CLIO AIRCON QUERY....Help!!

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M11REH
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Joined: 08 May 2005, 03:59
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CLIO AIRCON QUERY....Help!!

Post by M11REH »

Hi, I recently bought a 2003 Clio dci80 with climate control. However the aircon side doesn't work. It regulates the temp inside up and down on it's own happyly but the A/C doesn't kick in. I've had the gas checked and it is o.k. there is no sound of the clutch engaging when the A/C button is pressed.
Any clues?? I don't want to involve the dealers (who are poor) if it is just a simple fuse or connection issue that I could check....[V]
alan s
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Post by alan s »

What do you mean it regulates the temp up & down? Heater takes it up, air/con takes it down.
Ambient temperature plays an important role in allowing the air/con to come in so as an experiment, why not try running the haeter for say 5 minutes and then select a fairly cold temp to see if that will trigger the sensors.
Another thing that can effect it is the pressure switch on the top of the receiver/dryer which serves two purposes; one is to cut the condensor fans in at high speed if the head pressure gets too high whilst the other is to cut power to the clutch if the gas pressure gets too low to prevent the system running on vacuum. If that switch has gone open circuit for any reason and stayed there, that is you best culprit. When you say the gas charge was tested, did they use a set of gauges on it or just look at the sight glass? The reason I ask is that these days the sight glass isn't as accurate a means of checking gas levela as it was due to the variances from the gases used and remember that an empty system will still look clear through the site glass just the same as a fully charged one will, so can give some very false readings. Gauges are the only accurate way of judging gas charge.
Alan S
M11REH
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Post by M11REH »

<b></b>[:)]Thanks for a prompt response, the cars inside temperature is "dialled in" on the display, i.e. 23 degrees, the car then decides if it needs to increase the heat or lower it, and adjusts the fan to suit. It can do this ok but if it decides that it needs to cool the inside down, the A/C light comes on but no chilled air plus there is no sound for the clutch engaging. When I had the gas checked it was rigged up to a device showing gas volume & we ran it with the aircon switched on + feeding additional pressure to check the pressure switch all to no avail!(there is no sight glass on the Clio, or not that I'm aware of) Any more ideas or clues please before the dreaded dealer has a play?????[:(!]
alan s
RIP 2010
Posts: 2542
Joined: 26 Jan 2001, 15:53
Location: Australia
My Cars:
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Post by alan s »

I'm at a big disadvantage living as I do in a Citroen desert these days (not a Cit dealer within a 3 hour drive) so I haven't actually seen the Clios arrangement, but assuming that the set up was pressure gauges and that the gas pressure was increased to cover the range required to trigger the switch, that basically takes the physical part out of the equation.
The next step is to see if there's a fan behind the dash that actually moves the air around to help trigger the sensor the same as the Xantia. If so, then check that this is operational.
Also test the solenoid on the actual compressor. This is usually connected via a torpedo type connector just above the actual compressor. Run a piece of wire to the + terminal. Tap this wire on the end of the wire leading to the clutch solenoid and you should hear a discernable click. If not, then the chances of the clutch solenoid being open circuit are fairly certain.
Any decent air/con service agent shouldn't take too long to troubleshoot this. A dealer with a 2 hour service school behind him may be a different story. If the car's out of warranty, the air/con specialist would be my choice.
Alan S
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