Air Conditioning Problem

[GSD]

My son and daughter-in-law have recently bought a 53 reg C3 but when driving it during the recent warm weather they realised that the aircon isn't working, either in auto mode or when this is switched off. Worse than that the system seems to be trying to heat the car even when the auto temperature setting is below the outside ambient temperature. Has anyone any ideas as to what could be causing this?

[flitwick]

My son and daughter-in-law have recently bought a 53 reg C3 but when driving it during the recent warm weather they realised that the aircon isn't working, either in auto mode or when this is switched off. Worse than that the system seems to be trying to heat the car even when the auto temperature setting is below the outside ambient temperature. Has anyone any ideas as to what could be causing this?

Sounds like it could do with re gasing i would run the car see if there is a trickle of water under the car this is a good way to see if the refridgerator unit is working if you have just brought it from a dealer to get it fixed the climate control wont work properly if there isnt any gas in the aircon a service for this is £70 at a main dealer so its worth shopping around

[iannez]

just listen for the compresor clutch to kick in when air con is turned on. (loud click from pully area)

if you look through the lower grill on the front bumper you will see the bottom of the condensor (ac radiator) the pipe that goes into the bottom left hand side of it has most probs corroded where it enters the condensor and is leaking. common on c3's

[Guest CE05LDB]

Now every couple of months on My C3 my Digital Air Con runs when the engine is not running. It goes off after about half hour. I told my dealer when it went in for a service and they were going to take a look. Its no big deal but I though I ask while I was there.

[stimulator]

For the aircon to run the engine cooling fan must be running. On the C3 with CC this starts automatically. If there is a problem with the fan then the aircon will run but only for a few moments as the condenser which is located in front of the engine rad will overheat and the system will de-clutch and shut OFF. check by looking under the front bumper when the a/c is selected ON

 

If the fan runs when you select ON then the next failure point could be loss of refridgerant due to LACK of use by the previous owner. This is a probnlem with aircon, it has to be used even in the winter to ensure that the rubber seals in the unit do not dry out. The lubricant is contained in the refridgerant and a sthe unit runs it lubs the system.

 

Does the dash display show the correct outside air temp. the sensor signal goes to the CC brain to control it

 

There are two small grills on the dash in the centre. Insdie one of these is a small fan that samples the cabin air temp and blows it across a thermistor which signals the brain that the car has reached the required temp. If this is full of dust it will not work.

 

can you hear the aircon compressor clucth engaging when the A/C is switched ON.

 

CEO5LDb when you say that your system runs when the engine is not running will not produce cold air a sthe compressor is driven by the engine. The problem here appears to be that the car brain is trying to get the heater to cool /heat the car although the a.c is dead.

[Guest CE05LDB]

Dealer said its most probably be something to do with the software as when the screen was on while the engine was not running and there was noise in the engine and air coming out I would start the car and it was stay the same even my dimister for the raer window wouldn't work. Like I said after half hour it would knock off.

 

I think the dealer have done it now. I wasn't really bothered anyway it was no major deal compare to what some people have.

[raveydavey]

Dealer said its most probably be something to do with the software as when the screen was on while the engine was not running and there was noise in the engine and air coming out I would start the car and it was stay the same even my dimister for the raer window wouldn't work. Like I said after half hour it would knock off.

 

I think the dealer have done it now. I wasn't really bothered anyway it was no major deal compare to what some people have.

 

There are known problems with the A/C on C3's and Citroen have modified several A/C components in an attempt to sort this.

 

I've got an 03 HDi Desire, so manual A/C rather than C/C but it has already failed twice. First time it was still under warranty so was sorted at the dealers. Second time was about 6 months after the warranty had expired.

Citroen and the dealer I took the car to initially didn't want to know and it took a lot of messing about on my behalf to get that decision partially reversed.

