chris301up Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 I own a 2008 Ford Fiesta MK6 1.4TDCI and the air conditioning no longer appears to be working. All switches/controls within the vehicle appear to be operating as they should, but the sound normally associated with operation of this from within the engine compartment can no longer be heard. I have checked fuses and drive belts and all seam to be in good order, and I cannot find any obvious leakage of refridgerant. The Haynes manual doesn't really help in this instance so any advice would be greatly appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matey Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 getting it REGASSED in the local garage would be the first step IMHO that is relatively cheap compared to any actual "faults" and that may be all it needs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris301up Posted June 7, 2015 Author Share Posted June 7, 2015 As a first step I was thinking of re-gassing the system myself? It seams relatively straightforward, that's if I could find the location of the air conditioning lower port ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 If the gas has gone then no point wasting money regassing it yourself to leak out and kill the ozone . Get it checked properly, you wont see a leak, unless you have dye in and ultraviolet light or leak detecting sniffer. if you do get it checked im betting its the condensor leaking. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris301up Posted June 7, 2015 Author Share Posted June 7, 2015 I understand, but I'm reliably informed that the gas permeates into the air on average around 10 -15% per year naturally. I have had the vehicle for some 7 years, and have never had it checked, so I'm assuming the gas has now completely vapourised over this period? I still need to find the location of the lower port of the air conditioning system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 Under o/s headlamp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerFlame Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 Regassing the system yourself using a can of the web is a bad idea, get it checked professionally then regassed if appropriate. The condensors fail on average around 80k due to the road salts and other substances 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randoms Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 I'm sure Halfords are doing a FREE air con check, have a look online. Places like kwikfit & ATS usually have offers on for a regas, check other local independent places because there often cheaper again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris301up Posted June 7, 2015 Author Share Posted June 7, 2015 Thanks for your replies Will have a look under the o/s headlamp for the lower port first. The vehicle has only done just over 45,000 so I don't think the condenser, although I could be wrong? I did check the Halford's website earlier, but didn't notice a free air con check. Their prices are also quite prohibitive in comparison to other garages. Halford's certainly do a FREE air con check. Booked it in on-line for tomorrow and will see what transpires? I'll always take an offer if it's FREE !! Yipee...... Cheers all !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerFlame Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 How often do you use your Ac? You should use it approximately once a week to keep the seals lubricated. If you haven't used it in a while the seals may have failed so it's not worth wasting money buying cans That may over pressurise the AC system and damage it or simply leak back out. I'd Take it to a garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 Low mileage doesnt have an effect on condensor failure unfortunenatly, I have replaced a few on low mileage and less than 4 yrs old on your shape fiesta. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris301up Posted June 7, 2015 Author Share Posted June 7, 2015 As you will note from my previous post I am taking it to Halford's tomorrow for a free check. If all is well I will re-gas this myself though as it's really straightforward to do. I only use the A/C during the hot spring/summer months as it increases fuel consumption significantly. No need to waste money unnecessarily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerFlame Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 If you're using the cans of gas then you risk over pressurising your system. Better off paying the money in the first place for it to be done properly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris301up Posted June 7, 2015 Author Share Posted June 7, 2015 Appreciate your comments, but if you follow the instructions carefully, shake the can and release the trigger regularly, you should not over pressurise the system? It really is very easy to do if there are no other issues. Halfords should detect any faults, if there are any?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerFlame Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 Almost Every car has its AC s recomended pressure slightly differently so how can the can contain the exact pressure/amount you need? Just going from what an AC engineer Said in a message to me a whileback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randoms Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 Low mileage doesnt have an effect on condensor failure unfortunenatly, I have replaced a few on low mileage and less than 4 yrs old on your shape fiesta. I bought my focus in March & noticed the air con wasn't working, dealership did a regas that seemed to solve the issue for about a week but then air con stopped again. Back to dealers who discovered the condensor was knackered, my focus was 16 months old when i bought it & had 7.5k on the clock!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 Can cause blindness or severe frost bite/ burns if gas escapes, I have to wear special gloves, goggles etc by regulations i have to adhere to with big fines for non compliance when working on air con esp when connecting/disconnecting, its nasty stuff in the wrong hand 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantt Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 Hows the moisture going to be removed? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David73 Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Appreciate your comments, but if you follow the instructions carefully, shake the can and release the trigger regularly, you should not over pressurise the system? Pressure measurement doesn't work. Put in too much fluid and the pump will hydraulic lock. I have read that loss each year can be 20% so assumed 10% for safety. For a 0.5kg system after 7 years that's 0.24kg remaining. I put in 0.25kg and the behaviour improved considerably. But I knew the car's history. It wouldn't necessarily work if history was unknown. In future I will also measure the vent temperature (recirc on and fan at full speed) so watch the temperature trajectory as well as weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris301up Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 Firstly, for your information the A/C lower port is situated at the right hand side of the O/S headlamp (looking from front of vehicle) within the front grill assembly. No need to remove anything has access to this is unrestricted. Secondly, I know the history of the vehicle has I have owned it since 2008 with just 89 miles on the clock. I purchased this through a specialist dealer who re-imports vehicles from Jersey and Guernsey, so no VAT etc... This came from Guernsey. Halford's have checked out the A/C and, as suspected, no gas pressure in the system. Their prices are, in my opinion, too prohibitive so have found Formula 1 Autocentres are doing a deal at the moment for £39. They take a temperature reading from the A/C system, remove all the old refrigerant gas, oil and dye and then clean the whole system then remove any moisture from within. Once the system has been thoroughly cleansed, will inject new oil, dye and refrigerant gas and take a temperature reading again to ensure that the Re-Gas has made a difference to the cold air temperature. They are also doing a FREE 10 point spring check when booking online, worth considering, so intend to arrange this in the very near future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randoms Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 £39 is about the going rate for high street auto centres, think your doing the right thing by getting them to regas on a proper machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter92 Posted December 7, 2020 Share Posted December 7, 2020 Good day i have a 2009 1.4 ford fiesta abiente. The aircon does not want to work, we regased the aircon and was working fine compressors kicked on and off a week or so then started not to work anymore. I remove the condenser while removing the pipes you can hear the gas came out so dont really think its it's leaking gas i am not sure. Can it be that the condenser is maybe blocked and how do you check if its blocked. Or what do you think please help. I did take the car to diesel electric but they qoute me R 24 000.00 for a complete new system they said it is leaking. Please help. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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