2013 D4 Air Conditioner Issue

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BradC

Ok, this started out as a quick pt post, but it has rapidly grown. Excuse the ramble.

---

Thanks Brad. I need to read that a few times for it to sink into my old brain but I got the gist of it. Since I first raised this thread after a plus 41c day I've had a few other less extreme days. Yesterday was about 35c and the air con was fine set at 20. Today it is about 28 and the air coming out of the vents was cold as normal with a temp setting of 20. I dropped it to 16 to try it out and it was very cold. Bottom line I suppose is I pushed the air con beyond its limits on a really hot day. I was going to take it to an a/c specialist but I will bide my time to see what happens. That said I took on board a previous comment about getting it serviced regularly.

Thanks everyone for all of the comments.

Martin

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by letherm

Bottom line I suppose is I pushed the air con beyond its limits on a really hot day.

---

But that's the thing. There is no such thing as "beyond its limits". There are all sorts of safety mechanisms built in that ensure you can run it as hard as you like and it will run as hard as it considers safe. If it's low on gas it will have a reduced capacity for moving heat, so if it's not keeping up and it hasn't seen a re-gas in a few years the likelihood is could do with one. It's certainly the cheapest place to start.

Last Sunday it hit 46 at our place (per our weather station. car indicated 47 on the dash) and the AC in the D3 handled that nicely. Sure, it only got the cabin down to 30, but between having nice dry air and <10C from the vents it was quite comfortable.

Quote:

---

Sure, it only got the cabin down to 30, but between having nice dry air and <10C from the vents it was quite comfortable.

---

ONLY 30 with a 46c amb? [bighmmm]

Plus, one doesn't need it too cold as the contrast when exiting the vehicle is too great & in turn that can be uncomfortable & with a bit of humidity a 'wet' skin. IMHO you just need a happy balance.

Hi all, I've just replaced the variable valve with out much success. The left passenger vents feels cool at least but the drivers side is warm. I'm assuming I now have a fault with a blend motor not closing fully but how do access this to prove? i'm trying to get the dash apart without much luck. This is on a 2013 D4. any Ideas?

A bit late with an update but here it is. I put the car into our long time local mechanic. Result was that the compressor is not working as well as it should but is still quite serviceable and all parts would be being lubricated as they should be. They did the usual tests looking for leaks and regassed it. It is a bit better but not as quick as when I bought it to start cooling. Reasonably happy with the cooling now and will wait and see. As suggested I will get it serviced yearly until it needs replacing etc.

Martin

If it's lowering the ambient temperature by about 15 degrees it's working normally, I think.

Well this thread has proved to be a useful diagnostic discussion as usual. Over Christmas we had a few warm AC moments mostly when towing through the Adelaide Hills but also when back in Adelaide. Not regular events but noticeable.

Had the car serviced at Sovereign last week in preparation for another trip to WA and asked them to check the AC. Whilst it tested OK and no fault evident with the valve I took the view that preventative maintenance and replacement is better than losing the AC for 3 months in outback WA.

Well the difference in the performance of the AC was immediately a noticeable improvement to the point where 22C we cold rather than "sort of cool"

Car is an MY 15 TDV6 and has travelled 95,000km with most of that towing and around 75% or more off bitumen so AC operating.

So looking forward to several more years of reliable AC operation

Rob

AC is making hot air, first photo is with AC off, second is with it on, any suggestions ? 2010 l320 tdv8
Natrad says its got enough gas but that compressor wasnt kicking in (yet diagnosing at home it appears it is) , could they be wrong about gas level needed, or dead compressor or valve maybe as youd think it would make hot air just from not quite full gas level.

Attachment 181923
Attachment 181924

The compressors are known to fail. Very common.

Those figures would seem to indicate that the compressor is not pumping the refrigerant. I am pretty sure that the compressor is a variable displacement type. These are operated by an internal control valve which do fail. The compressor may or may not be repairarable by replacing this valve.
Cheers
LuckyLes