A/C pain thread!!!

[Golfer]

Took my car to Australian Continental Motors today, as Claus is a master on German cars, and he does A/C.

With summer on the way, aircon is a fantastic thing to have, yeah? Sure... if it works. Mine, however didn't. No worries, i'll take it to get fixed. Claus pressure tested it today and found some disturbing problems -

1. Blocked and corroded TX valve ($190)

2. Blocked reciever-dryer ($150 or $115 - Claus can be hard to understand, it's the genuine German accent )

Both need to be replaced, some seals repaired, vacuumed, gassed and resealed. Total $600 PLUS!!! I was supposed to get the car back fixed tonight, but the TX valve has a frozen bolt, so i'll have to wait until tomorrow now... I MISS MY BABY!!!

OK, here's why I wrote - Claus has given me some invaluable information that i didn't know until he told me...

It is not often a problem during a hot summer, when A/C systems are used almost daily, but it is imparative that VW A/C systems are run AT LEAST once a week, even during winter, even if you run them on heat, as long as the A/C is running. The seals inside the system dry up very quickly and become brittle if they are not exposed to the A/C oil regularly. On top of that, the abovementioned parts block easily unless the gas/oil is circulated throughout them regularly. And believe me, the repairs are expensive!!!

Having made the mistake myself, i offer you guys my newly aquired knowledge so that you won't make the same mistake i (or the previous owner) made. An aircon regas costs under 200 bucks, but you can spend the better part of a thousand dollars if you neglect your systems needs.

Sorry if something similar has been posted before, but i am so upset about how much my porta-antarctica is gonna cost me, you guys shouldn't have to cop it too...

Cheers all. John

[SOHC]

John... don't worry, mine was having bit of leak as well and it needed a bit of welding and regas... 200bucks and still the aircon is like...sxit... however I won't use it much unless its 35 above, engine just ain't strong enough to run with A/C

Cheers
Carlson

[DubSteve]

Took my car to Australian Continental Motors today, as Claus is a master on German cars, and he does A/C.

With summer on the way, aircon is a fantastic thing to have, yeah? Sure... if it works. Mine, however didn't. No worries, i'll take it to get fixed. Claus pressure tested it today and found some disturbing problems -

1. Blocked and corroded TX valve ($190)

2. Blocked reciever-dryer ($150 or $115 - Claus can be hard to understand, it's the genuine German accent )

Both need to be replaced, some seals repaired, vacuumed, gassed and resealed. Total $600 PLUS!!! I was supposed to get the car back fixed tonight, but the TX valve has a frozen bolt, so i'll have to wait until tomorrow now... I MISS MY BABY!!!

OK, here's why I wrote - Claus has given me some invaluable information that i didn't know until he told me...

It is not often a problem during a hot summer, when A/C systems are used almost daily, but it is imparative that VW A/C systems are run AT LEAST once a week, even during winter, even if you run them on heat, as long as the A/C is running. The seals inside the system dry up very quickly and become brittle if they are not exposed to the A/C oil regularly. On top of that, the abovementioned parts block easily unless the gas/oil is circulated throughout them regularly. And believe me, the repairs are expensive!!!

Having made the mistake myself, i offer you guys my newly aquired knowledge so that you won't make the same mistake i (or the previous owner) made. An aircon regas costs under 200 bucks, but you can spend the better part of a thousand dollars if you neglect your systems needs.

Sorry if something similar has been posted before, but i am so upset about how much my porta-antarctica is gonna cost me, you guys shouldn't have to cop it too...

Cheers all. John

Excellent info there John thanks for the heads up on that. I usually run my air con at least a couple of times a week after a wash my car instead of putting down the windows I put on the a/c. I never knew that before so thats awesome. My heater wasn't working in my previous vr6 and they wanted something like $1400 to fix it and I only had that car during the winter . Make sure to keep us up to date to see what happens after you get it back.

[deemoE36]

thanx for sering that with us, i never used mine but now ill make sure i turned it on now and then to keep it running
its not a good feeling when u have to spend serious $ to make one little thing work
even tho i dont use mine unless my windshield is seriously foggy for some reason or when is 35 and up, the fact that there is a piece of machinery in the car that is not operating is what eats me alive

cheers

[ausgolfer]

Fortunately or unfortunately it's not a only VW related problem as I think most vehicle a/c systems suffer from the same problem.

