Passat B7 air con effectiveness?

[brettue]

I bought a 2011 Passat wagon a few months ago and it's just started warming up down this end of Oz so I turned on the air con today and was pretty underwhelmed by the air temperature it pushed out. The car had only been running for 5 mins or so and I cranked it all the way down to LO and was getting cool air, felt around 22c, but not cold air. My previous car was a Subaru Impreza and it was certianly able to pump out cooler air. I wondered if it needed re-gassing but the car is not that old. How effective do you find A/C in the Passat? Is it just a bit rubbish or is there an issue? Any input appreciated.

[Umai Naa!!]

Put it on recirc, medium fan speed, doors closed, and a thermometer in the centre dash vents.

If it can down around 4-5deg C, it's fine.

[brettue]

Its a hot day, external temp is 34. With the settings you said I ran the AC. After 2 mins the digital thermometer I have jammed into the centre vent reads 14c after 2mins. After 5 mins 13.1c. After 10 mins its 12.8c. Its not really budging now. So its not getting down to 3-4c, would it likely need a regas or is there something else I should troubleshoot?

[Umai Naa!!]

It may need a diagnostic scan of the A/C system, to see what's up.

An A/C guy might be worth speaking to, as well.

[brettue]

It just had a service and the A/C wasn't flagged as being low/problematic. I would have thought the onboard system would have flagged any gas level issues/leaks/problems in the system when the mechanic plugged in to do the service?

[D13S3L]

Just had mine repaired as it wasn't blowing out cold air. It's still nothing compared to previous cars I've owned but it has cooled the car down enough to make it comfortable yesterday when it was around 35 outside.
In comparison, other cars I've owned if you put your hand near the vent it feels like putting your hand in a freezer where as my Passat felt like putting your hand in the cooler section of a fridge.
Having said that I didn't have in on recirc.
So my conclusion is it doesn't compare to other cars but should take the edge off in those stinking hot days we have coming up.
Common problem apparently is for the desiccant bag to break open or some part to break apart and send it through the system damaging the condenser (happened with mine). System will need to be flushed and condenser replaced.


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[brettue]

Took it to the mechanic today, it was a colder day and his thermostat gave him a reading of 6c after about 5 - 10mins. He said there was plenty of gas but threw in about another 100 grams anyway and sent me on my way. He thought that it could be the compressor on it's way out. Anyone had experiences with that?

[prn31]

Took it to the mechanic today, it was a colder day and his thermostat gave him a reading of 6c after about 5 - 10mins. He said there was plenty of gas but threw in about another 100 grams anyway and sent me on my way. He thought that it could be the compressor on it's way out. Anyone had experiences with that?

The compressor is a known problem, at least on the B6 Passats (mine is an R36.) Hopefully it is just the compressor that needs replacing. If you get metal swarf in the lines then you have to replace the condenser and the TX valve and it becomes a mega $$ exercise - trust me, I know...

[brettue]

Gulp. It's only got 60k on the clock, I've got a B7 (R36 engine), at what point did your compressor let go?

[Umai Naa!!]

Would be the same compressor they've used for the past 10 years or so.

Can fail internally, causing swarf contamination. Or the control valve on the side dies, but can't be bought separately.

[brettue]

Eeeek. So if I have cool but not cold air, with the gas levels being ok, what would you recommend my next step be?

[booba]

Eeeek. So if I have cool but not cold air, with the gas levels being ok, what would you recommend my next step be?

manually adjust fan speed, turn it off auto then set the temp to 'Lo', it should blast you with quite cold air in a little bit, if so then it's probably the valve on the compressor.

[Amalgam]

In my experience, the a/c in Japanese branded cars are colder than the Europeans. The Japanese are icey, the Europeans are just cool.

Like you I have owned multiple Subaru as well as Mazda, Toyota and Mitsubishi. The Europeans were BMW, Mercedes, Audi and now our Passat. Even at change over the 5 year old Japanese car was colder than the brand new European. The urban myth is that the a/c is rated for a milder European summer.

[booba]

Agree, ac in my nissan was ice cold.

In my experience, the a/c in Japanese branded cars are colder than the Europeans. The Japanese are icey, the Europeans are just cool.

Like you I have owned multiple Subaru as well as Mazda, Toyota and Mitsubishi. The Europeans were BMW, Mercedes, Audi and now our Passat. Even at change over the 5 year old Japanese car was colder than the brand new European. The urban myth is that the a/c is rated for a milder European summer.

[drjekl]

Yeah I've been underwhelmed with the cooling of the A/C in my 2011 passat...

If left resting on a hot day, the car was an oven and took ages to get cool. I've since installed top of the range window tint, which has helped. I've notice don the highway the car cools really really well. On a 35 degree day I have the temp set at 25 degrees and its still very comfortable.

As mentioned the jap cars I've owned (Lexus, honda & Toyota's) have great A/C's, my BMW has a great A/C and handle's hot days just fine (its only a small coupe) whereas the VW is a tad ordinary...