Will AirCon issues throw up error on dash?

CanadaA3wales

CanadaA3wales

Canadian living in South Wales - Audi A3 8V 150BHP
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Hey
I've had a few problems with my A3 since I bought it, but I was expecting it for the price.
Anyway he said he did a Air Con recharge when I bought it and it was freezing, but over the past few weeks it has went luke cold, its cold but not Air Con freezing Cold.
I only bought the car in February .

I am either thinking there is a problem with a leak or he is lying and never did it.
I have booked my car into ATS for a recharge and antibac for 45.00 on groupon as they get great reviews for this groupon and also they did a great job with my 4 new tyres.

Anyway, if there was something wrong would a error show up, or do you know when they do a recharge will they test the pressure before they do all the work?

Dont want to waste 45.00 if there is something wrong with the condenser or a pipe or something.

Thanks all

2014 Audi A3 2.0 150bhp
 
I have read up on stones hitting the compressor and costing a pile to fix it, but when I had my service there were no pressure errors.
I have a basic air system so just 3 dials, no climate control and when I press the center button it lights up red and stays red, it does not go off or anything, unsure if this means anything.
Its just a basic unit like the picture, I just turn it all the way to the left and press the button and a red light comes on and stays on.
 

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If it worked after recharge and stopped getting cold it's most likely leaking. you wouldn't get a warning light etc but I would expect the red light not to stay on. ATS can put a dye in the system which with aid of UV light can show where a leak is.
 
Ah I see thanks Khufu
Looking at Audi prices of 750 - 900, and you can get a condenser for 100.00, I am unsure where they get their prices lol
I just spent 50.00 so if they cant fill it, I will get my mate to install another and come back to them.

It was definitely ice cold when I bought it, I think there is something wrong somewhere, he is a local dealer, so I have no doubt they filled the Aircon.
I just dont need another 250.00 bill right now
 
CanadaA3wales said:
Hey
I've had a few problems with my A3 since I bought it, but I was expecting it for the price.
Anyway he said he did a Air Con recharge when I bought it and it was freezing, but over the past few weeks it has went luke cold, its cold but not Air Con freezing Cold.
I only bought the car in February .

I am either thinking there is a problem with a leak or he is lying and never did it.
I have booked my car into ATS for a recharge and antibac for 45.00 on groupon as they get great reviews for this groupon and also they did a great job with my 4 new tyres.

Anyway, if there was something wrong would a error show up, or do you know when they do a recharge will they test the pressure before they do all the work?

Dont want to waste 45.00 if there is something wrong with the condenser or a pipe or something.

Thanks all

2014 Audi A3 2.0 150bhp
Click to expand...
The guy at garage should check for leaks... I had it gassed on mine A3 2015 all perfect paid £30 :)
 
I was just hoping they just didnt regass and not check anything.
I will let them know about a potential issue.
Does anyone know roughly how long it takes to replace a condenser if needed?
My mate charges me 30.00 a hour, so not too bad.
 
If they do a regas properly, they should clear the old refrigerant from the system, pull a vacuum and leave it for 30 minutes to make sure it holds.
If that’s good, then they refill. No point putting expensive, dangerous gases in the system if it’s just going to leak back out.

If you do have a leak and need to replace the condenser, make sure they change the drier as well. If it’s leaked the drier will be expired now.
 
Just another idea but is it worth looking at a mobile air con specialist who might be able to locate the problem quite quickly. One of the family with a Renault had this done and it was a fraction of the dealer price for condenser supply and fit, and all done on the driveway. Might not be as cheap as your mates rates though!
Someone like this perhaps, I have no connection with them but might be worth a call.

https://autocoolsouthwales.co.uk/
 
Ah cool, I've already paid for the Air con regass so will see if there is a problem.
If there is will call my mate and them for a quote.
Nice 1 traindweller
 
The pressure sensor is common to fail on these, usually a £35 part which a novice can fit. I would take it back to where ever the charge was done, get them to assess how many g was put into the system.

When I got mine done I think its capacity is 450g (might be wrong) so if it has been over gassed, I would assume the sensor has then failed.
 
