A4 B7 Air conditioning compressor - FAIL - Poss fail - Maybe fail - Has Failed

[blackgrill]

Had the car just a little under 12 months, two days of warm weather , want to use the cooling air and bam no cool air.

Have searched high and low for quotes, OE parts even dared to phone the dealers.

Long and short is this, no cool air means one or all of the following needs to be paid for no one can tell you exactly which or what is at fault.

All i have been advised is to replace the major part i.e the compressor, this may in turn require (if loose particles have damaged no.s 2 and 3) 2 and 3 to be replace, if you shop around i reckon you could get it all done for a £1400.00 all in

So if the Compressor goes here is the advice I have so far.

1. Replace Compressor (price from 250 (re-man) or upwards of 360 to 800 (OE)

(now the following needs to be done due the small metal particles that may by now have found their way around your air con system)

1.a - flush whole air con system with recommended flush chemicals before fitting items below

2. Replace dryer
3. Replace condensor
4. Time to repair 2 days

Paid out for Diagnostic first just to make sure £40.00

now to to start flogging stuff on ebay to pay for it all :Blush:

Here is a copy of the air conditioning system diagnostic
16301

If any one out there that is chilled and not feeling the heat please feel free to impart your knowledge/ advice/ support

[Alan G H]

Have you tried getting the system re-gassed? It may just be low on gas, worth trying first.

[darich]

Is the above the price/quote from an Audi dealer??

try an independent if you haven't already.
I was initially told I needed a repair kit, for £130 with around £70 fitting. So I bit the bullet and decided to go for it. A while after handing my car in I received a call. The garage found it was simply a broken connector so they fixed it and told me no charge, although I have used that place a few times.

Gassing is another option.

[blackgrill]

Nah, quote is from an independent, Audi main dealer wanted the same for just fitting the compressor.

Yep, regassing was the first thing I did, went to Kwik fit on way home said if it didn't work there would be no charge...it didn't work.

Would seem diagnostics don't do much have been advised by couple independents now that it's the compressor, I checked fuses etc, have no probs with the control panel, works as it should.

[ntp]

Blackgrill, I have been there and have done it all. The whole system changed and I mean everything (apart from the metal pipes) cost me around £1000 from an independent specialist. Really good guys, family run business, they come to your house and give you a quote. You then decide what you want to do.

In my case the compressor had gone (before I bought my car) and all the little metal pieces have been flushed through the system. I know it hurts to pay so much money but when sh** happens you have got to deal with it. At least I know that my aircooling system is brand new now. Haven't had any problems with it for 3 years now. Haven't even re-gassed since then, still blows fresh and cold air.

I can dig out the number for the independent specialist if you want it. Just let me know.

By the way the whole job takes less then a day, around 4-5 hours and it is done in front of your house.

Good luck

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[nevo]

Before you start spending any serious cash try some simple checks first,get a voltmeter and check if there's any voltage at the compressor connection(with the air con switched on in the car)if there is check the compressor clutch is engaging(the front of the pulley,not the pulley itself) is the compressor belt in situ,is the fan on the condenser running? these should have been checked but these days if the computer says no they're screwed anyway report back.

[Monsieur]

My audi aircon is fine but a couple of years ago the aircon failed on my ford galaxy.
Now I know they're totally different machines but I did lots of phoning around then and the best deal for similar work to you was from a local mobile aircon guy.
Came round to house with his van and did all the work for a fraction of other quoted prices

[jangles]

@Blackgrill, I had an aircon compressor problem early last year. I considered independent vs Audi dealer for a replacement compressor. In the end, I went with the dealer, mainly because of the good relationship I was developing with them but also because the indie I considered didn't really offer any compelling difference.

Details in this thread: http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?115485-Is-a-new-aircon-compressor-really-the-only-answer

Hope you get a good result, whichever route you go.

[blackgrill]

Hi Folks,
Thanks for all your input, really helps.

Havent had it done yet, contemplating whether to get rid altogether.

Just a quick one though,

Someones mentioned a sensor could be at fault, how would i know. at less than 50 quid that aint to bad to replace

I dont think i ever noticed any strange noises comes from the car because of the air con system, i can still change and alter setting on the control unit, so nothing strange there.

Either way, not looking at biting the bullet, but if its the only way, i guess ill have to bite a couple.

Anyone now of a mobile company (West Mids -Telford/Birmingham way) at reasonable rates, if so feel free to pm me.

cheers

[discobarry]

So i assume they tried to re gas it and the compressor didn't kick in? we don't do a lot with a/c but when we try to diagnose we try to get the system to engage as the compressor won't kick in if it isn't gassed enough.

I wouldn't get rid of it just because a job costs a lot, whats to say the next car won't have big bills? that said if you don't like big bills get a smaller car w/out a/c. lol.

[nevo]

Firstly as above see if the clutch is engageging on the compressor,you wont get any cold air out if its not pumping!even if your compressor is goosed internally it will still turn!second, if the clutch isnt engaging the causes are 1 clutch knackered 2 no voltage present 3 low on gas 4 high pressure switch knackered 5 ecu knackered.So save yourself some cash by seeing if that clutch is spinning(not just the pulley but both).