French Car Forum

Leaks are notoriously hard to localise - even with a dye. It took 4 trips to my dealer before they found the leak (top of the condenser). But shortly after, it crapped out again and needed a new compressor - probably after all the filling and leaking / filling leaking - so probably was short on oil and damaged the compressor.

Hmm noises have returned on and off. Admins: please can you move this thread into the French aircon forum? I didn't see this when I first started it. Thanks!

Although there were several variants of the A/C pipes, I expect that the version you need was used on more than the TCT.

I have on several occasions had A/C hoses for classic cars remade with new flexible sections fitted to old metal ends. The trick is finding someone with the correct crimping tools and the expertise to get everything aligned...

Thanks for reply. Looks like I'll be going for a used compressor. Don't know what I want till I get it off,
Cheers

Is it a chipbox that you can simply disconnect (or adjust), as an experiment?

The car was advertised as chipped by a company in Newquay. I have contacted them and they have no record of chipping carried out before 2009 so I honestly don't know if it has been done or not. I am getting around 600 miles to a tank of normal driving and it does have...

It was a real PITA to remove, but it's done now! If anyone wants to remove the high pressure line, I'd suggest it'd be trivial if you can remove the engine mount. Unfortunately the ram in my engine hoist is shot so I couldn't really do that (I don't like supporting engines by the sump, plus the undertray is still on with no prospect of driving the...

What are you trying to do exactly? You can't open the BSI - there are no user-parts in there apart from the fuses which are on top. It is located in the pasenger compartment glovebox on the C5 X7 - which I assume this is the vehicle you are referring to as you don't say. The BSI is tha main brain of the car - be very careful what you do there or...

The old ones I replaced

Hi David

Will from PPC mag here – we spoke before I bought my 407 Coupé. I also need to change my aircon condenser. Is there a post on removing the front bumper?

If I took the car up to my mate who has a ramp, could I do it without removing the bumper?

Thanks,

Will

It has only been three years, needs time to develop.

As it's been that long I foresee issues with getting the system apart - perhaps further procrastination is the way to go, or of course you could just declare it redundant and buy a hand fan!! :-D

Well done. If you can open up the old module you may well find some solder joins that have failed. If you have a soldering iron you probably can repair the module, and then you have a spare, just in case.

Here's some info on the system that may help you.

Management of the cooling compressor - Air conditioning compressor safety

Air conditioning evaporator icing safety function
To prevent icing up of the air conditioning evaporator, the BSI prohibits triggering of the air conditioning compressor in certain temperature conditions.

The...

I've remember reading 0'40 to 0'60 but I guess it might differ from brand to brand. I recently removed the single shim on my compressor and the clutch gap got very small, but still runs free when not engaged. I have not bothered to measure it..

No you don't have Adblue - that wasn't available on PSA vehicles until 2013.

You do have a Diesel particulate filter though which requires an additive, which is not the same as Adblue.

Adblue is used in vehicles with SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology. SCR is used upstream of the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) to eliminate 90% the...

Be aware that the A/C system will be shut down if any fault is detected in the engine cooling system, such as a faulty fan or speed controller, or even the thermostat heater (if fitted). You really need to get all of the fault codes read for the A/C system and the engine ECU.

Yeah, when I took mine out it pretty much disintegrated in my hands. A condenser is probably easier and cheaper than a compressor at least, if it is that.

The highest output I can see from all the AX alternators is a 90 Amp Alternator in various brands. They go from 50 amp to 90 amp which includes models with air conditioning fitted. So as long as you don't have a load of amplifiers and a recording studio in the back you should be ok.

No I dont have a lot of audio in the car just basic two...

The blower motor is probably faulty then. They do fail and this is one of the symptoms.
How does that work Marc? TBH I can't see how the motor can be faulty and give this symptom.

A motor can only go at the speed dictated by the control unit and this is supposedly set by the control panel. Into that mix you have to add the BSI and, if there's a...

