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General => The garage => Topic started by: Boothy on 06 July 2010, 23:44

Title: Air Conditioning Problem - Mk5 GTi
Post by: Boothy on 06 July 2010, 23:44
I know there are probably lots of post in relation to compressors being duff etc but I was hoping somebody might just give me some advice diagnosing what might be the issue before the credit card comes out to play.

 Its been working fine however after some recent work the garage I used must have steamed or jet washed the back of the radiator and the bottom of the engine bay where the bumper goes underneath as its very clean indeed and wasn't before. The air-con was working fine however when I've started the car later this eve a few days after the jet washing its just blowing warm, regardless of the setting.
 When I got home I checked that the fans at the front were working and they were both turning however when I turn the air-con on or off now they don't move. Also when its in Econ mode and I turn it off the revs don't drop at all and there's no noticeable change in noise etc. I don't know what that means but remember reading somewhere that it was important with regards to air-con.
 I've checked every fuse in both boxes and they are all okay.
 Just where they have steamed/jet washed there are too sensors. One connects directly onto the rear of what I believe is the compressor (located just below the alternator) and then one on the far-ish left that appears to be connected directly onto one of the metal air-con pipes and I believe this is the pressure switch? I wondering if some liquid might have got in there somehow and caused the issue nut they are ridiculously hard to get to with my sausage finders so I sprayed a bit of penetrating fluid on in the hope it will force any moisture out.

 None of this worked so I booked it into the dealers at a cost of £75 to diagnose the issue. Shortly after they told me that the pressure switch was leaking and was the likely cause but couldn't guarantee this. They replaced that and recharged the system at an additional cost of £130 but it didn't sort the problem. Now they are saying that its the compressor but even then they can't guarantee that will rectify the problem either! Apparently power is going to the compressor but I'm not convinced.
 The odds on both the compressor and pressure switch all failing within 24hrs of it being jetwashed suggests an electrical fault to me and I think the so called leak will just have been WD40 that I sprayed on earlier in the week.

Any suggestions, advice or experiences with the same thing would be greatly appreciated?

Cheers, Boothy.
Title: Re: Air Conditioning Problem - Mk5 GTi
Post by: Wayne on 06 July 2010, 23:47
Yep, find a air con specialist, for around £45 they will do a full system test and go from there.

It may be something basic like out of gas,
Title: Re: Air Conditioning Problem - Mk5 GTi
Post by: Boothy on 07 July 2010, 16:44
Already had with it re-charged Wayne. I have spoken to the technician and he says 150% it is the compressor so its out with the credit card from the look of things. :sad:
Title: Re: Air Conditioning Problem - Mk5 GTi
Post by: Wayne on 07 July 2010, 17:00
Already had with it re-charged Wayne. I have spoken to the technician and he says 150% it is the compressor so its out with the credit card from the look of things. :sad:

I would get someone else to confirm 100% it is the compressor.
Title: Re: Air Conditioning Problem - Mk5 GTi
Post by: Boothy on 07 July 2010, 21:24
Might not be a bad idea although I've booked it in for the work doing at the dealers. Still time to get a 2nd opinion tho.
Title: Re: Air Conditioning Problem - Mk5 GTi
Post by: Wayne on 07 July 2010, 21:26
Might not be a bad idea although I've booked it in for the work doing at the dealers. Still time to get a 2nd opinion tho.

I would, compressors don't give much trouble unless they have been run without oil.
Title: Re: Air Conditioning Problem - Mk5 GTi
Post by: adi on 07 July 2010, 21:35
i heve done a few pressure switches on the audi a3's they leak, you can see oil around the switch which is in the metal pipe near the compressor, but if its been cleaned you might not see anything i would unplug the switch and see if there is any oil in it and if there is get that replaced first the compressor is very expensive (at audi approx £700 plus fitting).   
Title: Re: Air Conditioning Problem - Mk5 GTi
Post by: Flaming on 30 September 2010, 14:14
Well my A/C just bit the dust yesterday....Car goes in the shop Tuesday morning. Its an 07 GTi with 29k on it(with climate control). Its the first real problem the car has had since new.
It would take a dump right after I moved to Home!!: :cry:
Furnace Replacement (http://www.houstonairconditioners.net/)
Title: Re: Air Conditioning Problem - Mk5 GTi
Post by: rubjonny on 04 October 2010, 12:55
get it on vag-com, that will tell you why the a/c isnt kicking in. my guess of op problem would be pressure wash has knocked off a sensor plug or damaged a wire
Title: Re: Air Conditioning Problem - Mk5 GTi
Post by: Boothy on 11 November 2010, 13:28
In the end I had the compressor replace which resolved the issue. Expensive resolution though!
Title: Re: Air Conditioning Problem - Mk5 GTi
Post by: pluslyn on 11 November 2010, 16:14
With these Golf's when you press the "ECON" switch you will not notice a "Clonk" or drop in "Revs".

The reason is that the Compressor when idling is still working about approx 10% this when "ECON" lite. (I know never use the "ECON" setting)

My local Halfords don't understand this so get confused. Also they can't understand the gas pressures readings on this car.

So as said before go to a VW dealers or air con specialist