Never the less invaluable info for those who don't know.

[peedman]

Bugger that! I was just thinking that mine needs a regas, I hope its not that bad

[SOHC]

ahhh...btw does anybody have a problem with the recycling system as well?? mine doesn't work !! just blowing dust onto my face...

[Golfer]

No worries guys, It hadn't really worried me until my drivers power window gave up the ghost, and then we had a spate of really hot days... not cool! (apologies for the pun ) so i realised that in this part of the world with high heat and high humidity it's not great if you can't escape it. Throw in a couple of traffic jams, and an afternoon thunderstorm, and i was sold on getting the A/C fixed. The cost was, um, rather unexpected. Nevertheless i'm sure that as soon as my new window regulator arrives from Andrew, i'll whack that puppy in, crank down my beloved window, and only use the A/C (to full effect) when i can smell my arm hairs burning . You can be damn sure though, I'll be running that sucker religously from now on once or twice a week!!! 600 bucks... pfft

Cheers, John

[bombsquad21]

this sounds like doom for me, after spending $1200 on a new compressor and everything else for the polo. My Golf has just decided it doesnt wanna blow cold air. I live in Brisbane and drive a lot...I need cold air. I will regas first and hope(and pray) for the best.

[brackie]

Lack of maintenance = big $$$s

All types of refrigeration require frequent running to keep the seals in good order. Oil is circulated with the gas and this keeps the seals soft, lubricates the compressor and provides extra sealing at the lips and "O" rings. It's essential that you run the compressor regularly throughout the year in order to keep the oil moving. If you do this then the system will run trouble-free for years and as long as there's no mechanical damage probably outlast the engine. The receiver/dryer will need replacement as time goes by but will last for a hell of a time as long as you run the compressor regularly. TX valves usually fail because they get clogged with ****.
We have 2 milk vats on the farm and a visit from the fridgies never comes at less than $750 so it's in our best interests to keep things in good order. They never spew a problem during the milking season as they run every day so our policy now is to run them at least once a week when the goats are dried off during winter so that they can go straight into service in the spring without a problem.
Think of your fridge in the kitchen and the number of times a day it kicks in and out. Your air conditioner n the car works on exactly the same principles.

[aprr32]

ac

Did you know
Australian delivered Golf Cabs with AC fitted in Aust(dealer) were turned on when in reverse.Thats right, the reverse light swith turned on the AC and kept in in good working order even in winter. Now theres a thought!

[Golf Loon]

I have a tale of AC pain too.

I have had two compressors on a shelf in the garage for a year and no-one has asked me for one. Then last week two people asked and got them at rock bottom prices. You know who you are

Then I had to call out the AC guy to regass the wifes new"" Toledo, "Just needs Gas" I think the guy said. Also we have a Mk3 for Sale that also needs gas. Kill two with one stone I thought. One call out charge, 2 working AC units.
Both proved to have broken compressors. Aaaaargh.
$800 for a new one, $300 from the wreckers. BAH.

Managed to score a couple of cheapies today though. I hope they work.

Just for your info too guys all 4 cylinder VAG compressors are the same, Golf 3, Seat Ibiza, Seat Cordoba and Polo up till 98.

[rayray086]

Thank you very much for sharing that Golfer! Fortunately my A/C is working great at the moment, but unfortunately, I don't use A/C much unless it's EXTREMELY hot. It just drains fuel and power out of my Golf and sometimes I prefer driving with the windows down. But after coming across this info, I'll definitely turn it on a bit more often!

[DubSteve]

To potentially save the car from spending big bucks on it. I guess you have to sacrifice the petrol and the power that it has, even if it doesn't have very much.

[rayray086]

To potentially save the car from spending big bucks on it. I guess you have to sacrifice the petrol and the power that it has, even if it doesn't have very much.

Yeah definitely, now that I've come across this info. Guess I'll have to live with A/C luxury so potentially save on money after all