Cheers , I was thinking in that direction. Cheers

Make sure to go to a proper a/c capable garage. Places like Halfords just add gas to the a/c system. Specialists will evacuate and separate the original contents of the a/c system, put a vacuum test (to test for any leaks) on for twenty minutes or so, then add in the oil, U/V dye and refrigerant. The process should typically take an hour or so....

Not familiar with the specifics of the system in that car, but I'm not aware of being able to operate them manually, no.

And if you don't get the system vacuumed down first, you don't know if it is leak free and it it might also have moisture still in it - which is bad news!
So, best to avoid the can refills and get it checked by a specialist, or even a fast fit re-charge place.

Had a chat with my garage mate today about the air-con gas pricing, he tells me that last year he was paying £60 a bottle for the stuff, this year same stuff £340 a bottle.

Thank you

Ok, that makes sense, seems I was overthinking it a bit.

Thanks for the reply, I'll fit the unit and leave the connection loose until I get to the refill station.

I should have said the garage didn't want to get and fit a unit due to the cost - it was almost 700€ over here. The owner didn't want me to feel as though he was ripping me off on charges, the reason why he said if I get the unit he would fit...

I think that the presence of a logged cooling fault has disabled the A/C.

See: for details of a possible fix.

Not overly difficult but you'll more than likely need a special tool to separate the spring lock connector where the metal section connects onto the metal pipe by the inner wing, they aren't expensive or difficult to find, a quick google will reveal all.

Here's an example of the tool

The top panel is clipped to the bumper, I replaced the condenser on my 2009 C5 without removing the bumper, unfortunately I can't recall the exact details as it was a few years ago but IIRc it went in from above.

It got frightened!

My first guess is the compressor clutch or its freewheel bearing.

Or maybe a delaminating dual-mass crankshaft pulley.

Hi BalloonFish, and welcome to the Forum.

That's a clear and detailed description of the problem.

There's a good bit of Citroen service information on the Xantia AC system here (see p.282 onwards; index up front):

The system is designed not to operate if there is insufficient gas in the unit, to prevent damage. Check that it has been...

you need one of the extended motors, I brought one off ebay, part number 6447TK it has an extended spindle, if you look through the thread on the 5th post there is a picture of all 3 types of motor, the brass cog is the new version and the longer spindle is for if the plastic has already broken

if its passenger side remove glove box and its the...

2014 will be a warranty job surely? Take it back till they fix it! Otherwise try another dealer that actually understands AC systems - although if the computer says no, then all bets may be off....!

Ok update so far, at the garage and after 2 hours, have been informed it is the compressor that has gone to Air Con heaven (or Hell in this case). So just waiting for the call regarding Warranty authorisation later today [-o<

When the system was refilled, the pressures should have been checked with the engine running, this would have immediately shown the health of the compressor.

The operation of the fan is (almost certainly) not dependent on the condition of the compressor.

Does the low speed fan come on if you leave the engine idling long enough to heat up the...

As the original poster I thought I would just post a follow up on this thread now that it has been resurrected.
The aircon system has been untouched since my original post and it is still behaving exactly the same and still very cold so it would appear that I have not lost much gas in the intervening period.
Thanks to Daniel for taking the trouble...

This sensor for Dacia Duster works just fine :)

Just to be clear, is the problem.

1. The fans don't turn on inside the car.

2. When you press the ac button nothing happens.

Try setting the system for defrost, as that should automatically bypass the water temperature sensor to narrow things down a little.

Not sure if the problem was the stepper motor , the ecu or the control unit, but the flap was stuck, possibly frozen due to the extreme cold and condensation. I managed to get the motor out, open up the reduction gear and manually turn the cog that moves the flap, I now have heat ! Not pretty , but I don't care, at least I can drive the car to...

Hi All,

Well put 4 pin relay in and the fans are working. Left fan a bit sticky will require some lubrication.

Yep that's true, had it myself. Is the external temperature reading correctly?

Peter

Forgot to mention: on my compressor at least, the clutch bearing is not adjustable - its a preloaded double row angular contact job. Any wear at all and it will develop play.

Well, I don't know what happened to my post. So oil continue here.

Exactly where it always was Shaun

Here:

Locking this one, revert to the original topic please :)