Air-con gone

Post your Cit/Peu/Ren air conditioning queries or advice.

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DeanPesticcio
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Air-con gone

Post by DeanPesticcio »

Hi. I have a C5 VTR PLUS NAV HDI (2010). Air-con wasn’t working so I had it filled up about 6 weeks ago. When it was being filled I was told that ‘it held a vacuum, so it looks good’ and it did work very well when I tested it on the way home, the screen iced up etc.
The weather’s getting warmer now and to my dismay it’s not working.. I questioned myself that I was not activating it properly: press A/C, the green light comes on, and turn both heat control knobs to LO, pretty sure that’s it, isn't it? I think the garage that filled it added the infer-red dye, and I have a lamp so I can have a look. I’m just posting encase there any common weak spots that are worth looking at and if anyone has had air-con problems, might be able to give me a heads up..
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Re: Air-con gone

Post by Stickyfinger »

The screen ICED UP ?....really, that sounds wrong
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Re: Air-con gone

Post by old-un77 »

MY pic screen used to frost up if on full blast with pass, and drivers side vents closed........but doesn't any more, maybe that needs re gassing, although it DOES blow cool...........
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Re: Air-con gone

Post by DickieG »

Stickyfinger wrote:The screen ICED UP ?....really, that sounds wrong
No, just efficient A/C.

Re holding vac I wouldn't hold much credibility with that as unless the system has a very large leak it will hold vacuum very well, I've had systems hold vac for 30 mins yet when filled with gas you could hear the leak hissing. The favourite place for a leak will be the condenser (look through the front grill for a oily stain in a corner) followed by the large hose running from the compressor, as it's been refilled with dye it should be relatively easy to spot the leak with a UV torch and yellow glasses.
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Re: Air-con gone

Post by DeanPesticcio »

Thank you for your replies.
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Re: Air-con gone

Post by steelcityuk »

Some parts are far mor likely to leak under pressure than vaccum hence why specialists use Nitrogen to test for system integrity. As DickieG says condensors are very prone to mechanical damage or corrosion.

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Re: Air-con gone

Post by Lex Andrews »

I've lost all my A/C on my 58 plate C5 Excluisve. I got it regassed when I bought it 12mths ago. Then again back end of April this year when 2 seals were replaced. It lost everything again on the 17th of June in 33 degree heat in the South of France. I got it booked into the same garage that has done the A/C on all the other accounts.

They had it for 2 days. Can't find a fault anywhere! No leaks at all. Everything seemed to work as it should. They did say they had a C4 in with a similar problem but it was only in for a system check not repair as it was for another garage.
They did advise that if it went again it may be a trip to Citroen to see if they could diagnose.
Can the lexia system diagnose a fault when UV dye can't? If so it'll go to Evans Halshaw at Doncaster as they've got history for the car from the previous owner having work done with them.

So after 2 days in the garage, no fault found. Within 24hrs GONE!

I have noticed a fouling around the larger valve on the system (high pressure port)? Before the A/C died on the 17th there was a "gurgling" sound when the A/C was activated after a period of being off.
For a change, I didn't touch it! It was already broken.

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Re: Air-con gone

Post by DickieG »

Lexia cannot diagnose the location of a leak in the A/C system so I presume your garage is either hoping a dealer will be more aware of common failure points on C5's or just wants to pass the problem onto someone else.

If dye has been put in the system it will leave a stain around the area of the leak but whether you can view that area can be another matter particularly if the leak is from the evaporator (behind the dash) but that's where you then use a sniffer that detects gas through the air vents. I had a leak on mine from the large hose from the compressor (common failure), this hose is wrapped with heat insulating material which made spotting the dye stain quite difficult until I cut a section back.

As the gas is escaping within 24 hours the leak is quite substantial so I'd have thought that dye would be leaving a substantial trace plus at that rate of leakage you can normally hear a hiss just like a punctured tyre. Another possible leak point can be the filling valves, if the leak if from one of those they'll already be stained as dye will have left its trace when it was put in the system but leak from those can be traced in the same way you'd test a tyre valve leak,,

The gurgling noise you mention is quite common when the system runs low of gas.
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Re: Air-con gone

Post by harryp »

Have a similar problem - gassed, worked for a week, leak tested, faulty condenser found - replaced. Checked and pronounced OK so re-gassed; lasted 2 weeks. Going back for a check tomorrow. Any pointers as to other likely sources?
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Re: Air-con gone

Post by harryp »

Have to wait now 'till Friday to see the aircon Guru.What are the likely places to consider for leaks.... new condenser fitted... filling valves have been mentioned... anything else uncovered by anyone??
Regards, Harry

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Re: Air-con gone

Post by harryp »

Just returned from a visit to see the "Master Technician" and it appears that the leak is from the compressor. Looking at it from above, the dye is over the end of a pipe into/out of the compressor. Before I remove it which will render the car "off road", are various seals replaceable etc or is it a case of a "recon" unit? Anyone know of a reliable source for a unit if that's what's required? Thanks and regards
Regards, Harry

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Re: Air-con gone

Post by DickieG »

Have a feel of the metal pipes going into the compressor, they should feel solid but if one wobbles then the chances are that the securing flange on the pipe has broken away or it could quite simply be a new rubber seal required in the joint. If you end up needing to replace the compressor I've used this company a few times and had good service http://www.autoairparts.co.uk/citroen-c5-1721-c.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you want to get the compressor rebuilt then generally it's a case of finding a local specialist.
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Re: Air-con gone

Post by harryp »

Thanks DickieG,
As soon as the weather improves/rain stops will remove the undertray and check. In the meantime will check out autoairparts and a few I found on the Forum "A/C handy websites" just. Are these things rebuildable?
Regards
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Re: Air-con gone

Post by harryp »

What with having family over the long weekend still have not been able to check, and now it's pimply sissing down. Regarding the seal(s?) on the compressor in/out pipes, are they available from my friendly dealer - I cannot find any on my copy of doc backup....!?
Regards, Harry

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Re: Air-con gone

Post by harryp »

Have at last got to jack up the Xant and check the aircon pipes from underneath. Pair of industrial yellow glasses and with a Cree led lamp to check when home and it flouresces nicely from above. Getting under, the underside of the aircon compressor is covered with whats looks like LHM (but I guess isn't). It is actually as thick as new enging oil... Could it be the compressor lubricating oil? If so, where is it likely to be coming from? Pipes are firm and clamp bolt tight. Apart from leaking pipe seals, where else could it be coming from? I cannot find anything on the 'net regarding exploded views of the compressors. When they fail, is it due to leaks or wear. As I am trying to get my Excl back on the road as my main driver, I would rather go for seal replacement than the expense and time of fitting a new compressor :wink: . Can anyone help?
Regards
Regards, Harry

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