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Original poster

Does your car air con work?

51 replies

TresDesolee · 27/08/2019 21:30

Bear with me, it’s another complaining about the weather thread... fifth hot day in a row here (SE England) and yet again my car air con is like a mouse breathing on me. Had to ferry DS2 around for a few appointments today and it was close to unbearable.

I have a 10yo, underpowered Skoda. My mechanic (who’s generally very good) swears he topped up the coolant when he did my MOT last month.

Is air con in cars a function of how expensive or powerful your car is? My dad has a (second hand) top of the range BMW and it’s like sitting in a fridge. My SIL’s Alfa Romeo sports car’s air con also worked like a dream when she gave us a lift the other day.

Do I have to change my car to get working air con? Or is it more likely there’s just something wrong with mine? It’s never been great but the last two summers have been ridiculously hot, i’m just wondering if my car’s unit just isn’t powerful enough to cope.

OP posts:
Original poster
TresDesolee · 27/08/2019 21:47

@confusedjuly2019 argh no. that’s probably roughly what my car is worth in total!

OP posts:
Thefemalekeithrichards · 27/08/2019 21:48

@Teacakeandlatte
I read up on this myself recently - as my car is quite thirsty hence not using the air con for ages, at up to 50mph with windows open it’s better; however over 50mph with windows open causes drag and uses 10% more fuel so you may as well,use Air con if driving at more than 50mph as it will use 10% extra fuel if running air con with closed windows 🤔

Teacakeandalatte · 27/08/2019 21:51

Ah thats interesting thanks thefemalekeithrichards

nothingsreallynewunderthesun · 27/08/2019 21:51

Air con usually needs servicing separately I believe.

My car's air con works very well indeed in the front but the kids in the back don't get much benefit. It's an economy car - Kia - but it has a 7 year warranty and is far better value for money than a "prestige" car IMO.

I bought it six months old but as first owner with 5 (five) km on the clock due to an over production run of a special edition model with a small engine but full package of pretty much every extra (funny combination which evidently didn't sell off the forecourt). It was therefore heavily discounted even for a Kia and very cheap indeed for essentially a brand new car. I've had it 5 years and never had to spend a single penny on it beyond the regular, very reasonable, service schedule - nothing (touch wood) has ever gone wrong with it. I'd definitely recommend Korean cars (DH has a similar experience with another Korean brand) and shopping around for a good new but not new deal (you can save several thousand on what's already a very economical car, therefore avoiding the issue that new cars loose value as soon as you drive them off the forecourt) if you can afford it. With the 7 year warranty it makes financial sense over time.

MrsMoastyToasty · 27/08/2019 21:53

Our old car (14 years old) has air conditioning that's like a gnats fart. We've been told it's got a leak. However it's likely we'll scrap the car before we get around to repairing it.
Our new car has air conditioning like the beast from the east. Never had to refill it since we bought it.
I was advised to use it in the winter as a heat source to keep it working.

RottnestFerry · 27/08/2019 21:53

My dh is obsessed that the AC uses loads of extra fuel and is really expensive to use. Does anyone know is he correct?

It depends on your definition of loads. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration but in hot weather it might make around 3 mpg difference.

Thefemalekeithrichards · 27/08/2019 22:07

@Teacakeandlatte

You’re welcome. Here’s the link (it’s actually 55mph sorry)

www.airconco.com/news/does-in-car-air-conditioning-consume-fuel-if-so-how-much/

chomalungma · 27/08/2019 22:16

Mine needs regassing. It's the expensive modern aircon gas - about £75 to redo.

Belindabelle · 27/08/2019 22:19

My new car keeps giving me a row if I drive with the window open.

Moondancer73 · 27/08/2019 22:21

Coolant keeps the engine cool, nothing to do with air con. That will either need regassing or the compressor or pump may need fixing if it hasn't been used in a while, it's an issue that is fairly common in older cars. Look on groupon or wow her for a deal to get the aircon regarded - you can get it done for around £40. Then maybe look into which bit of the car does what - it'll potentially save you getting ripped off by any garage in future

chomalungma · 27/08/2019 22:25

When I had my air con fixed a while ago, they put a dye in it - so they could see if there was any coming out. Some kind of dye only the garage could see.

ruralcat · 27/08/2019 22:26

I have a 1 year old BMW and it's very good compared with our other 5year old car. I think there's only so much the coolant can do.

