E250 aircon stopped blowing cold, but why?

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ChrisHGTV

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Location
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E250 Avantgarde Estate, Alfa GTV V6, Vespa, Ducati, many bicycles...
Hello all.

We’ll the S212 E250 has been so well behaved for ages but has thrown a wobly. I think because the Alfa has had more (needed) attention.

Anyway, the aircon has stopped blowing cold. I leave it on auto all the time and its normally ice cold when needed, though generally I have it set at 16 or 17 deg. I looked at the compressor and it seems to spin whether the aircon is on or off, I thought I read it had a clutch type affair and so only spins when on? The climate control lights all seem normal. Just sits on red when on.

I guess it could just be out of gas but anything else I can check before taking it in? I think I read it has to be reset in Star if re-gassed.

Thanks all!
 
Take it to a proper AC place where they know what they're doing - not somewhere that just has a machine like Kwikfit. They will (should) pressure and vacuum test before adding gas with a UV dye.
 
Kwik fit do that too....well they have on my cars.
 
Well of course Halfords can do it,but if there is something wrong then the chances are the bill will be high,I use a specialist air con company and they are good and cheap if there are repairs,I see in Guildford there is Autoair conditioning and they only do car air con,I have no idea if they are any good but any company that only does one thing has to in my opinion know what it is doing
 
Give macaircon a call, he knows his stuff. I've used him in the past and can confirm he's knowlegeable and trustworthy. He keeps you informed and turns up when he says he will.
 
Well of course Halfords can do it,but if there is something wrong then the chances are the bill will be high,I use a specialist air con company and they are good and cheap if there are repairs,I see in Guildford there is Autoair conditioning and they only do car air con,I have no idea if they are any good but any company that only does one thing has to in my opinion know what it is doing
Yes I saw Autoair as well, ill give them a call tomorrow As they’re just up the road. 👍 Cheers.
 
Give macaircon a call, he knows his stuff. I've used him in the past and can confirm he's knowlegeable and trustworthy. He keeps you informed and turns up when he says he will.
Ah thanks, I’ll give him a call. Have a very busy week this week so like the idea of using a mobile service. 👍.
 
You’ll most likely have a constant depression system with no clutch on the front, and a solenoid on the back of the compressor which moves the swash plate . More than likely you are low on gas, either through natural wastage, or worst case a leak. Diagnosis at a specialist is your best bet.
 
Kwik fit do that too....well they have on my cars.
I went to Kwik Fit once - lured in by a cheap a/c regas offer, paid for on line up front. I thought how hard can it be, what could possibly go wrong?
After 3 hours of my life wasted I found out. The place was quiet when I went in - but everyone seemed to be too busy - then connecting to the machine was a feat that only one person could do - then it did not work, try again - and then again. It became clear that this operator knew nothing about a/c systems - would not or could not answer my questions. In the end I gave up, went home and spent half an hour explaining to Kwik Fit CS why I would like a refund.
Found a local a/c specialist, and o boy what a different experience. Talked me through everything, went about it methodically and quickly identified that the problem was a damaged condensor. It is probably why the KF guy could not make the machine work - but he was clueless.
Lesson learned, pay a few quid more and go to an expert who knows what they are doing.
 
If you have something like an iCarsoft that can read system data, check the running pressure with the aircon operating; it should be about 13 bar. If it isn't, the system is low on gas.

The CLS aircon wasn't cooling very well last summer, and for years I've had a Halfords top-up can, replaced when it's emptied. The running pressure was about 10 bar, so out with the can, topped it up to 13 bar, and problem solved. That's natural wastage; if there's a leak, and the pressure soon drops again, then you will need a specialist.
 
I went to Kwik Fit once - lured in by a cheap a/c regas offer, paid for on line up front. I thought how hard can it be, what could possibly go wrong?
After 3 hours of my life wasted I found out. The place was quiet when I went in - but everyone seemed to be too busy - then connecting to the machine was a feat that only one person could do - then it did not work, try again - and then again. It became clear that this operator knew nothing about a/c systems - would not or could not answer my questions. In the end I gave up, went home and spent half an hour explaining to Kwik Fit CS why I would like a refund.
Found a local a/c specialist, and o boy what a different experience. Talked me through everything, went about it methodically and quickly identified that the problem was a damaged condensor. It is probably why the KF guy could not make the machine work - but he was clueless.
Lesson learned, pay a few quid more and go to an expert who knows what they are doing.
Must be luck of the draw. I went to Kwik Fit in Havant....done my ALFA once there, My CLK and my Jeep twice. The guy knew his stuff. Did research about the quantities required as its a common error that the amount specified by the machine is not acurate...it wasn't for my Alfa. The the machine did pressure and vacuum tests and added oil and refrigerant. Done. He talked me through the printout that the machine generated after too. Was more than happy with the service. That said.....! I would only go there for a recharge....not if the AC system had any faults!!! I would think that the combined age of all the staff in there didn't equal mine....and I'm only 55!!
 

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