AC (Aircon) - Is it any good?

Did these mk7s have decent aircon, mines very poor, I do like to open the windows generally but somedays I just want the AC to be ice cold, and it just isn't. Feedback would be great
Thanks

Mine gets very cold, even with 2/3 of the condenser being mashed in by stones/insects/debris.
There is a self diagnostic for the aircon unit that may help with fault finding.

start by checking to see if the compressor clutch relay is working, and also if the compressor clutch itelf is ok
you don't need the key in the ignition to do that, just a piece of wire http://typeaccord.co.uk/forum/topic/10382-diagnosing-aircon-problems/

if the compressor clutch and relay are ok, most probably it's low on refrigerant gas (or a perished condenser). The system on the diesel car has a pressure sensor, but the system on the petrol cars only has a pressure switch. So the inbuilt diagnostic on the diesel car gives the actual gas pressure, but not the petrol cars. Here is one of my many posts about the inbuilt diagnostic system http://typeaccord.co.uk/forum/topic/21770-blowing-hot-and-cold-air/?p=230336

Thanks guys. Ive researched into it and halfords wont charge if there is no improvement in the aircon temp. Most companies use the same machine now which does not fill the system if it detects a leak. So ill walk out without spending a penny and can diagnose from there or I'll spend £30 but come out with cool fresh aircon
Will report back

The machines used by these autocentres only do a vacuum check, and a vacuum is -1 Bar. But most leaks occur at dry o-rings in the pipework, usually somewhere in the piping between compressor and evaporator, where the pressure is as high as +15 Bar i.e. the vacuum test is not a conclusive test. The reason why the o-rings dry out is because there is oil throughout the piping but the system has not been run for a long time so the seals dry out. Your car is 2004, not sure how long you've had it or how long it's been since the system was running, but on a car that's 12 years old, the compressor and condenser and o-rings will only be ok if the system has been run and regularly serviced continually for the last 12 years.

So what happens is that the piping passes the vacuum test, they put the gas in, then when the compressor starts up and cold air blows out of the vents, you drive away satisfied, and a couple of days later there is no cold air because the gas has leaked out at an o-ring under pressure.

The other thing that can happen as well, is that they test and refill as above, but there is no cold air, either because the compressor does not run, or because the condenser is perished.

Best thing to do is to use the links in #3 to check the compressor clutch and the temperature sensors. If the compressor clutch is working, then the system should blow cold air when they refill it. Halfords Autocentre will also put in UV dye, so if/when the gas leaks out, someone with a UV light can find the leak.

Is the Halfords machine the same as the one Honda dealers use?

is there a clause in the franchise T&C's with Honda UK that says what equipment a Honda franchised dealer has to have in their garage ?

freddofrog said:

is there a clause in the franchise T&C's with Honda UK that says what equipment a Honda franchised dealer has to have in their garage ?

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That's not what I'm asking.

A few posters in the past have suggested that the machines Honda use are different from the Halfords machines. I dunno if that is true.

TheJamMod said:

That's not what I'm asking.

A few posters in the past have suggested that the machines Honda use are different from the Halfords machines. I dunno if that is true.

Click to expand...

my point is that Honda dealers are franchised to Honda UK, and in the franchise agreement there will be T&Cs and so it depends on what the T&Cs are as to whether Honda dealers have to have certain types of equipment. It's very probable that it's up to the dealer to buy whatever specialist aircon equipment that they want, so I reckon that Honda dealers can have aircon equipment from the basic stuff right the way through to having top end equipment that can measure the running gas pressures, and when they need to do the latter but only have basic stuff, they probably outsource.

Mine is very cold so you may have low gas.