air con?

[padrickz88]

hey people, problem is with my aircon it used to work fine, was very cold actually but now it doesnt work, i put to cold and push the A/C button and its just like a fan is pushing out air, and you can hear the compressor under the bonnet constantly turn on and off like every 10-15 seconds. what does everyone think my problem is? and how can i fix it? i did take my dash out to install my stereo but i put everything back together the same way it was before so yeah, i have no idea and i really need aircon because its getting hot in melbourne haha anyways thanks in advance, have fun btw i have a vn series 1 v6.... thanks =]

[xcop5l]

it will be out of gas.

[padrickz88]

really? thats weird because i used it like 6 months ago and it was really cold. and that was on a idle and drive, and it was cold, wouldnt it of got hotter? its not like the aircon is working but throwing out hot air, it keeps turning on and off and just the fan is working. i dont know if that makes sense, so how much would regasing cost anyways?

[xcop5l]

any where from $60 to $120.
another thing is the compressor could be seazed or the clutch could be faulty

[padrickz88]

kool thanks alot

[Nikkojoe]

It actually could be a number of things. One simple thing to check is that the heater control wire is connected properly (you mentioned that you took appart your dash center to install a radio) as it could be stuck on a certain setting. This is located on the drivers side foot rest. Sometimes the clip becomes loose and when you rotate temperature dial causing the wire to slip out of position. Easiest way to fix it is to wrap some tape around the teeth on the metal wire.

Here are a few pics what i mean:



Also, you could have a falty high pressure or low pressure switch. This regulates when the compresser turns on and off.

Finally it could just be low on gas, and needs to be re-gassed....

[SweetWagon]

It actually could be a number of things. One simple thing to check is that the heater control wire is connected properly (you mentioned that you took appart your dash center to install a radio) as it could be stuck on a certain setting. This is located on the drivers side foot rest. Sometimes the clip becomes loose and when you rotate temperature dial causing the wire to slip out of position. Easiest way to fix it is to wrap some tape around the teeth on the metal wire.

Here are a few pics what i mean:



Also, you could have a falty high pressure or low pressure switch. This regulates when the compresser turns on and off.

Finally it could just be low on gas, and needs to be re-gassed....

Yes try that first, I know I always forget about that thing whenevr I gott the dash apart. Secondly your seals could have dried out, since you havent used it in 6 months the gas could have leaked, you should run the aircon every week for a few minutes to lubricate the seals, in this case you need to get it re-gassed.

[padrickz88]

yeah i didnt forget that, i connected that after i put the dash in just so i got it right, the arm works properly and moves. it was one of the first things i made sure of. and i couldnt put on the aircon that often because it wasnt registered, and it only ever had like 10litres of fuel at a time(jerry cans) and i didnt want to risk blowing my fuel pump. so yeah, would having little gas make it constantly turn on and off? its really weird because it was sitting for 3 years before i brought it and we tryed the gas and it worked perfectly but it sat for 6 months at my place and then it doesnt work.. very confusing.... anyways thanks alot

[Nikkojoe]

I have a faulty high pressure switch. If you jiggle it, it turns on and off, but in the right position, it works fine. The pressure switches pretty much determine if it's low on gas. I think these switches are around 30-40bucks each....

[padrickz88]

I have a faulty high pressure switch. If you jiggle it, it turns on and off, but in the right position, it works fine. The pressure switches pretty much determine if it's low on gas. I think these switches are around 30-40bucks each....

i dont know that much about cars, so where is this switch? and if i give it a jiggle and if i get the right position and it works then the switch is dead in the ass?

[xcop5l]

that switch isint on the vns from memory

[padrickz88]

PHEW!*wipes sweat off head* less things to concider hahaha

[Nikkojoe]

that switch isint on the vns from memory

How come ive bought one already?

My car was missing the low pressure switch, and just had a wire bridging the plug. I bought a new one and fitted it, but now my high pressure switch his buggered.

High pressure switch is located on the passenger side of the engine bay, attached to the collector cannister (that cylinder that's either silver or black). You should notice the switch as it has 2 wires running off it. It just unscrews without leaking gas out as its controlled with a tyre style valve.

The low pressure switch is located infront of the condensor (aka a/c radiator, look directly behind the grill). Its attached to a pipe and is the same style as the high pressure switch....

[xcop5l]

yeah sorry it is i did an ac regas on a vg ute today and i found it behind the bumper.
it has been so long since ive regased a vn-vp-vg

that cylinder is called the reciver dryer

[padrickz88]

ok thanks people..... ill have a look tomorrow, a bit dark to look now hahaha

[padrickz88]

ok, i checked the 2 plugs you's were talking about, wobbled them around a lil and continued 2 do the same thing, so only thing left is regas yeah? or compressor is screwed..... and ive got a spare compressor so thats good =] so ill get it regased and if it doesnt work swap over the compressor..... is that all people can recomend? thanks alot people appreciate it

[Nikkojoe]

I dont think it's the compressor. Its not making any noise, and it should be ok....

If you do regas, and it doesnt work, and you change the compressor, you will have to degas it and change compressor then regas again.

Also, it doesn't have to be the same as my situation. My connector on my high pressure switch is buggered, hence why if you wobble it it wont work. Yours could just be buggered and not reading properly. Best way to test, is unplug the pressure switch, bridge the terminals on the cable a bit of electrical wire and run the a/c and see if it works. If it doesnt, connect it back up, and try the other pressure switch and do the same thing. If it works with the bridge, then you need to replace that pressure switch. If it doesn't still work then its probably just low on gas.

Also, one last thing to check is to make sure the compressor trigger wire is connected properly and got no breaks in the wire...

Good luck