Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: spikerz on 23 June 2009, 21:35:47

Title: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: spikerz on 23 June 2009, 21:35:47
Just recently bought my second omega,the air con blows air when i press the switch but its not cold at all.Is there anything i can check,relays etc.and which ones?I read about fans that should go on at the radiator,quite sure nothing is happening there.I dont want to just take it to be re gassed in case its more than just that needed.cheers.
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: TheBoy on 23 June 2009, 21:41:23
is the ac clutch engaging? if not, most likely low pressure
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: spikerz on 23 June 2009, 21:47:02
sorry,how do i check this,where is it?
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: Welung666 on 23 June 2009, 21:52:24
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sorry,how do i check this,where is it?

If you stand in front of the car with the engine running and the AC switched on, you're looking for the very bottom right pulley. If the nuts in the centre are turning the clutch is engaging, if not then you have a pressure problem and it needs to go for a pressure test and re-gas :y
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: TheBoy on 23 June 2009, 21:52:37
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sorry,how do i check this,where is it?
On the compressor, the middle bit of pulley should spin with the pulley
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: puffa on 23 June 2009, 21:54:59
Take it to a specialist aircon place for a regas and service should cost around £50 and they will diagonse any faults / leaks etc. and if it just needs gas then it will be done.

where are you, your avatar doesnt say!

Steve
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: Turk on 23 June 2009, 22:02:37
Ideally it's a case of looking at the front of the air con compressor pulley, if the outer section is turning with the belt and the centre section is stationary then it's low on pressure and may just need a re-gas.
It's designed to not engage if low pressure (or if outside temp is below 5c degrees) to avoid damage to the A/C system.
You may be able to tell if it's engaging by watching the revs at idle and turning on the A/C. If the revs drop slightly then raise it means the compressor is kicking in and is putting a load on the belt.
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: spikerz on 23 June 2009, 22:43:08
well i think i have found one slight problem.there' no belt on the compressor pulley!and by the rust on the pulley it looks like its been missing for a while.i'm in Perth,Scotland Steve.
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: Entwood on 23 June 2009, 22:49:33
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well i think i have found one slight problem.there' no belt on the compressor pulley!and by the rust on the pulley it looks like its been missing for a while.i'm in Perth,Scotland Steve.

Probably means the compresor is FUBAR and the previous onwer has fitted a short belt rather than repair/replace it. To fix from an air con specialist is going to be around £800 - £1000 .. :(.

You might be able to change the compressor yourself, and just have a regas .. but if the system has been left empty for a long time there might be corrosion problems internaly  :(
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: spikerz on 23 June 2009, 23:06:45
What do you mean 'fitted a short belt'?
Although i can do basic mechanics my brother's a mechanic with his own garage so no problems with replacing bits.
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: Turk on 23 June 2009, 23:20:00
A shorter belt, to run around everything else, but missing out the A/C compressor.
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: spikerz on 23 June 2009, 23:31:16
There's a  pulley (lower,middle) parallel to the one i think is the compressor(bottom left if you are looking from the front of the car?) without a belt and the same surface rust.i thought the belt was missing from these?
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: dbug on 24 June 2009, 01:13:04
To check if a/c compressor clutch ok disconnect electrical plug from compressor.  Put 12v battery directly across compressor terminals (maintaining correct polarity) - if clutch ok you will hear it engage with a clonk.  No noise, compressor breaked!
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: spikerz on 24 June 2009, 10:58:44
can you tell me the correct polarity?wires on plug are brown and black/white.
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: spikerz on 24 June 2009, 12:56:23
found out the correct polarity so tested and yes there's a clonk so possibly ok there.should there be power coming through the connector plug when air con switched on?
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: littleimp on 24 June 2009, 13:09:57
He might have removed belt on purpose for better fuel economy?

When you switch the climate control on auto is switches the air-con on by default, if you don't want it on you then have to press econ to switch it off.
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: dbug on 24 June 2009, 19:11:38
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found out the correct polarity so tested and yes there's a clonk so possibly ok there.should there be power coming through the connector plug when air con switched on?

As the ac clutch is engaging most likely low gas pressure ie needs regassing.  Suggest fit correct aux belt and get aircon specialist to check/regass.
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 24 June 2009, 20:08:54
when you go for a specialist ask for a gas including a dye.. very useful for finding leaks..
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: spikerz on 24 June 2009, 20:31:04
i'll get a belt on it and take it to get re gassed.thanks to everyone for your help.great site!
Title: Re: air con not working what can i check first?
Post by: Derek_in_Penzance on 25 June 2009, 10:59:31
It is important to use the a/c regularly, even in winter. Otherwise the seals can dry out and let refrigerant escape. Unless the refrigerant is circulated maybe once a week corrosion can set in in the condenser etc. The usual reason for a/c systems not working is that the refrigerant has leaked out, and/or the compressor is'nt working. That may be because the clutch is broken, it is switched off by one of the safety switches, there's fault in the electrics, or even a sheared shaft. Also check that the fans are working properly in front of the condenser, switching on and off when they are supposed to,  as good cooling inside the car depends on an efficient transfer of heat  from the hot gas when it reaches the condenser, so that it rapidly cools back to a  liquid.

(I think -correct me if I'm wrong!)