Car - air con

Tips, tricks, questions and answers to tech questions
Beancounter
Posts: 1009
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:20 pm
Has thanked: 2870 times
Been thanked: 554 times

Car - air con

Post by Beancounter »

Ford Fiesta mk7, 2012. Air con no longer blows cold air.

I tried recharging the system without any success. It's been suggested to me that I need to change the pollen filter - could that really be the cause?

The car is due a service at the end of the month and the pollen filter is due to be changed as part of that but I'm curious to know why the filter would stop just cold air blowing through the vents.
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23439
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5455 times
Been thanked: 13103 times

Re: Car - air con

Post by weeksy »

hmmmm how did you recharge it ? Didn't they test it there ?
User avatar
MrLongbeard
Posts: 4601
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 2:06 pm
Has thanked: 600 times
Been thanked: 2451 times

Re: Car - air con

Post by MrLongbeard »

Only if it were so old to be totally blocked and or freezing over.

Get it running, locate the AC clutch and see if it clicks in and out, i fit doesn't carefully (whilst it's all a spinning) give it a poke with a screwdriver, did I mention carefully? if that forces it to operate it's likely your magnets need shimming out.

Of course I'm assuming you've checked the obvious such as fuses and relays, that you haven't overcharged it and that you don;t have a massive leak
Beancounter
Posts: 1009
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:20 pm
Has thanked: 2870 times
Been thanked: 554 times

Re: Car - air con

Post by Beancounter »

weeksy wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 12:50 pm hmmmm how did you recharge it ? Didn't they test it there ?
I recharged it. Looked simple enough on the Youtube video.
MrLongbeard wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 12:52 pm Only if it were so old to be totally blocked and or freezing over.

Get it running, locate the AC clutch and see if it clicks in and out, i fit doesn't carefully (whilst it's all a spinning) give it a poke with a screwdriver, did I mention carefully? if that forces it to operate it's likely your magnets need shimming out.

Of course I'm assuming you've checked the obvious such as fuses and relays, that you haven't overcharged it and that you don;t have a massive leak
Haven't checked fuses or relays yet, my car doesn't get used that often and it was only really yesterday that I wanted the air con (sat in traffic on the motorway).

I'm assuming I didn't overcharge it, the pressure needle didn't go into the red/over charge zone if that makes sense. I could have a leak tbf but I'm guessing that would need a garage to pressure test.
Mussels
Posts: 4446
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:02 pm
Has thanked: 839 times
Been thanked: 1242 times

Re: Car - air con

Post by Mussels »

Does the aircon have it's own pollen filter, if not then why would that affect air temperature?
It's been a few years since I had aircon issues but what I do remember is there were a lot of mechanics around that didn't have a clue and would say any rubbish instead of admitting they were clueless, might be worth finding a mobile aircon specialist as the one I used in the end wasn't expensive.
The refrigerant changed around that time too and the new one was several times the price, dunno if that's changed but it could hurt.
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23439
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5455 times
Been thanked: 13103 times

Re: Car - air con

Post by weeksy »

Beancounter wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 12:57 pm

I'm assuming I didn't overcharge it, the pressure needle didn't go into the red/over charge zone if that makes sense. I could have a leak tbf but I'm guessing that would need a garage to pressure test.
They use a luminous spray/liquid thing.
User avatar
Yorick
Posts: 16754
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 pm
Location: Paradise
Has thanked: 10279 times
Been thanked: 6891 times

Re: Car - air con

Post by Yorick »

Do you need aircon in the UK?
Mussels
Posts: 4446
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:02 pm
Has thanked: 839 times
Been thanked: 1242 times

Re: Car - air con

Post by Mussels »

Yorick wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 1:02 pm Do you need aircon in the UK?
Summer started 3 days ago, it is too hot now.
Beancounter
Posts: 1009
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:20 pm
Has thanked: 2870 times
Been thanked: 554 times

Re: Car - air con

Post by Beancounter »

Mussels wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 12:59 pm Does the aircon have it's own pollen filter, if not then why would that affect air temperature?
It's been a few years since I had aircon issues but what I do remember is there were a lot of mechanics around that didn't have a clue and would say any rubbish instead of admitting they were clueless, might be worth finding a mobile aircon specialist as the one I used in the end wasn't expensive.
The refrigerant changed around that time too and the new one was several times the price, dunno if that's changed but it could hurt.
Never thought of mobile air con specialist - thanks, I'll have a trawl.
Yorick wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 1:02 pm Do you need aircon in the UK?
Not usually but my Scottish blood doesn't like it when the mercury goes above 20oC.
User avatar
Yorick
Posts: 16754
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 pm
Location: Paradise
Has thanked: 10279 times
Been thanked: 6891 times

Re: Car - air con

Post by Yorick »

Beancounter wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 2:05 pm
Mussels wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 12:59 pm Does the aircon have it's own pollen filter, if not then why would that affect air temperature?
It's been a few years since I had aircon issues but what I do remember is there were a lot of mechanics around that didn't have a clue and would say any rubbish instead of admitting they were clueless, might be worth finding a mobile aircon specialist as the one I used in the end wasn't expensive.
The refrigerant changed around that time too and the new one was several times the price, dunno if that's changed but it could hurt.
Never thought of mobile air con specialist - thanks, I'll have a trawl.
Yorick wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 1:02 pm Do you need aircon in the UK?
Not usually but my Scottish blood doesn't like it when the mercury goes above 20oC.
It might start making Sweaties be generous, then where would we be?
Beancounter
Posts: 1009
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:20 pm
Has thanked: 2870 times
Been thanked: 554 times

Re: Car - air con

Post by Beancounter »

Yorick wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 2:18 pm It might start making Sweaties be generous, then where would we be?
That would be a very confused world.