Bloomin' hot now

[Vic Evans]

We were out in Mme's C4 yesterday driving for about 1/2 hour for a hospital visit in 30deg C +temperature. The air con was working fine but when we set off for home after leaving the car for a couple of hours in the sun the A/C wouldn't cool. She was driving & I was button pushing to try to get it working & the only strange thing I noticed was the auto door locking system which usually operates after 100m or so clicked off/on when I'm sure I was nowhere near the button. Red herring probably but thought worth a mention.
I don't think the system has ever been topped up so suspect this. Trouble is our local Citroen garage is inundated with car A/C problems & can't look at her car for 2 weeks.
In the meantime is there anything I can check?

[PaulC5]

If it is too hot the air con will not work to reduce the load on the engine. Have a look in your handbook, there should be something about it but I could not see anything. See if it works after it has cooled down.

[Vic Evans]

If it is too hot the air con will not work to reduce the load on the engine. Have a look in your handbook, there should be something about it but I could not see anything. See if it works after it has cooled down.

Thanks for info.
We've got both French & English handbooks. Can't see anything about that.
Mentions sun sensor on dash but doesn't say where it is.
I've just had a quick try as car is as cold as it'll get in our crinkly tin roofed barn.
By hand touch it does seem to be doing a bit of cooling but not much & certainly not the cold -cold it normally has. This of course could just be hope over facts.
She's taken car out now so later I'll stick a 'leccy thermometer sensor in an outlet grill & measure exact leaving air temp.

[xsara92]

I've been trying to get A/C working on my Xsara Pic recently. Couple of other things worth lookng at:

1. When you press the A/C button, do you hear the relay click corresponding to the compressor coming on?
It is possible that the clutch on your compressor struggles to engage when the engine revs are low, my garage told me this happens more frequently when comps are in their twilight years.
2. Is your engine fan working?
3. A blocked cabin filter can also lead to intermittent A/C operation.

[Vic Evans]

Cheers xsara92
I'll have a look in the morning when it's a bit cooler.

[Vic Evans]

Cheers xsara92
I'll have a look in the morning when it's a bit cooler.

Just tried it as now cool in barn.
Can't hear relay or compressor clutch engage at tick over or higher revs.
Can't tell if engine fan is working as engine cold but I assume it is as no overheat when it was last out on run. Mme has taken car out so maybe I can tell when she returns.
Don't think cabin filter blocked as lots of air through vents when on ext. air setting.

Looks like job for garage.