Air con - not so cold

[Capra]

I was never that impressed with how cool this was, more so in the summer when it's really needed. Last year I had the pressure tested/filled at KwikFit. After this it might have felt a little better?
It was more obvious in May, there were five of us heading back from Wales. After a while I had to open the windows to let some collet fresher air in. Don't get me wrong it does cool the cabin down but you would never get in and think, wow that's nice and cool. I drove a new fiesta in Portugal last week and that reminds me of how air con should feel, to the point of being too cold.
Could it be a compressor that seen better days?

 

[Blobcat]

If airflow is poor, cabin air filter could be in need of replacement. If not blowing cold then condensers leaking is about the most common

 

[Capra]

Thanks Blobcat, cabin filter was replaced during the 2020 service. Ok, I will get booked in. I will use a temp reader and have a look at what is coming out as I think it should be below a certain reading.

If airflow is poor, cabin air filter could be in need of replacement. If not blowing cold then condensers leaking is about the most common

 

[mioba]

If the AC is not making you feel cold and uncomfortable on the lowest setting then something is wrong ie a leak or a failed valve.

Any decent garage with AC abilities will source a leak by inspecting the circuit with a UV lamp, the dye is normally added to the gas now as standard.

Condensors are liable to rot as - the name suggest they collect water which inevitably leads to rot of the condensor.

So the sytsem needs checking, it could simply be a pipe, a pressure sensor so on and so forth - but do get it checked.

MB (most of) have thier own fault code systems in the AC head unit so I would tend for a merc specialist or MB dealer inspection.

 

[daibevan]

Air-Conditioning Recharge with Optional Antibacterial Treatment at ATS Euromaster, Nationwide (Up to 38% Off)

Cars can have their air conditioning systems recharged and an optional antibacterial treatment provided at locations nationwide

www.groupon.co.uk

 

[Capra]

Air-Conditioning Recharge with Optional Antibacterial Treatment at ATS Euromaster, Nationwide (Up to 38% Off)

Cars can have their air conditioning systems recharged and an optional antibacterial treatment provided at locations nationwide

www.groupon.co.uk

Thanks for the link. Apparently this is what I had done at KwikFit. They supposedly check for leaks, and if there are any they will not recharge!!

 

[mioba]

I wouldnt waste your money with a recharge to be fair as it was done only last year, AC gas lasts a good 7 years I find till it needs a top off at most.

 

[M80]

Better to have a nitrogen pressure test prior to it going on the 'machine' that only carries out a vacuum test.

ATS can do this, if they don't replace your gas they don't charge either.
I was lucky on an earlier vehicle as the nitrogen could be heard and so we located the leak with ease. It was the condensor. No surprise as it gets all the road cr*p thrown at it.

 

[Capra]

Better to have a nitrogen pressure test prior to it going on the 'machine' that only carries out a vacuum test.

ATS can do this, if they don't replace your gas they don't charge either.
I was lucky on an earlier vehicle as the nitrogen could be heard and so we located the leak with ease. It was the condensor. No surprise as it gets all the road cr*p thrown at it.

Thanks, so if I contact ATS and just ask for the Nitrogen pressure test?

 

[M80]

I would book online, with discount codes.
Yep just ask them to carry out a nitrogen test on the AC system.

Basically the pressure the system, and look for a drop in pressure over 20 minutes. No drop, no leak.
Hopefully you can hover and learn where any obvious leak is escaping from.

Our ATS is happy for me to take interest. Macclesfield wouldn't do my tracking until I sat in their waiting room doing some colouring in with crayons, so I left.

 

[Droverunner]

Agree with M80.

I only take aircon for gas or faults to a guy who takes the gas out and tells you the weight compared to the standard fill... then does a nitrogen pressure test... then involves you with a chat as to a sound system straight re-gas or how to approach any faults found.

 

[joderest]

A few years ago, our old W163 air con would go "not so cold" and when checked, we were told there was gas in the system, but it was low, it was recharged and system back to normal, the following year, same issue, again recharged and back to normal.
OK, long story a bit shorter, replacing the condenser was the key, why ?, the condenser had a tiny tiny leak, which did not even show up when it was vacuumed, when the gas got to a certain pressure, it did not leak anymore, hence it was slightly cold, and still de misted the screen.

Just saying that sometimes a leakage test and recharge is not the solve for some air con problems.

 

[Droverunner]

>>>Just saying that sometimes a leakage test and recharge is not the solve for some air con problems.

It is rare for a nitrogen pressure test not to prove a leak. But yes agree if the leak test is the standard automatic re-gas machine vac test then that can often fail to prove a leak so it goes on to the gassing up stage then they hand it back... "all done". But over the following weeks/months a small undiagnosed leak loses gas and you're back to minimal cooling again.

 

[M80]

I don't know what reset but on the 211 it wouldn't cool after a regas at ATS.
I pulled out the iCarosoft, told it to reset AC codes and walla.

The regas also quietened the light of gas compressor.