aircon problems .... and quickfit

-Mike- · 27 Jun 2010 at 10:58

Hi all, I'm after some advice about the aircon and climate control in my car

It seemed to work albeit not always very cd so I made the mistake of taking it to said garage to get it regassed. After waiting a hour the guy came and took the pipework off. The valve now leaks gas

which it didn't before as the machine recovered almost ad much gas as was pit in.

Initially on startup it didn't work and his gem of advice was to run a now cold dci at 4000 rpm as apparently it needed this to work. I refused this, took it around the block instead, came back and it didn't work.

I'm sure on my sisters car the engine cooling fan comes on with the aircon, mine doesn't - related? Do I now have to take it somewhere to get this valve replaced? Any other suggestions?
Thanks

DM · 27 Jun 2010 at 11:11

I would start by ringing Quik twits customer service line and complaining.

DannyDan · 27 Jun 2010 at 13:04

DiamondMark said:
Quik ****s

You might want to delete that word

Scania · 27 Jun 2010 at 13:17

You did the automotive equivalent of letting a Baboon perform open heart surgery on someone you value.

FWIW, on both my car and truck, the fan comes on with the aircon.

-Mike- · 27 Jun 2010 at 15:39

Any suggestions on where to proceed from here? I do believe my warranty covers the aircon system on the car so perhaps taking it to a specialist might be a smart move?

BigglesPiP · 27 Jun 2010 at 15:55

-Mike- said:
I'm sure on my sisters car the engine cooling fan comes on with the aircon, mine doesn't - related? Do I now have to take it somewhere to get this valve replaced? Any other suggestions?
Thanks

You are correct, but only when there's pressure in the system, sounds like it's just plain empty, bet the pump doesn't even run.

Take it to a competent technician, NOT an incompetent fitter.

Edit: You can probably win them a nice big fine for releasing gas too.

-Mike- · 27 Jun 2010 at 17:16

The pump did run, and it will 'kick' in and out now but instantly. However, there was gas in the system before they played with it (put ac on, revs go up to compensate or whatever) but now it doesn't even do that.

I looked in my warranty book and the aircon components are covered, so I guess I'll book it in at my garage and hope they'll pay to fix it.

Worth noting also, I sat the car idling the other day and via the diagnostics coolant temperature got up to 93 degrees without the fan coming on, which I thought was somewhat high for a diesel - my old 306 used to kick the fans in at 90?

Thanks for all the replies.

The Edge · 27 Jun 2010 at 21:32

I had a problem with my Volvo, not gassed at quickfit but by a similar machine. It was fine for about a week, but then the hissing noise that the regas cured returned and the pump was running all the time.

What had happened was that either the previous regas or the one just done had not put in enough gas. It had also sucked air into the system and the whole lot was airlocked. That's why the pump was running all the time, it's trying to push air round and can't.

They cured it (I Hope!!) by vacuuming the system out for an hour before regassing it. Seems OK still a week later.

DannyDan · 27 Jun 2010 at 21:40

-Mike- said:
Worth noting also, I sat the car idling the other day and via the diagnostics coolant temperature got up to 93 degrees without the fan coming on, which I thought was somewhat high for a diesel - my old 306 used to kick the fans in at 90?

Thanks for all the replies.

Sounds OK, my diesel BMW gets up to 95 or so in stop-start traffic, so 93 idling doesnt sound unreasonable.

Jez · 28 Jun 2010 at 11:55

DannyDan said:
Sounds OK, my diesel BMW gets up to 95 or so in stop-start traffic, so 93 idling doesnt sound unreasonable.

Its very strange that you find that the temp even varies, i am yet to own a car where the temperature needle (once up to temp) is anything other than entirely static. :confused:

My BMW's for example have always sat either bang in the middle at all times, or slightly below middle at all times.

Clarkey · 28 Jun 2010 at 12:12

Jez said:
Its very strange that you find that the temp even varies, i am yet to own a car where the temperature needle (once up to temp) is anything other than entirely static. My BMW's for example have always sat either bang in the middle at all times, or slightly below middle at all times.

This is because stock temp gauges in cars are non linear. Usually a couple of mm in the middle of the gauge covers a range of 30 or even more degrees, hence you never see it move. If you had a 'proper' gauge, or looked at the live ecu output you would.

Jez · 28 Jun 2010 at 12:16

Clarkey said:
This is because stock temp gauges in cars are non linear. Usually a couple of mm in the middle of the gauge covers a range of 30 or even more degrees, hence you never see it move. If you had a 'proper' gauge, or looked at the live ecu output you would.

I assume the posters above are taking their readings from an OEM gauge though?

Clarkey · 28 Jun 2010 at 12:32

The first guy said "via the diagnostics", and I assume the other guy was also referring to that.

Fr0dders · 28 Jun 2010 at 12:37

the VXR had a "test mode" that could change the display used for air con / radio stuff to read out ECU data. It could read out boost, oil temp, coolant temp, reading of the outside air temperature sensor etc..

one of the things was interesting, was that coolant temp could vary between about 89 and 94 depending on if the car was moving or not. Sat in stationary traffic, the temp would move up to about 94 if left for a long time. Once you got moving again, and got some air flowing through the radiator it would go back down again.

During this time however the analogue dash guage would stay entirely static.

Firestar_3x · 28 Jun 2010 at 12:42

Could be because the analogue dash gauge doesn't read and display the real coolant temp, its nothing more than a 3 position gauge, Cold, Normal and Way too hot!

Jez · 28 Jun 2010 at 12:44

MrLOL said:
the VXR had a "test mode" that could change the display used for air con / radio stuff to read out ECU data. It could read out boost, oil temp, coolant temp, reading of the outside air temperature sensor etc..

one of the things was interesting, was that coolant temp could vary between about 89 and 94 depending on if the car was moving or not. Sat in stationary traffic, the temp would move up to about 94 if left for a long time. Once you got moving again, and got some air flowing through the radiator it would go back down again.

During this time however the analogue dash guage would stay entirely static.

Tallies with what Clarkey is saying, i think my merc has that mode too, might give it a go

Ian_Eb · 28 Jun 2010 at 14:18

BigglesPiP said:
You are correct, but only when there's pressure in the system, sounds like it's just plain empty, bet the pump doesn't even run.

Take it to a competent technician, NOT an incompetent fitter.

Edit: You can probably win them a nice big fine for releasing gas too.

not 100 sure that f-gas covers leaks on mobile systems. It it against the regs for anyone to refill a system which appears to have a major leak without first finding it and fixing it though

relating to emissions from air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles and amending Council

ubersonic · 28 Jun 2010 at 14:31

Ian_Eb said:
not 100 sure that f-gas covers leaks on mobile systems. It it against the regs for anyone to refill a system which appears to have a major leak without first finding it and fixing it though

relating to emissions from air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles and amending Council

Yes car AC systems are covered but I think its by the MAC regulations not F-Gas, and may only be worked on by a licensed refrigerant engineer. Being in a car doesn't effect the law, If they ever made a car with a gas fired boiler to supply the heating then it would require a GasSafe (formerly Corgi) licensed engineer to work on it.