A bit of a silly air con question

[Peloquin138]

How cold should it be?

If I turn air con on full is it supposed to be actually cold or just cool?

I've never had air con before so not sure if it needs regassing.

It's a 2014 model that I've had for 3 months so I'm assuming it's never been done.

[EddyOS]

If you also have the heat set to cold it should be pretty icy (I don't have climate control, just a hot/cold dial)

[Gaskell71]

Its should be capable of blowing colder then ambient temp,  as for having it regassed.  I would go and have it done anyway unless you know its been done in the last four years.

[Peloquin138]

Cheers folks. 

I was going to get it done but was wondering what the difference would be after.

Mine is just a hot/cold dial.

What happens if it's on got or warm and you turn it on then?

Sorry if these are stupid questions.

[TomsFocus]

It should feel like a fridge at the vents, not just cold but icy.

Air conditioning can also be used with the heater if desired, it 'conditions' the air by removing humidity, it's not just for coldness.

[Botus]

depends on outside temp... any functioning AC should put out 10C lower than ambient from the vents on max cooling (where ambient is around 16C - 28C).  but the focus AC seems remarkable and should do a bit better, if you do a long run and let the car cool down, max cold should be far too unpleasant to leave full on

They say, gas leakage up to 10% a year is OK on cars.  so if its 6 years old and a leaker you could be at the point where its not coming on any more...

think how long a domestic fridge last

1) because there are no flexi pipes to leak and no high under-bonnet temps to cook things

2) the main reason is because the compressor is running every hour or so for 20 mins, its all happy clappy.  Turn it off for 6 months and the compressor seals leak and its bin material....

the gist is never turn it off and it works forever, keep leaving it off, and its gone wrong by summer time and will just keep leaking gas no matter how often you keep topping it up.  And 25 to 60 quid re-gas for a months use is more than the petrol it would ever use in a life time of comfort and safety.  They use a variable rate compressor, so even the burden on overtaking, hills, economy etc. is removed

[MartinFC]

If the aircon gas has dropped below the minimum level, the compressor won't engage.  An easy check to see if it's engaging is to watch the rev counter when you press the aircon button.

Put the fan on number 1 and press the button, you should see the rev counter needle jump slightly when you turn the aircon on and when you turn it off, along with a slight change in engine note.  If that's not happening, the compressor's not engaging possibly (but not necessarily) due to it needing a regas.

HTH.

[YOG]

Don't use the "Mickey Mouse" companies that just re-pressurise your system. After those years, you need a full A/C service.

Have a look at the attached link, it gives an idea what should be done, and note how little it costs between a recharge and a full A/C service.

https://www.coolcaraircon.co.uk/

[Peloquin138]

Thank you everyone, very useful. Yog, I'll deff go for a full service but they don't cover Stoke on Trent. A very quick Google shows Halfords do a full service for 60 quid.

With it being Halfords I'm not too sure, I might search further for a specialist in the area.

Thanks again everyone.

[SuttonRider]

Air con will only work with an ambient temperature above 4’c – Maximum cooling is down 20’c on ambient or 4’c whichever comes first.