told by VAG dealer that the aircon is leaking
Thread Starter
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told by VAG dealer that the aircon is leaking
I took my car for an aircon service today but was told they cannot do it as it is leaking gas...
Its quite a lot of money just for them to try and find the fault so i thought i would ask if anybody here can help..
I have also noticed that the ECON button stays lit red, even when i press it ...
Does anybody have any idea what it might be ?
Thanks to anybody who can help.
A6 1.9 TDI awx 2004 model.
Its quite a lot of money just for them to try and find the fault so i thought i would ask if anybody here can help..
I have also noticed that the ECON button stays lit red, even when i press it ...
Does anybody have any idea what it might be ?
Thanks to anybody who can help.
A6 1.9 TDI awx 2004 model.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,277
Likes: 2
From: Toronto
Look, if the mechanic needs to spend time physically looking at the a/c unit to figure out where the leak is, how do you expect people to diagnose remotely without seeing the car?
You will get suggestion for several possible problems, and what are you going to do? Start replacing them one by one?
Get it diagnosed properly, no other way around.
How much does he want for diagnosis?
You will get suggestion for several possible problems, and what are you going to do? Start replacing them one by one?
Get it diagnosed properly, no other way around.
How much does he want for diagnosis?
Tech Guru
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,010
Likes: 192
From: Olney, MD
Look, you probably took the car in for an a/c service because it wasn't getting cold, right?
The econ button staying red is a clue...most likely you have a bad switch...even if the econ light is out (normal ac operation) the system can fail to stay cold, but if it is lit, most likely the switch is bad/failed open (the econ switch opens the circuit to the compressor clutch, i.e., no ac).
Find another shop....there isn't even an indication of a leak so far with what you've told us and it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to hot-wire the compressor clutch to activate the system and see if it gets cold. At that point you may have to replace the climate control unit on the dash or the econ switch if it's separately available.
The econ button staying red is a clue...most likely you have a bad switch...even if the econ light is out (normal ac operation) the system can fail to stay cold, but if it is lit, most likely the switch is bad/failed open (the econ switch opens the circuit to the compressor clutch, i.e., no ac).
Find another shop....there isn't even an indication of a leak so far with what you've told us and it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to hot-wire the compressor clutch to activate the system and see if it gets cold. At that point you may have to replace the climate control unit on the dash or the econ switch if it's separately available.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2011
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Thanks to everybody who has tried to help..
I am from the UK and the dealer wants £65 ( $ 105 ) just to do the diagnosis..
To be truth i only use them as they are only a short distance from my house and i have a good relationship with them..
They are very pricey and if you have a car that is a few years old they dont really have much of a clue as the technicians are quite young and work on mainly the newer models.
I think the best bet is to take it to a VAG specialist to get it checked out properly, there are a few within an hour of where i live and i feel it would be well worth it.
Going back to the ECON switch, i feel that this maybe the issue as this has only just started showing red over the past month or so..
When i get checked i will report back with the results..
I am from the UK and the dealer wants £65 ( $ 105 ) just to do the diagnosis..
To be truth i only use them as they are only a short distance from my house and i have a good relationship with them..
They are very pricey and if you have a car that is a few years old they dont really have much of a clue as the technicians are quite young and work on mainly the newer models.
I think the best bet is to take it to a VAG specialist to get it checked out properly, there are a few within an hour of where i live and i feel it would be well worth it.
Going back to the ECON switch, i feel that this maybe the issue as this has only just started showing red over the past month or so..
When i get checked i will report back with the results..
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From: NE Ohio
Or buy a UV dye kit
I'm going to careful on this one because I'm not sure what you can get over there, I use these kits to locate commercial refrigeration leaks for the past 18yrs when the electronic sniffer and bubble solutions fail and I suspect a coil leak, to start you will need a temporary 134-A charge "this is where you must be careful" not to overcharge freon before a dye injection into the system.
A brief description of this kit would be a UV dye compatible with POE oil,
an adapter with a short hose to the can of dye solution and a UV pen-light,
I have seen them here at our auto parts stores not too expensive compared to my commercial kits.
I'm not sure if you can buy 134-A in a can with the adapter either?
This method would be a cheap DIY to find that leak but keep in mind that you have to be able to access all points of the system in a dark place with the light, I found one on my friends car in the evap without opening the blower HVAC cover by putting hot damp towels on plastic bags on the seats while we ran the AC and sampling the condensate water with dye in it.
A brief description of this kit would be a UV dye compatible with POE oil,
an adapter with a short hose to the can of dye solution and a UV pen-light,
I have seen them here at our auto parts stores not too expensive compared to my commercial kits.
I'm not sure if you can buy 134-A in a can with the adapter either?
This method would be a cheap DIY to find that leak but keep in mind that you have to be able to access all points of the system in a dark place with the light, I found one on my friends car in the evap without opening the blower HVAC cover by putting hot damp towels on plastic bags on the seats while we ran the AC and sampling the condensate water with dye in it.