2006 VW Passat AC problems

n0brain3r

Hi all,

The OH has a B6 Passat 1.9TDI and the a/c has packed in.

It works very intermittently and you get a waft of cold air and then luke warm. I tried a topup but it shows that the pressure on the low side is fine.

It's a climatronic system and I've accessed the diagnostics by pressing the ECON and Dash Vent buttons simultaneously. I can see all the temps seem correct and that the compressor is running and under some load but it struggles to get above 6-8 bar sometimes as low as 4 when it does cool it will got to 10/11 for 10-20 secs very very occasionally up to a minute .

I've scanned for codes and nothing relating to HVAC is reported.

I can also see the evaporator temp vs requested and it looks like the system is correctly requesting cooling so internal/external temp sensors should be ok. Plus I think running it on Low should just force full cooling?

As the compressor randomly builds pressure I'm hoping it's ok? Do these partially fail?

I'm thinking the problem maybe with the expansion valve? Anyone have any ideas or experience with these?

Thanks,
nb

n0brain3r

Has anyone any ideas?

Can anyone recommend a good auto A/c company in Leinster? Or am I better off with the main dealer for something like this?

If it's any use to anyone this is a guide to the VW climatronic diagnostics and the meaning of the figures

http://www.my-gti.com/224/volkswagen-climatronic-diagnostics

n0brain3r

Anyone used these guys? http://www.caraircon.ie/

darragh o meara

Air con pumps give hassle in volkswagens and its a pricey fix. If your system has enough has in it then thats most likely your problem. An aircon specialist should be able to help you. It's a specialist system and the refrigerant is dangerous stuff and needs to be removed and replaced with a special machine.

n0brain3r

Thanks Darragh I was hoping it might be a cheap fix. Any idea of how much a replacement pump would cost incl fitting?

darragh o meara

n0brain3r wrote: »

Thanks Darragh I was hoping it might be a cheap fix. Any idea of how much a replacement pump would cost incl fitting?

A new main dealer supplied pump I believe is in the region of €1200-1500. However I know from dealing with truck fridges which use the same idea as air con, that there is companies around who can refurbish air con pumps. Whether or not they do car ones I don't know. A good air con specialist will know for sure.

n0brain3r

darragh o meara wrote: »

A new main dealer supplied pump I believe is in the region of €1200-1500. However I know from dealing with truck fridges which use the same idea as air con, that there is companies around who can refurbish air con pumps. Whether or not they do car ones I don't know. A good air con specialist will know for sure.

Wow I'd hoped 4 or 500! The timing belt is due shortly too and I think I'd rather put that sort of cash in to something newer.

darragh o meara

n0brain3r wrote: »

Wow I'd hoped 4 or 500! The timing belt is due shortly too and I think I'd rather put that sort of cash in to something newer.

I'm sure a refurb would be in that price range. There's a company in clonmel called H&Q radiators, they do air con too and are very good. If anyone knows it'll be them. They'd be worth a call. I didn't bother fixing mine as there's about 3 or4 days in the year here that would warrant its necessity.

n0brain3r

I might check them out. The interior is black and it soaks up the heat it's also impossible to demist sometimes so it can be uncomfortable to drive. Tax is due in a couple of months too so I'm really thinking of putting the money into something a couple of years newer.