Air Con - Big Con ?

Marauder

Marauder

Free Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2020
Posts
331
Likes collected
205
Location
S.Yorks
Funster No
77,809
MH
Adria Compact SP
Exp
20 yr
So it was hot weather and I pressed the button marked 'Do not press this button'

( It had a little frosty symbol on it ) but nothing happened !

I was expecting a chilly blast .... but apart from no chilly blast, what else might tell me if the unit is actually functioning or not ?
 
Engine revs should rise and you should hear or note an additional motor spin-up - this will be the air-con compressor. It can take a little time for it to be "cold".
 
Do you mean cabin air con from engine or separate habitation air con?

If latter are you on hook up? Most only work off mains power
 
Turn heating controls to minimum. Fan to max and switch on the aircon. As above, engine will hopefully power the system and you will get a blast of cold air. Not cool, cold.
 
If its the cab aircon and you have been driving the van a lot with it turned off its probably :swear2:.
Vehicle aircon needs to be run on every journey at least for part of the time otherwise the seals dry out and it can be very expensive to fix.

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Just for info..
Mine in the car gave up last year, was warmer inside that out..
As it takes the more expensive gas and getting quoted £120 + ish I put it off till this year.

Bit the bullet 2 weeks ago and bought a DIY regas kit £60. Seems to have done the job as its now cold again. (y)
Lots of videos on youtube about this and ways to check things ie like engine note change to show compressor is working.
BUT If your unsure go to a garage..

Thompsons Ltd | Aircon

Aircon
www.thompsonsltd.co.uk www.thompsonsltd.co.uk
 
Might not even be air con, could be the traction control 'snow mode'
You should be able to hear the air con kick in if its working
 
Mine stopped working in April, a bit of soapy water soon bubbled up around a joint on the condensor, all the gas as gone. I fitted a new condensor and had a mobile guy check it and re gas. This was a good move as it was 40c when we passed through Bordeaux last week.
 
Marauder said:
So it was hot weather and I pressed the button marked 'Do not press this button'

( It had a little frosty symbol on it ) but nothing happened !

I was expecting a chilly blast .... but apart from no chilly blast, what else might tell me if the unit is actually functioning or not ?
Click to expand...
It may help if you tell us where the button is situated

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DashAirCon.jpg

I think I mean cab air - its the only one in this van.

Its the button between the dials as in the photo. I'm guessing this is A/C not traction ?

Lenny, I've never even tried it before, & owned the van abt 1 yr now. (I'm only trying it now cos you suggested that I use MH rather than SORN- great advice: thanks - still not sure why I didnt think of it !!!!)

Going north this week, but south at end of month, that's when I might need it more.
 
Aircon only works if fan is running.. also looks like a small light on switch, does this light when Button pressed and fan turned on
 
Set heater to cold, fan on 1, air vent to face, start engine, push button in, light should come on, a small click cold air in about 60 seconds. If all is well

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pagey said:
Are you turning the fan on
Click to expand...

poppycamper said:
Aircon only works if fan is running..
Click to expand...
To overcome those who failed to understand the fsn operating was necessary most companies changed to the system whereby when you press the ac button the fan automatically starts even if the fan switch is off.
 
gus-lopez said:
To overcome those who failed to understand the fsn operating was necessary most companies changed to the system whereby when you press the ac button the fan automatically starts even if the fan switch is off.
Click to expand...
hi gus on our kia it dont and im sure it dont on my 2017 ducato
 
We leave the air con on all the time, can be expensive if the seals dry out. Doesn’t seem to affect the mpg, drove from Devon to Keswick yesterday, still gave 38mpg at an average 57mph (boxer PVC).
 
I will just mention that in our previous van which had controls like yours the A/C had never been connected from new. We hadn’t realised but picked the van up and took it to eddievanbitz the following month to have the alarm etc fitted and it was them who said that you do realise your A/C doesn’t work. It was April so we’d not actually tried it. Had a right old palver getting it fixed under warranty before our trip to France because it had so called been checked before handover. There was a piece missing in the end so it could never have worked!

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gus-lopez said:
To overcome those who failed to understand the fsn operating was necessary most companies changed to the system whereby when you press the ac button the fan automatically starts even if the fan switch is off.
Click to expand...
Not on my car or Motorhome.
philann said:
We leave the air con on all the time, can be expensive if the seals dry out. Doesn’t seem to affect the mpg, drove from Devon to Keswick yesterday, still gave 38mpg at an average 57mph (boxer PVC).
Click to expand...
Perminantly on in our car & Motorhome.
 
Marauder said:
View attachment 635887
I think I mean cab air - its the only one in this van.

Its the button between the dials as in the photo. I'm guessing this is A/C not traction ?

Lenny, I've never even tried it before, & owned the van abt 1 yr now. (I'm only trying it now cos you suggested that I use MH rather than SORN- great advice: thanks - still not sure why I didnt think of it !!!!)

Going north this week, but south at end of month, that's when I might need it more.
Click to expand...
As others have said try turning the fan on the button should be illuminated and turn the dial on the right to face and feet, not quite sure of the position it’s in but if it’s just the windscreen or defrost often they won’t work.

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DBK said:
I'm another who has it on all the time. In winter demisting is much better with A/C as it dehumidifies the air.
Click to expand...
Tends not to work bellow 6 degrees. But agree at other times helps with de-misting.
 
The AC on our 21 yr old van doesn’t work mainly because the unit is perished-needs a new one!
AC on the car is good but as it’s only a small engine it tends to knock the acceleration a bit!
We aren’t bothered too much about AC!
 
When you switch on the aircon on the dash, you should hear a clonk as the compressor under the bonnet activates by an electric clutch within its pulley. No clonk, no aircon. Shortly after that, the radiator fan should turn on to cool the condenser, a second “radiator”in front of the engine cooling rad. After that, you should see “dew” (condensation) forming on the metal (usually aluminium) pipes from the condenser and the compressor. If you’ve had the “clonk” and the fan but no dew, you’ve probably lost gas. A stonechip into the condenser behind the rad grill is enough to cause a leak. A leak can be revealed by UV dye added to the gas and checked under UV light. Hope this helps.
 
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I very rarely use the aircon but during one of the recent hotspots we tried it and obviously when needed no cold aiir and no light on the a/c button. The van was due for servicing so mentioned it to the garage who said they’d regas it and check the fuse. Result still no a/c and no button light and as normal in warm weather traveling with the windows open 😎
 
Alan said:
I very rarely use the aircon but during one of the recent hotspots we tried it and obviously when needed no cold aiir and no light on the a/c button. The van was due for servicing so mentioned it to the garage who said they’d regas it and check the fuse. Result still no a/c and no button light and as normal in warm weather traveling with the windows open 😎
Click to expand...
Unfortunately it's the old adage " use it, or lose it".

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