Air con - just died

[sid]

I never thought that I would say this but, I miss the air con for demisting the car.

Working fine, then - nothing. The condition of the bottle is showing "yellow" indicating that it is saturated. Would this prevent the compressor from operating? Normally I can both hear the compressor and see on the tachometer at idle when it kicks in. Outside temp when tried was 11C.

How much to have this saturated bottle changed or can it be "unsaturated" in situ. (Guess that's pie in the sky)

Any suggestions .Can I narrow potential fault down a little

- car is 405 second build

Appreciate any help

 

[Brian (4)]

I never thought that I would say this but, I miss the air con for demisting the car.

Working fine, then - nothing. The condition of the bottle is showing "yellow" indicating that it is saturated. Would this prevent the compressor from operating? Normally I can both hear the compressor and see on the tachometer at idle when it kicks in. Outside temp when tried was 11C.

How much to have this saturated bottle changed or can it be "unsaturated" in situ. (Guess that's pie in the sky)

Any suggestions .Can I narrow potential fault down a little

- car is 405 second build

Appreciate any help

Most likely reason is that it needs a recharge, as well as the drier bottle replaced. There is a pressure sensor in the system, and when you lose refrigerant pressure, the comressor won't kick in. Go to an air con specialist.
Brian.

 

[Bob Minchin]

brian wrote:
Most likely reason is that it needs a recharge, as well as the drier bottle replaced. There is a pressure sensor in the system, and when you lose refrigerant pressure, the comressor won't kick in. Go to an air con specialist.
Brian.[/QUOTE]
Brian, you may very well be correct but the only thing that does not quite stack up in the OP is that the tacho no longer indicates increased revs when the air con is on. On my pug 405, simply switching the air con on instructs the ECU to rasie the idle speed to around 1000rpm. This happens whether or not the compressor is running.

I wonder if there is an electrical fault??

Bob

 

[David Hicks]

Does the heater fan work ?

If not open up the panel in the passengers foot well and check the connection to the red wire at the back. Have this problem frequently on my 405 estate

David

 

[sid]

If not open up the panel in the passengers foot well and check the connection to the red wire at the back. Have this problem frequently on my 405 estate

Heater fan is working ok. Looks like I have a problem with the revs as well. When the A/C was working it would kick in the compressor and decreases the revs to about 950. Normal start up is 1000 until the wax thermostat slackens off the (to me at least) rather primitive anti-stall device. May be of use in really cold weather. Would this be another (blasted) sensor gorn wrong with the revs decreasing rather than increasing?

 

[Bob Minchin]

Sid, Your description does not sound like the way my 95 405 1.8i controls the idle. I have not come across a wax stat. Mine idles at 850 when warm and as soon as the dash aircon switch is on, the idle speed goes up to around 1000 rpm. You may have a sensor problem although if the the rpm sensor had died I don't think the engine would run at all. I suspect the idle control valve could be sticking or maybe a temp sensor could be faulty. My original comment regarding idle speed was mainly intended tosuggest that the aircon gas fill migth not necessarily be at fault.

You may need expert help from an aircon specialist. I would suggest an independent aircon specialist rather than a Pug agent as all but the biggest ones tend to subcontract out their aircon work and it ends up costing you dearly. Fitting of pressure gauges should easily tell if you are low on gas.

Not sure what else I can suggest - I'm no expert either!!

Good Luck

Bob

 

[sid]

Sid, Your description does not sound like the way my 95 405 1.8i controls the idle. I have not come across a wax stat. Mine idles at 850 when warm and as soon as the dash aircon switch is on, the idle speed goes up to around 1000 rpm. You may have a sensor problem although if the the rpm sensor had died I don't think the engine would run at all. I suspect the idle control valve could be sticking or maybe a temp sensor could be faulty. My original comment regarding idle speed was mainly intended tosuggest that the aircon gas fill migth not necessarily be at fault.

I have a 1.9 non turbo with a Lucas/CAV injector pump. The wax stat works by slacking off a wire attached to the fast idle lever.

You may need expert help from an aircon specialist. I would suggest an independent aircon specialist rather than a Pug agent as all but the biggest ones tend to subcontract out their aircon work and it ends up costing you dearly. Fitting of pressure gauges should easily tell if you are low on gas.

Not sure what else I can suggest - I'm no expert either!!

Good Luck

thanks Bob

 

[Bob Minchin]

Ah! you have a diseasel !!

That explains the idle control differences to my petrol model

Bob