuscan, he was achieving a pressure of 12000 mb ... So I guess it must be the high pressure side and so it's way, way low in my car.... Perhaps something then has just recently got a lot worse or given out causing a leak?
 
Hi folks, it looks like no way around it, I know these things are complex, I have certainly done all the DIY I can do with it...0h well...

Chris, I was originally under the impression it was the low pressure side.On multiecuscan there is only one reading available, presumably only one side is sensored, it just says a/c system pressure. However on reviewing a video of someone re filling a Punto air conditioning system and checking it with multiecuscan, he was achieving a pressure of 12000 mb ... So I guess it must be the high pressure side and so it's way, way low in my car.... Perhaps something then has just recently got a lot worse or given out causing a leak?

You are confusing your units.. ;)
AndyRKett probably built that video

Your pressures sound 'correct'..that is plausibly low.. :eek:

My old Grande showed similar..
Tried my 2012 as a yardstick.. it was lower :(

They both function.. but its not COLD
 
Well my car showing 1.2 bar or 1200millibar or 17.4 psi, not much above atmospheric pressure. The readings in the rather good Punto YouTube video were 12 bar / 12000 mbar / 174 psi with his AC running but yes I have no idea what pressure readings I might get if my system could run. I almost considered obtaining a refrigerant refill and topping the system up until the compressor clicked on but this could be a very bad idea...and throwing good money after bad..

I often wondered if there was a better, simpler, more reliable way to do AC but I guess there isn't...
 
Well my car showing 1.2 bar or 1200millibar or 17.4 psi, not much above atmospheric pressure. The readings in the rather good Punto YouTube video were 12 bar / 12000 mbar / 174 psi with his AC running but yes I have no idea what pressure readings I might get if my system could run. I almost considered obtaining a refrigerant refill and topping the system up until the compressor clicked on but this could be a very bad idea...and throwing good money after bad..

I often wondered if there was a better, simpler, more reliable way to do AC but I guess there isn't...
The system will be the newer 1234yf gas I don't think that is available in small refill DIY canisters
 
This is one of the reasons why you should run with your aircon all the time,you could try taking the car to an aircon specalist and see if the system has a serious leak or it's the normal periodic leakage,should only cost 40 quid or so
 
Thanks R, it might be a little difficult at the moment with things not quite being normal. I couldn't track down a specialist in my closer locality on Google. I did find one but they specifically excluded dealing with the new twelve34, r1234yf refrigerant. I will possibly contact my usual garage to see what they might suggest...

On the Tipo manual A/C if you select air to windscreen only it does automatically switch the A/C on, so it was on more or less every day for a while in normal use.... up until December when my daily travel mode changed to train... then not at all, leaving the car immobile for longish periods. It may just be normal or slightly abnormal depletion of the gas. Only one way to find out...
 
Im not sure if you’re in England but just so you’re aware, I spoke to Fiat with regards to warranty a few weeks ago and they said to me that they’ll be extending warranty’s that ended during the lockdown period by 1 month from when they reopen their service centres (most are open now) so you may still be able to get it sorted under warranty!
 
Thanks M. It was a glimmer of hope but I just checked the date of registration and I don't think I'd qualify unfortunately as it was first registered on 3rd March ... which is just 3 weeks before the lockdown began. I think I've just been unlucky here! Some you win and...
 
I try to consider the most cost effective way to proceed with this but that sounds like a possible plan, thanks. I imagine they would check for serious leaks or probs, testing the pressurisation of the system before providing further options. There seems to be quite a major difference between the recharge price using the older previous refrigerant (£60…) and the latest one in my car unfortunately....
 
I booked it in for next Tuesday. Only certain branches appear to deal with the newer gas and the fella I spoke to said the newer gas tends to leak away faster than the older one. They will check the pressure although the method wasn't absolutely clear.... They mentioned using dye and the possibility of return visits. I'll let you know how it goes but thank you folks!
 
I try to consider the most cost effective way to proceed with this but that sounds like a possible plan, thanks. I imagine they would check for serious leaks or probs, testing the pressurisation of the system before providing further options. There seems to be quite a major difference between the recharge price using the older previous refrigerant (£60…) and the latest one in my car unfortunately....
They basically pull a vacuum on the system and if it holds the vacuum for a set length of time it's ok,the cost of the gas is the price for going green unfortunately ?
 
Back
Top