How cold is your air con?

[Akash]

Hi all,

Difficult one to measure unless you got a thermometer or something in-place but is your air-con cold?
I know mine works because with econ on, it's just warm air that comes out, with it off, you do get coldish air

I had mine re-gassed late last year and then again last month but I still don't think it's as cold as it used to be.

Today the car was in 28c heat so very hot inside, I sat inside with the engine running for about 20 mins with aircon on 17. Fans were full-blast, cool air was coming out but it really struggled and only calmed down when I turned the dial closed to 23 which means any lower, it would never have calmed down.

Only thing I can compare it to is a brand new 20 mile on the clock A3 Saloon at work and that certainly gives you a chill. Same carpark, same heat, but hers calms down within minutes and is almost too cold.

So whats going on here? Bad re-gas x 2? It was from the same place (Audi specialist and sponsor on here)
Compressor on it's way out?

No errors are logged (vcds)

[zollaf]

is the condensor clear ? i.e., the radiator, are the fins clear for air to flow through.

[Akash]

Will double check in a bit but I checked this during the summer bi-weekly wash a few days ago and saw nothing at all really

[zollaf]

you can get a build up of rubbish between the 2 rads that you cannot see but it stops the air con working properly.

[Akash]

OK visually in front and behind is clear - in-between I'll have to take some bits out I assume as I can't see the two at all

What I have noticed is the Audi rings have come off the engine cover and is wedged on one of the pipes but that won't do it ...just need get a hanger and reel it out

[six_or_out]

At idle with the air con on and outside temperature of 40 degrees, the air coming out of the centre vents is 12.8 degrees.
When above 1,000 rpm the air temperature goes down to 10.5 degrees.
I checked it last week in my car as you need tip top air conditioning over here to survive the summer!

[MarkTM]

Akash, am just wondering

a) Why you would need to regasses in under a year...sounds to me like a fault somewhere?
b) If the same air-con unit is fitted to the A3 as your A6, I know it sounds silly but I remember in the 90's when aircon became popular the same unit was fitted in a Ford Fiesta as a Ford Galaxy! Am thinking that with three times the cabin space it wouldn't have been the same temp in the galaxy? :)

I usually run mine on 'Lo' until it's sufficiently chilly then adjust to about 18 for comfort.

Silly question but you did have it aimed at you as opposed the windscreen? :biglaugh:

[humphrey999]

@six_or_out I expect you have the hot climate build spec. Not the same as we get in blighty!

[Akash]

Akash, am just wondering

a) Why you would need to regasses in under a year...sounds to me like a fault somewhere?
b) If the same air-con unit is fitted to the A3 as your A6, I know it sounds silly but I remember in the 90's when aircon became popular the same unit was fitted in a Ford Fiesta as a Ford Galaxy! Am thinking that with three times the cabin space it wouldn't have been the same temp in the galaxy? :)

I usually run mine on 'Lo' until it's sufficiently chilly then adjust to about 18 for comfort.

Silly question but you did have it aimed at you as opposed the windscreen? :biglaugh:

a) It was more that I felt it didnt have a kick (like now ) so I asked for it to be done again and paid it. To be honest, the garage didn't test it but just did it on my request. Thinking back, maybe I should have got them to check it first.
b) I know what you're saying but the cabin space inside the A6 compared to the A3 Saloon is not that different surprisingly! But my "test" was simply by putting the hand in front of the vents.

I had it on Lo earlier on the way back home - had to keep it on that for almost 6 miles before it was ok to move it back up to 19 where it stayed quiet-ish

[Guest 2]

Mine is ice-cold <19degrees, never had it regassed. Only ever cleaned.

2008/105k, AC is on all the time.

[humphrey999]

Cleaned?? How?

[Guest 2]

Cleaned as in anti-bacterial cleaned, Audi do it. Think they have an offer on at the minute.

Fixed price services < Servicing and MOT < Owners Area < Audi (https://www.audi.co.uk/owners-area/servicing-maintenance-mot/fixed-price-services.html)

Well there you go, says its re-gassed also. Learn something new every day. In that case mine has been regassed twice.


Air conditioning service - £79


Why your air conditioning needs servicing

An air-conditioning system can lose up to 10% of its gas each year, which could mean your system becomes less able to keep you cool and refreshed.

If your air conditioning isn't regularly serviced, it could eventually fail which means that certain parts would need to be replaced. Regular servicing also helps to keep bacteria and odours at bay.


What happens when we service your air conditioning

We recommend servicing your air conditioning every two years. During an air conditioning service we'll drain and recharge the system, check hoses, filters, belts and connections, and make sure the compressor and condenser are working correctly. This will also help maintain the mechanical integrity of the system.

Our technicians will also give your air conditioning system an ultrasonic anti-bacterial and odour treatment, that eliminates microbial, fungal and bacterial contamination.

[humphrey999]

So do Audi use different machines to the proprietary Bosch(or equivalent) units that independents might use?

Also the ultrasonic bit, I don't get that either, I know about ultrasonic water baths for cleaning dental equipment and jewellery and I know about ultrasonic rodent scarers but how do you clean an "air-conditioning system" with ultrasound? I'm assuming that no bacteria or fungus known to man can live in the R34 circulation?

[Guest 2]

No idea, I just get it done if my service falls anytime during the summer months.

It's booked in for the 28th July for its 106k service and getting the aircon done too.

[humphrey999]

So, mine is booked in for a regas for the first time since it was built next week, totally precautionary and to be done at the same time as top front control arms and shocks. The car has done 124k and is an '08 but from the factory the cars don't have UV dye in the circulation so on the presumption that the system will start to leak sometime I may as well have it done (and have the dye added). Also on the premise that 10% leaks every year (a rate I proved with my Volvo when I got it regassed) then it's probably pretty low now anyway...

The Volvo was 6 years old when I got it regassed and only had ~20% R34 remaining but still blew cold.

[apole]

Hi Akash,

AC on mine always blown nice and cold. On a really hot day, when car been in full sun for hours overseas, it takes a bit longer for really cold air to come through as everything so hot but even then soon cools down. I find the A6 AC pretty powerful compared to other cars I've owned, large and small, so could be you have some issue. I'd do as suggested and check the basics first, then maybe take to a specialist who can test and measure things to see if all is well. Could turn out the garage didn't put the right amount of coolant in for your car, and have simply done the same again. A few years back I had a smart car when I had a motorhome, won't name the chain but they had an offer on for full regas £29 and if not better by 10% it was free. Long story short I ended up having to show them where the connectors were and luckily watched them start machine, there were several options for my car and they would have chosen wrong one if I wasn't there. Could be as simple as that.

Regarding cleaning, all I know of is external cleaning of internal heat exchanger. As it gets alot of condensation, good place for bacteria to grow so an anti bac spray is used. I've used this a few times, seems to work well.

Normfest Viro One Shot Plus A/C Treatment 100ml (http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/car-cleaning-accessories/car-interior-cleaners/air-con-cleaner/?NOR2897300100&0&cc5_101)

[Lee82]

mine is really cool even at 22degree and cool air kicks in after 10sec warm up.

[MarkTM]

^^^+1 bought mine from ECP when they had a huge discount last winter and was £1.50...so I bought a few :)

[Akash]

Thanks Apole and the rest of you - I think from the sounds of it, it's borderline ok - I'll book it in the next time I'm up at Audi -
I was at Silverstone yesterday for the grand prix and on leaving, it was really muggy outside but fairly cool. In this environment, you certainly felt the chill from the air con so maybe I'm expecting too much when the car has been sitting in the sun for 6 hours :- )