Arnoldthecat · 27/08/2019 22:27

if your car has climate control type aircon, ie you set the temperature and it automatically maintains that temp then just leave the aircon on. Otherwise,ensure you run the aircon once a week at least. If the air con refrigerant needs a big top up then their is a good chance it has leaked out somewhere.

A vulnerable point is the condenser. This is like a big radiator/heat exchanger which sits up front behind the radiator grille and is vulnerable to stone damage etc. Not only that it can just deteriorate mechanically. If you take your car for a top up well all they do is connect it to an industry standard machine which automatically runs tests,evacuates the old gas,pressure tests it and refilled it. I had mine regassed last year after it stopped working. it worked for a while then stopped again. I stripped the front end of the car and replaced the condenser and had it regassed,,bingo,its worked fine ever since. Clearly the condenser was leaking and it being around 8 years old,had visible signs of mechanical deterioration.

Getting condensers replaced is an expensive business unless like me,you can do a lot of the work. Im glad i did as its been rather hot and humid recently :)

ElizaPancakes · 27/08/2019 22:27

Yes. Ford Fiesta. Honestly I’ve always said I don’t care too much about it but it’s been a godsend. No arriving at work already drenched in sweat!

Cherrysoup · 27/08/2019 22:28

Shamed So I thought my ac wasn’t working last week. I was driving 5 hours to see mother. I went and got it re-gassed. Still not working. Then my dh came home and pointed out that I hadn’t actually pressed the ac button, hidden behind my Bluetooth plugin. I’m an idiot. Check the button first, OP! Then it might need rexgassing. Skodas are normally unbreakable, looking at mother’s 17 year old Octavia.

If it does need re-gassing, you should go to a mechanic that will check for leaks before re-gassing. Be warned, Kwikfit don’t do the check.

itsabongthing · 27/08/2019 22:36

Brilliant AC in my 12 yr old VW half the doors don’t open but at least I’m cool

Original poster
TresDesolee · 27/08/2019 22:36

Thanks v much to all you engine-literate types. I promise I will bone up on the workings (in my defence I do know how to change the oil, do the tyre pressures and refill the windscreen wash Grin)

OP posts:
Original poster
TresDesolee · 27/08/2019 22:38

Oh and the AC button was definitely illuminated (although it’s not beyond me to miss that tbh)

OP posts:
SatsumasRock · 27/08/2019 22:41

I used to have an ancient Honda Jazz. Despite getting the gas replaced/filled up/whatever it's called, the "aircon" was like a sweaty, asthmatic squirrel puffing on me.

Then in winter, I used to have to de-ice it from the inside!

GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat · 27/08/2019 22:59

I've just been through this with my ancient Focus. It's probably a leak (or several).

I used a Groupon deal with ATS who tested it for leaks and re-gassed it. It worked for roughly 5 days (only used the car 3 times in that time) then conked out when I had a long, sweaty trip to make Sad
I took it back and they admitted their equipment only detected larger leaks not small ones hence it passing. Due to the Groupon deal's T&Cs I got my money back.

I took it to a small specialist garage and they found two leaks (in the piping/tubing?) and an issue with the condensor. It was going to cost £££ to fix and they kindly told me that there was no guarantee a new leak wouldn't crop up at another weak point the next time I used it. Obviously they could guarantee the condensor and the piping they replaced but not the rest of the original system. Anecdotally replacing certain parts has a tendency to cause leaks elsewhere in older systems.

I don't use my car a whole lot and it's getting on a bit. I'm going to keep it this autumn/winter and review in spring/summer.

swimlyn · 27/08/2019 23:23

The issue has been covered well now by PP. Yes, the coolant is nothing to do with aircon.

One point that I haven’t seen mentioned is that some cars need the blower fan ON for the aircon to work. You can therefore think that it is on when it isn’t.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 27/08/2019 23:29

I have icy cool air con in my 12 year old car and never needed re gassing or whatever.

According to a radio interview I listened to last year, it will need re gassingg if there is a leak in the system and that will only temporarily fix it if you're lucky.

ParkheadParadise · 27/08/2019 23:38

BMW X6 SPORT
Has automatic A/C
I never need to touch it.

happytoday73 · 28/08/2019 19:24

Not used last summer! It was HOT for weeks!

Itstheprinciple · 28/08/2019 20:03

Mine doesn't. I have a 14 yo car. I took it to be regassed at kwik fit but there's a hole in the unit which would have cost more to fix than the car is worth. So I sweat!