Audi A4 B8.5 - Air Con gone after 2 months?
Discussion
I recently bought a Audi A4 B8.5 2014 and noticed that the air conditioning was not working, so I took it down to Kwik Fit and they filled it up with gas and told me it's all working fine now. I went home and it was indeed working fine, however yesterday I got the hissing gas noise and I quickly turned it off, I think the gas has depleted again and it's only been two months.
I can't understand how it has stopped working so soon, it's not even a old vehicle, I thought a simple regas should sort it out?
Should I take it back to Kwik Fit to regas again? I understand they give 12 months / 12,000 miles warranty.
I can't understand how it has stopped working so soon, it's not even a old vehicle, I thought a simple regas should sort it out?
Should I take it back to Kwik Fit to regas again? I understand they give 12 months / 12,000 miles warranty.
sounds like a leak in the system somewhere, which will need investigating and fixing before a regas.
Suggest go to a local specialist. I had a similar experience with a Mk V Golf - went to Halfords for a fix, and did not charge for a regas, as this had already been done ( then leaked)
Suggest go to a local specialist. I had a similar experience with a Mk V Golf - went to Halfords for a fix, and did not charge for a regas, as this had already been done ( then leaked)
777GE90 said:
Damn, just my luck.
Anyone know how expensive it is to get this sort of stuff investigated and repaired? Should I take it to a Audi main dealer?
I'm tempted just to get Kwik Fit to regas it once more and then leave it be.
They wont regas a system with a leakAnyone know how expensive it is to get this sort of stuff investigated and repaired? Should I take it to a Audi main dealer?
I'm tempted just to get Kwik Fit to regas it once more and then leave it be.
It needs to be able to pull a vacum
PenelopaPitstop said:
If there's warranty dealership can fix it but only if there's no physical damage to condenser. If it's stone damaged, you will have to pay for it. So it can be cheaper going to specialist. Popular issue with Mercedes.
Just out of warranty by a few months unfortunately. I just looked up the condenser and it seems a common problem on the A3: http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/air-con-conde...I guess my A4's condenser is in the same place and has the same problem, will check later.
t400ble said:
They wont regas a system with a leak
It needs to be able to pull a vacum
Hm, well I actually asked the guy at Kwik Fit a good few times whether I would be charged if it has a leak or not and he told me no. Once the job was done, he came back and said all is fine and I paid. I guess I could go back and ask for a refund?It needs to be able to pull a vacum
777GE90 said:
PenelopaPitstop said:
If there's warranty dealership can fix it but only if there's no physical damage to condenser. If it's stone damaged, you will have to pay for it. So it can be cheaper going to specialist. Popular issue with Mercedes.
Just out of warranty by a few months unfortunately. I just looked up the condenser and it seems a common problem on the A3: http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/air-con-conde...I guess my A4's condenser is in the same place and has the same problem, will check later.
t400ble said:
They wont regas a system with a leak
It needs to be able to pull a vacum
Hm, well I actually asked the guy at Kwik Fit a good few times whether I would be charged if it has a leak or not and he told me no. Once the job was done, he came back and said all is fine and I paid. I guess I could go back and ask for a refund?It needs to be able to pull a vacum
By it's function condensers tend to be in vulnerable positions as their just radiators and require airflow for cooling. Pressure sensors can also fail on these systems as can the compressor itself.
I would take it back to Kwik Fit and ask them to check the gas and see if there is a leak and take it from there.
Get it charged and some UV dye added. Run it and see where the leak is from after a few weeks
If it won't pull any vacuum (ie the leak is huge) then you'll be able to find the leak before adding any gas. Can be charged with nitrogen for leak test purposes.
No need for main dealer involvement until you know the cause of the leak...
If it won't pull any vacuum (ie the leak is huge) then you'll be able to find the leak before adding any gas. Can be charged with nitrogen for leak test purposes.
No need for main dealer involvement until you know the cause of the leak...
Sorry to revive an old thread, but thought I would give an update. I took the car back to Kwik Fit shortly after posting this thread, told them about the problem and they said they'll try to regas it again. The guy came back saying the regas was fine and the car is good to go, I asked why it had stopped working so soon or whether there was a leak, the guy said he doesn't know and guesses they may have not sealed the valve properly (guess he was just making stuff up at that point). So I just shrugged it off and drove away.
So I carried on driving my car and within about another 2 months, the AC stopped working again. At this point, winter was approaching and I didn't see a need to use the AC for a while, having already visited Kwik Fit twice, I just left it.
Now that we are almost coming back into summer with this amazing weather, the car is pretty much unbearable to drive with the windows closed. So I decided to contact Kwik Fit again, I still had one month left of their 12 months warranty. The guy filled up the AC again and this time I told him to put the dye in to see if it leaks. He told me that they usually put the die in first and do a pressure test, if all is ok they just fill the thing up fully.
40 minutes later he came back and said there are no leaks and the job was done.
I am really confused, if I keep being told there is no leaks with the AC but it only lasts 2-3 months, then what is the problem exactly? My friend just bought an 2013 Audi A3 and his has the same problem, the AC was not working so he has just refilled it but guess we'll see how long it lasts.
So I carried on driving my car and within about another 2 months, the AC stopped working again. At this point, winter was approaching and I didn't see a need to use the AC for a while, having already visited Kwik Fit twice, I just left it.
Now that we are almost coming back into summer with this amazing weather, the car is pretty much unbearable to drive with the windows closed. So I decided to contact Kwik Fit again, I still had one month left of their 12 months warranty. The guy filled up the AC again and this time I told him to put the dye in to see if it leaks. He told me that they usually put the die in first and do a pressure test, if all is ok they just fill the thing up fully.
40 minutes later he came back and said there are no leaks and the job was done.
I am really confused, if I keep being told there is no leaks with the AC but it only lasts 2-3 months, then what is the problem exactly? My friend just bought an 2013 Audi A3 and his has the same problem, the AC was not working so he has just refilled it but guess we'll see how long it lasts.
Run it with the dye in. When its leaked (ie stopped working) check with a uv light over the entire system (including up behind the dashboard)
When it stops working have you confirmed the gas has actually gone? Or has it stopped for another reason? Eg if the gas is still present then you might have a compressor or sensor issue etc.
Any competent person with an air con machine and a set of high/low pressure gauges will be able to diagnose this in no time.
2 months is mental, it should last for years without needing a top up. You definitely have an issue somewhere. It's all guesswork from us though without inspecting the car.
When it stops working have you confirmed the gas has actually gone? Or has it stopped for another reason? Eg if the gas is still present then you might have a compressor or sensor issue etc.
Any competent person with an air con machine and a set of high/low pressure gauges will be able to diagnose this in no time.
2 months is mental, it should last for years without needing a top up. You definitely have an issue somewhere. It's all guesswork from us though without inspecting the car.
If it works for a bit after regassing at least that probably means the compressor is ok. They're the most expensive part of the system to replace if it goes wrong!
I would say take it to a proper specialist, or find someone with VCDS to do a scan and see if any fault codes are showing. Hopefully it's something simple to fix...
I would say take it to a proper specialist, or find someone with VCDS to do a scan and see if any fault codes are showing. Hopefully it's something simple to fix...
Not sure where you're based, but http://autoairconditioningltd.co.uk/ in Woking, sorted out a leaking condensor in my 2005 A4 last month. Convenient as he's mobile and comes to you to diagnose / fix the problem.
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