Hi guys,

Want to try and get this sorted before summer (that's hoping we get one!).  A/C is not blowing cold.  According to the paperwork that came with it, it had a discharge/charge only 18 months ago (8,000 miles ago) as the level was low.  Is there anything i can do to fix this/investigate before i take it to the local indy?

It's a mk3 1.6 tdci

Cheers

Good luck...  Did you see the mess I made of trying to sort mine?  

First thing to do is check if the compressor is coming on.  With the engine running and the AC off, look down the belts at the front of the engine, the lowest pulley is the AC compressor, the centre of this pulley will be stationary with the outer ring spinning with the belt.  Now switch on the AC and look at the pulley again, the centre should now be spinning with the outer part.  If it IS spinning, you just need a regas and probably have a very slow leak that will be impossible to find yet, could also be that the coolant fan isn't running so check that as well, but bear in mind it doesn't always run in cold temps. If the compressor IS NOT spinning, there most likely isn't enough gas in the system because of a more significant leak.  

It seems most Mk3s leak from the garage techs and people on here I've spoken to so far...

Mine was the lower pipe, only visible by either removing the bumper of the front undertray.  I think it was a manufacturing fault as there didn't seem to be any good reason for that part to fail.

As yours has covered a lot of miles, it's likely to be the condenser radiator that has been damaged by a stone - have a look through the radiator grill and see if you can see an obvious hole.  Bent fins are to be expected and aren't an issue unless there's a hole next to them.  

The best way to check the system for leaks is to have a garage refill it, along with leak dye, and use a UV light to find the leaks.

There is currently a Groupon voucher for 'ProTyre' AC refills for £25 which is the best deal I could find.  Mine has now held good pressure for 2 weeks and currently works well but I'll still yet to see if there is another slow leak...

3 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Good luck...  Did you see the mess I made of trying to sort mine?  

First thing to do is check if the compressor is coming on.  With the engine running and the AC off, look down the belts at the front of the engine, the lowest pulley is the AC compressor, the centre of this pulley will be stationary with the outer ring spinning with the belt.  Now switch on the AC and look at the pulley again, the centre should now be spinning with the outer part.  If it IS spinning, you just need a regas and probably have a very slow leak that will be impossible to find yet, could also be that the coolant fan isn't running so check that as well, but bear in mind it doesn't always run in cold temps. If the compressor IS NOT spinning, there most likely isn't enough gas in the system because of a more significant leak.  

It seems most Mk3s leak from the garage techs and people on here I've spoken to so far...

Mine was the lower pipe, only visible by either removing the bumper of the front undertray.  I think it was a manufacturing fault as there didn't seem to be any good reason for that part to fail.

As yours has covered a lot of miles, it's likely to be the condenser radiator that has been damaged by a stone - have a look through the radiator grill and see if you can see an obvious hole.  Bent fins are to be expected and aren't an issue unless there's a hole next to them.  

The best way to check the system for leaks is to have a garage refill it, along with leak dye, and use a UV light to find the leaks.

There is currently a Groupon voucher for 'ProTyre' AC refills for £25 which is the best deal I could find.  Mine has now held good pressure for 2 weeks and currently works well but I'll still yet to see if there is another slow leak...

 Great thanks Tom. I new you'd had an issue but hadn't followed your thread to the end.  So this is a common fault on the mk3's then?  Anyway, lots to work on there.  Annoying thing is I changed the aux belt earlier today and was right next to the compressor but took no notice as i hadn't been back on here yet to read your post!  I'll come back once I've checked those things 

Leaking AC gas seems common on the mk3s but I haven't found any specific parts that are constantly at fault.  Truth is most people just leave it when they find out it needs more than just a regas so there's not much info to be found online.

ive found condensor to be most common, followed by the upper pipe seals. 

Is there anything unique to identify the A/C pipes over other pipes?  This is something I've not looked at before so may get a bit confused.  Also @iantt where is the condenser and how would you identify a fault with that?

Also, slightly off topic but just want to add how Haynes can so easily over complicate.  I changed the aux belt by putting her on ramps, and dropping undertray.  According to Haynes, i needed to remove o/s wheel and arch liner!!  What a waste of time!

The condenser is the radiator in front of the coolant radiator, it is the one you can see through the front grill.  The pipes are partly made of aluminium and partly strong rubber.  Easy to follow them either from the bulkhead or from the compressor.  

You still over complicated the aux belt btw...they can be done from on top without jacking up!  

I went to use mine for the first time today (MK3) and it blowing warm air, so it's booked in for next week to see what the crack is...

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23 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

You still over complicated the aux belt btw...they can be done from on top without jacking up!  

Lol Tom, i'm sure you'd bash your knuckles a bit more that way 

10 hours ago, CHUDNET10 said:

I went to use mine for the first time today (MK3) and it blowing warm air, so it's booked in for next week to see what the crack is...

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Let us know the outcome!

44 minutes ago, Albert27 said:

Lol Tom, i'm sure you'd bash your knuckles a bit more that way 

That's why I wear gloves...    Long sleeves also help avoid the arm scrapes.  As I live upstairs, it's much easier to do it from on top than carry the jack down and up the stairs lol.   

14 hours ago, CHUDNET10 said:

I went to use mine for the first time today (MK3) and it blowing warm air, so it's booked in for next week to see what the crack is...

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no gas left in the a/c system if warm air is blowing thru (unless you got your heater settings on warm instead of cold hee hee) 

8 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

That's why I wear gloves...    Long sleeves also help avoid the arm scrapes.  As I live upstairs, it's much easier to do it from on top than carry the jack down and up the stairs lol.   

I can see your motivation