Air Con Not Working

[mcyates]

It was working fine last night, it was lovely, but i set of from Portsmouth to Middlesbrough today at 12pm and it just didn't work. I have a Clio 182 with cup pack. The orange light next to the AC button lights up but the air doesn't get any colder.

Any suggestions please?

 

[Clio 1.216v Dynamique]

Take it back to REN

 

[mcyates]

Everytime i take it to renault they try to charge me for everything. It can't need new gas as it was working perfectly yesterday.

 

[markw182]

does it still change the temp at all...?mine went last week which was done under warrenty,my symtoms were it changed from hot to cold'ish but didnt blow air at any rate just a breeze,you would think the fan wasnt running.it turned out to be a switch on the back of the controls which was changed in 20 mins..

 

[mcyates]

With the Air con on full the temparature of the air coming through is the same as with it turned off. so its not cooling at all. Like i said, when i put the climate control to mini (below 16*) the AC light comes on but does nothing.

Usually you can here a little click when it comes on but i can't here anything. I think its dead. lol.

 

[mcyates]

Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[Jezz]

This happened to my 172. One day it worked then the next day it just stopped.
Took it back to the garage and all they did was re-gas it now it's SUPER cold.
Don't know if there's a minumum level or something but fixed mine!

 

[mcyates]

This happened to my 172. One day it worked then the next day it just stopped.
Took it back to the garage and all they did was re-gas it now it's SUPER cold.
Don't know if there's a minumum level or something but fixed mine!

How much did they charge?

 

[Jezz]

I had it done under warrenty but iit's normaly about £150

 

[mcyates]

well my car is only 1 1/2 years old. So i should get my done on warranty shouldn't i?

 

[mcyates]

I'm going to see if Mike can do it at Ten-tech. Rather than going to my dealer. I can't see them topping up the gas for free under warranty!!!

 

[mcyates]

sorry fro triple posting

But just to keep you informed i'm getting it re-gassed at Ren-tech for £50 inclusive of VAT. Can't wait to feel the cold again. Well that's if that is what's wrong with it.

 

[Jonathan]

No clunk when engaging AC will probably indicate no gas, but from my experiance if it has no gas so soon its lost it for a reason, a gas with dye will show this up, the leaking component may be covered under warranty as mine was. Gas + dye, fault fixed and re gassed all under Renault warranty at the dealer.


The green is the dye showing the leak.

 

[mcyates]

Hmm thats go me thinking. But i'm always using the air con so maybe the gas just reached a minimum level and this stops the compressor from kicking in?

 

[Jonathan]

I was talking with a friend about this the other day, he has had his car for 10 years and it has never been gassed, air con still works a treat. Its a closed system, the gas should have nowhere to go. To my mind if it goes fast, chances are it will go fast again, just my thoughts. Hope you can get it sorted.

 

[mcyates]

Thank You. I know its a closed stystem but won't the gass eventually become degraded? I dunno, i think i will give it one try topping it up. If that fails then i will go to renault and kick off. lol.

 

[mcyates]

Where about is the aircon unit on a 182?

 

[Jonathan]

Its at the front left, the aux belt drives it, you can follow the pipes to the air con radiator and pipes leading through the bulkhead.

 

[Ad]

I was talking with a friend about this the other day, he has had his car for 10 years and it has never been gassed, air con still works a treat. Its a closed system, the gas should have nowhere to go. To my mind if it goes fast, chances are it will go fast again, just my thoughts. Hope you can get it sorted.

I agreee mate. 100% and argued the point with reno for Biffons Bridge.But they had not of it.

 

[sean]

it still has joints with seals and pipes with welds,etc and any of these can fail , also a common fault on these is a stone through the aircon radiator. another possibility is that the system was only charged enough when new to test for leaks and they have not filled to correct level.

 

[Dan@SJM]

someone said somewhere that renault dont fil the ac systems right up, they only fill them half full.

 

[mcyates]

Everytime i take the car into a service they always say do you want you aircon re-filled? Maybe its a con, they only fill them half way knowing they wil fail, they always ask you if you want the unit re-filled making you think, hmm why its working fine, then when it goes you think, maybe i should have gotten it re-filled.

I'm going to see what ren-tech say.

 

[sean]

you should really have the air con system replenished ( cleaned) every 2-3 years , it does make a difference. this is probably what the dealer means. they only part charge system when checking for leaks, ( should use the dye as well)

 

[mcyates]

Well like i said its only 1 1/2 years old but it gets used everyday (the air con) and for at least 12 - 16 hours every weekend. so it does get used a lot. Also when i turn the key to enable the vents, i can hear a buzzing noise (electrical buzz) from around the top area of the engine, just wondering what it is? Its towards the centre of the engine? Weird as i've just noticed it.

 

[jonnybad]

FYI

Just got a quote from John Pease Renault at Cressing (01376 583345) for air con service.

They reckon it should be done every 4 years.

It takes an hour, and will cost me £60 inc.
Job includes:
Check for leaks
New Pollen filter
Regas
Anitbacterial agent.

 

[KDF]

My 8 month old 172 needed 2 pipes replaced and re-gassed, all done under warranty, its been fine ever since but just because your car is relatively new doesnt mean it doesnt have leaks.

Deffinatly get them to check it for leaks as it shouldnt just work one night and not the next, if there is no click then its a sure bet its needing re-gassed for one reason or another.

 

[mcyates]

Took it into Mike @ Rentech and he filled it up. It lasted for about 6 hours. I took it back and he spotted a leak on the condensor. I'm taking it into the garage today to book it in to get fixed. Probably have to wait until the 3rd July to get it fixed.

 

[Jezz]

3rd July??
in this heat!?
Better get the suncream on!

 

[mcyates]

I know, its awful isn't it.

 

[pulsartoa172thanxtoa182]

does anyone know when re-gassing which valve is used as theres 2 of them

 

[mcyates]

both of them are used.

 

[leon103]

Mine packed in months ago. But the vents don't work either. The heat changes but there is only ever a small breeze. Any ideas?

 

[mcyates]

Its woking now, the pipe was cracked so mike replaced it and it was a very very nice drive home this weekend. I wasn't going to go home for a month but i had to test the aircon out and my mates in the car said it was freezing . I though the pipe would have diffent sections rather than being one long pipe, i guess its like that so it reduces possible leaks.

Anyway great work Mike@rentech