aircon.. problem

wijcc

wijcc

wijcc

Soldato
Joined
10 Aug 2003
Posts
2,696
Location
London
Hi all,

My aircon on my 2001 ford focus doesnt seem to be working, pressing the aircon button doesn't seem to be making the air coming out of the vents any cooler.. with the aircon on or off.
Could it be just a simple case of needing to regas the aircon system? Where is the best place(s) to get the system regased please?
 
Check to see if you can hear the compressor kicking in, unfortunately it could be a number of things. Could have a leak, could be the compressor gone, difficult to say. No gas would = compressor not running though.

You'll most likely have to take it somewhere for a leak test.
 
The refrigerant has to go somewhere, it doesn't just disappear. If you have lost enough refrigerant for the car to not turn the compressor on, then you have a leak.

The likely outcome will be a leak from the condenser (the radiator shaped object at the front of the car). Definitely get it checked for leaks before jumping to this conclusion though, preferably by someone who knows what they are looking at!
 
Cannonuk said:
The refrigerant has to go somewhere, it doesn't just disappear. If you have lost enough refrigerant for the car to not turn the compressor on, then you have a leak.
Click to expand...

Not really, if the aircon doesn't get used regularly then the gas will escape the system.
 
The aircon stopped working in my Astra. I took it to Kwikfit and they couldnt get it regassed and said it was the pump. The chap in front of me had the same issue as well.
 
Beerbaron said:
The aircon stopped working in my Astra. I took it to Kwikfit and they couldnt get it regassed and said it was the pump. The chap in front of me had the same issue as well.
Click to expand...

Got told same thing by Kiwk-Fit, took it to a specialist who checked the whole system and told nothing wrong at all, regassed the system for me and been working fine ever since
 
In 13 years it's perfectly possible it's lost enough gas to trip the pressure switch through no faults/leaks.

Quickfit 'we get it 10 degrees colder or you don't pay' offer thing is best bet imo.
 
loltim said:
How does it escape a sealed system? I guess lack of lubrication to seals?
Click to expand...


It is not a "sealed system" in the strict sense of the word.

As you suggest, ultimately the integrity of the system relies on shaft seals within the compressor.

These need to be "exercised" in order to remain effective, but even then, some gas still leaks out over time. Re-gassing A/c systems every 3/4 years (And replacing the filter/dryer at the same time, especially if the system has lost all pressure and there is a risk that moisture has entered the system) represents an entirely reasonable maintenance schedule

If it has indeed worked for over 10 years without service you have done really rather well!
 
The only seal that requires lubrication is the shaft seal between the compressor and clutch.

I did my sisters Golf plus last week and had to replace the condenser on my parents Vectra (my old company car) which had been replaced few years before.
 
The rubber hoses can dry out through lack of use, causing the gas to seep out.

If it didn't seep out, there would be no such thing as a re-gas, as it would always be broken if it stopped working from a leak. But the majority of cars I see, they work perfectly after a re-gas and show no sign of leaks and continue to work just fine.
 
Thinking back to when I had a focus.

From what I remember - the AC wouldn't work when the fan was on speed 4, only 1-3. Heater blower motor resistors are a common failure on these. Before you do anything - the fan does work on all speeds yep? I had mine fail so it'd only work on speed 4 and this caused the AC to not function.
 
MuvverRussia said:
Thinking back to when I had a focus.

From what I remember - the AC wouldn't work when the fan was on speed 4, only 1-3. Heater blower motor resistors are a common failure on these. Before you do anything - the fan does work on all speeds yep? I had mine fail so it'd only work on speed 4 and this caused the AC to not function.
Click to expand...

If the resistor has died then its an easy fix - new ones are about £10 and its located behind the glove box. One screw iirc holds it in.

My 2002 focus has an AirCon leak and last about 12 months before i need it re-gassed. If the compressor isn't kicking in then it could just need re-gassed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom