Air Conditioning & Over Heating Problem
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 143
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From: Greensboro, NC
Air Conditioning & Over Heating Problem
I have recently been experience some air conditioning problems, while idling for more 2 – 3 minutes. My air condition blows cold air once the car is moving but it gradually fades to warm ambient air, whenever the car is parked. I can hear the A/C compressor engage for a few seconds, when ilding then it shuts off. On one occasion, my temperature gauge rising, while idling with the air condition running on a 95 degree day. However, I checked under hood and I noticed that only one of the radiator fans seem to be spinning (the belt driven fan) with the A/C on.
I have let the car idle for 10 -15 minutes without A/C and the temperature gauge did not rise. I decided to try it with the A/C on and the temperature gauge did not rise. I am not sure when the other fan should engage or if it is linked to my A/C or temperature gauge rising problem. I have checked A/C fuse and the coolant level, which seems to be above the minimum mark. I am pretty new to world of Audis’ and I would appreciate any advice to diagnose this problem.
I have let the car idle for 10 -15 minutes without A/C and the temperature gauge did not rise. I decided to try it with the A/C on and the temperature gauge did not rise. I am not sure when the other fan should engage or if it is linked to my A/C or temperature gauge rising problem. I have checked A/C fuse and the coolant level, which seems to be above the minimum mark. I am pretty new to world of Audis’ and I would appreciate any advice to diagnose this problem.
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Redmond WA
Secondary fan should run all the time with AC on (not economy mode).
Does the secondary fan ever run?
Either a fuse has blown, the wire to the fan is cut, the switch in the radiator is kaput or the fan itself is bad.
I would put the car into service position and check to see if you have 12 volts at the fan.If you do the fan is the problem if not trace it back.
I think the switch in the radiator is a two way switch, so either the high temp will turn it on or a signal from the AC will.
With the AC off your car should be able to idle at normal temp with just the viscous fan. Normal ambient outside temps not "death valley". If it doesn't the viscous fan coupling clutch may be done.
Does the secondary fan ever run?
Either a fuse has blown, the wire to the fan is cut, the switch in the radiator is kaput or the fan itself is bad.
I would put the car into service position and check to see if you have 12 volts at the fan.If you do the fan is the problem if not trace it back.
I think the switch in the radiator is a two way switch, so either the high temp will turn it on or a signal from the AC will.
With the AC off your car should be able to idle at normal temp with just the viscous fan. Normal ambient outside temps not "death valley". If it doesn't the viscous fan coupling clutch may be done.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 143
Likes: 5
From: Greensboro, NC
No, I have not seen the second fan engage with the A/C on. The car idles great without the A/C and the temperature gauge doesn't seem to rising. I have checked the fuses in the interior panel on the driver's side, but I couldn't find a fuse that controls the fans.
Is there another fuse box somewhere in the engine bay? How do I put the car in service position?
Is there another fuse box somewhere in the engine bay? How do I put the car in service position?
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Joined: Jun 2009
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Small 10 Year old engine! Getting yout A/c serviced might be a good start. Owning a V6 or V8, we dont have this problem. Just kidding. On hot days you might have to drive a few minutes before it gets nice and cold. The big engines can get cold pretty fast, and on even while on idle. If your worried about high temps, as long as your not over half way, your good because we Audi's run hot! Its cold in Germany.
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Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Evanston, IL
Note that the temp gauge is "controlled" (by the ECU or elsewhere), which means that it doesn't show much fluctuation once it gets up to operating temp at the halfway point - recall that it's at halfway winter or summer, even in extreme environments like Chicago. If the engine overheats, then it will go over half (and may be too late), but you will not see very much variation in normal operation.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,138
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From: Redmond WA
No, I have not seen the second fan engage with the A/C on. The car idles great without the A/C and the temperature gauge doesn't seem to rising. I have checked the fuses in the interior panel on the driver's side, but I couldn't find a fuse that controls the fans.
Is there another fuse box somewhere in the engine bay? How do I put the car in service position?
Is there another fuse box somewhere in the engine bay? How do I put the car in service position?
Remove the belly pan, remove the lower grills, remove bolts/ screws from core support. Take out the long vertical bumper bolts.Re-insert the bolts back in horizontally and pull the bumper forward letting it hang on the bolts.
Gives about 9 inches more working space.
APR has a write up of how to fit a snub mount, you don't need to drain the fluids or pull the front off completely. Just free up some space.
http://www.goapr.com/support/snub_mount.pdf
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 143
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From: Greensboro, NC
Thanks for all of your help! I'll use the APR write up as visual guide for removing the bumper. Yes, I have purchase a Bentley manual last week since I figured it would come in handy. The manual mentions that more fuses are contained in an auxiliary fuse panel, but I can seem to find its location. I think this panel may contain a fuse for the fans.Can anyone point me in the right direction?
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AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jul 2009
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Strange Air con problem on 97 A8 4.2 - Can anyone help
Hi
When I am running in a straight line in my A8 the air con seems to stutter on an off. It sems to do this irrespective of setting/temp/econ etc.
If I go around a right hand bend (even a gentle one) the fan stops. if I go around a left hand bend it starts working on full again.....then back to intermittant when tyhe road sraightens up again...
has anyone any ideas please. I am not sure how long it has been doing this as it's usually ticking over on auto in the background but I only realised it was doing this due today when putting it on full fan/LO today as we are having a heatwave.
I had to drive around in anticlockwise circles all day to keep cool....
Any help as to where to look would be great. Thanks in anticipation
Kind regards
Shaun
When I am running in a straight line in my A8 the air con seems to stutter on an off. It sems to do this irrespective of setting/temp/econ etc.
If I go around a right hand bend (even a gentle one) the fan stops. if I go around a left hand bend it starts working on full again.....then back to intermittant when tyhe road sraightens up again...
has anyone any ideas please. I am not sure how long it has been doing this as it's usually ticking over on auto in the background but I only realised it was doing this due today when putting it on full fan/LO today as we are having a heatwave.
I had to drive around in anticlockwise circles all day to keep cool....
Any help as to where to look would be great. Thanks in anticipation
Kind regards
Shaun
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From: Las Vegas
i had exactly this problem, it turned out that my aux fan had packed in. took it to a garage and they wanted nearly $1000 and claimed it would take 4-6 hours. i did it myself took me less than an hour the only thing i had to remove to get full access to it was the skid plate. i just used a ratchet with a philips head bit to get the 1 screw at the top left twisted and lifted, this took all of about 2 minutes, the rest of the time was spent un routing the cable