I cannot return it as its been months and the dealer bought it in which is 40 miles away. Can't be bothered.
I doubt ATS will diagnose a sensor error, I don't think they will get that involved.
Also would a sensor not throw up a error, my mate already tested for errors and there was nothing in the major service which was a month ago. The air con has not been there during the service.
 
You only notice it when u try turn AC on it will immediately turns off so then u know...
 
Yeah the red light stays on if I press it and it goes off when I press it again.
I am really hoping it was just not gassed when I bought it, or not done properly.
My mate did the full service and there was no old or deleted error messages and no new ones and that was a month ago when this issue was going on.

Is it possible that I just have a garbage air con system, are the A3 known for this, just cold and not freezing cold?

When I have my golf the air could turn to ice if I left it on, but it does not happen with this car, its just cold, but not freezing cold if I left it on.

I just did a trip today and left it on permanently, and never had to turn it off, it never got really cold.
 
CanadaA3wales said:
Yeah the red light stays on if I press it and it goes off when I press it again.
I am really hoping it was just not gassed when I bought it, or not done properly.
My mate did the full service and there was no old or deleted error messages and no new ones and that was a month ago when this issue was going on.

Is it possible that I just have a garbage air con system, are the A3 known for this, just cold and not freezing cold?

When I have my golf the air could turn to ice if I left it on, but it does not happen with this car, its just cold, but not freezing cold if I left it on.

I just did a trip today and left it on permanently, and never had to turn it off, it never got really cold.
Click to expand...
If stays on u will have different problem as the sensor detects gas in it it won't turn off...
Check if your front fans turns on when you turn AC on as they provide coldness to everything incl AC...
 
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CanadaA3wales said:
Yeah the red light stays on if I press it and it goes off when I press it again.
I am really hoping it was just not gassed when I bought it, or not done properly.
My mate did the full service and there was no old or deleted error messages and no new ones and that was a month ago when this issue was going on.

Is it possible that I just have a garbage air con system, are the A3 known for this, just cold and not freezing cold?

When I have my golf the air could turn to ice if I left it on, but it does not happen with this car, its just cold, but not freezing cold if I left it on.

I just did a trip today and left it on permanently, and never had to turn it off, it never got really cold.
Click to expand...

Just take it to a reputable garage, explain and they can put the car on the machine and it will be able to tell you how much gas it extracts from the car. Then you will be able to see if it has been over or under gassed.

Reading the fault codes will tell you any other issues but I can be pretty sure you have been over gassed and your pressure sensor has failed.
 
The light doesnt stay on, it works as it should, lights up if I press it, and turns off if I press it again.
Yeah I think I will let ATS know that I think there may be a issue, if they find one they can let me know and will get my mate to fix it and bring it back to them when the job is done.
I will let you know what they say, my appointment is wednesday afternoon.
I suppose it could be anything, a small leak, fans, compressor or even a fuse.
 
Just got back from ATS
They could not find any leaks and emptied and re-gassed the air con.
It was so cold I could not even hold my hand by the vents, so unsure if they didnt re-gas it or not when I bought it in Feb. Will keep an eye on it.
If it goes off again after a few weeks, will have to get my mate to look at it.

The only thing I was not happy about is when they did the anti bac treatment, it was only a fog bomb in the car. I would have thought they would decontaminate the actual system and not just leave a bomb in my car.. At least it smells nice in my car and was only a extra £10
 
that's how it's done in some cases, the cheaper option... can in the cab, a/c on recirculating so using just the cabin air, no fresh intake. usually you can buy these cans in lidl / aldi... just so u know how good results they give

Sent from my SM-A530F using Tapatalk
 
OK This is strange
It was ice cold again when I got into my car, took a 50 mile journey to get my kids and now its room temperature
How can something with no leaks according to ATS and work one day and not the next?

Anyone come across this behavior before?
 
Got in my car to take my kids back and the AC was back on, freezing like the arctic.
As I turned it off and got a bit hotter through my journey I turned it back on and again normal outside air temprature, cool, but not AC
This is very strange indeed. Do you think something could be overheating or something?
Its strange it turns on when I get in my car, but as the engine warms up, the AC seems to go off, but its still turned on and the light is still on.
 
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