Air Conditioning

[Bravestarr]

So, recently (back at the end of winter) I had a small bump (10mph or less) which slightly dented the bumper damper and the bonnet.

Trouble is now the aircon wont work..

- Ive replaced the fuse (radiator fan works and i believe they are fused off the same loop)

- The belt is still driving the compressor fine, however there is no 'click' when AC is turned on and no fluctuation in revs

I cant see how the comperessor can have been damaged directly due to the distance it is set back from the frontage

Is there some form of pressure feedback system so if there is no gas in the system the compressor clutch wont engage?

Where are all the wiring connectors relating to the AC, as the shock may have jolted one out?  Also, is the AC fused anywhere else along the line?

 

The other problem is I haven't used the AC for months (lazy with the dummy running) So I dont know for sure that it was working just before the 'incident', which is making life harder trying to diagnose


Any suggestions anyone has that it could be are very welcome before I have to bite the bullet and look at a new compressor.  Really missing it at the moment!

Thanks for any help

[Mikester]

How bad is the bump, be honest.

If you have a bump near the front end bracket, it will push the chassis into the Compressed gas unit just inside of the wing. This will tear and not hold compression and therefor not work the air con.

Have a look inside the wing, and under the bonnet into the wing.

This happened when i had a bumper in my car, it all looks fine, but under closer inspection thats the problem.

Post pics of the damage, i advise getting it repaired properly, but it aint cheap! i know! lol

Need pics, but i reckon this is the problem.

[Bravestarr]

Thanks Mikester,

The bump was no more than that, we pulled away from a red light and you merge with traffic from the right ten yards beyond the light, nothing was coming and in the time it took me to look and check she had stopped for no apparant reason and bump.  Ive repaired the damage myself as it was (as i thought) only cosmetic.

I'll check tomorrow in the wing and take some pics if I can get the camera charged.

Would this explain the compressor clutch not engaging?

[Mikester]

Prossibly, as it wont be holding and compression, would probably make it give up? Not sure.

Mine was exactly like this, you pressed the button, and nothing.

Fitted a new canistor, and job done. Fixed. Body shop repaired the end bracket. Its just because the canistor is right where you would take the tap, and it only has to move mm's and it breaks it. Annoying.