I was told that the parts that had failed this time were different to the parts that had failed initially and the car was out of warranty meaning the full cost was down to me. I even had a load of guff from the dealer telling me that "perhaps you've used up all the gas"!?!?!?!?!?!

 

It was only due to my preseverence and contacts within the motor trade that I managed to establish that it was the same components that had failed (fractured pipe) both times, but that a new superceded part was now supplied by Citroen to replace it. The fact the part had been modified and superceded indicated to me that this was a problem that was known about - why change it otherwise?

Eventually Citroen agreed to pay for the parts if I agreed to pay for the labour - I'm not entirely happy with that solution but it's better than nothing which is what Citroen offered initially. I'm also less than impressed with the fact that both Citroen and the dealer lied / mislead me about the failed parts.

 

It seems Citroen A/C isn't especially robust - I ran a Nissan before this for 3 years where the A/C worked 100% of the time, no problems and I have a colleague with an 8 year old Honda who has never touched the A/C other than to turn it on or off and has had no problems with it either. Depending who you speak to at Citroen apparently you need an annual / bi-annual A/C service on your car?

[GSD]

There are known problems with the A/C on C3's and Citroen have modified several A/C components in an attempt to sort this.

 

I've got an 03 HDi Desire, so manual A/C rather than C/C but it has already failed twice. First time it was still under warranty so was sorted at the dealers. Second time was about 6 months after the warranty had expired.

Citroen and the dealer I took the car to initially didn't want to know and it took a lot of messing about on my behalf to get that decision partially reversed.

I was told that the parts that had failed this time were different to the parts that had failed initially and the car was out of warranty meaning the full cost was down to me. I even had a load of guff from the dealer telling me that "perhaps you've used up all the gas"!?!?!?!?!?!

 

It was only due to my preseverence and contacts within the motor trade that I managed to establish that it was the same components that had failed (fractured pipe) both times, but that a new superceded part was now supplied by Citroen to replace it. The fact the part had been modified and superceded indicated to me that this was a problem that was known about - why change it otherwise?

Eventually Citroen agreed to pay for the parts if I agreed to pay for the labour - I'm not entirely happy with that solution but it's better than nothing which is what Citroen offered initially. I'm also less than impressed with the fact that both Citroen and the dealer lied / mislead me about the failed parts.

 

It seems Citroen A/C isn't especially robust - I ran a Nissan before this for 3 years where the A/C worked 100% of the time, no problems and I have a colleague with an 8 year old Honda who has never touched the A/C other than to turn it on or off and has had no problems with it either. Depending who you speak to at Citroen apparently you need an annual / bi-annual A/C service on your car?

 

I'm pleased to say that all the C3 needed was a regas. The aircon is working fine now. Ma\ny thanks to everyone for their helpful comments. GSD

[GSD]

I'm pleased to say that all the C3 needed was a regas. The aircon is working fine now. Ma\ny thanks to everyone for their helpful comments. GSD

 

Bad news - the C3s aircon has failed again. The compressor runs when the aircon is switched on and stops when the aircon is switched off, but there is absolutely no chill. In addition one of the pipes to/from the compressor is actually hot to the touch, and there seems to be an unusual hissing type noise coming from or behind the air vents on the dashboard. Obviously we've switched the aircon off until it can be repaired, but has anybody any idea about what the problem might be? Many thanks, GSD.

[stimulator]

The pipesm going to and from the compressor will be hot. One is the return from the evaporator and it picks up heat. The other is the compressor outlet, when you compressor anything it gets HOT. The condensor on the front of the car is what cools it down. the pipe going to the interior will be cold, this runs down the driver side of the engine bay.

 

My A/C failed two weeks ago and the dealer fixed under warranty, they said it was the 2nd stage relay, which I assume runs the engine coolant fan which also passes air thru the condensor which is co-located with the car rad, and must be cooled when ever the a/c is ON. The pipe to the interior wa sHOT on mine under this condition.

[robertmdyer]

The pipesm going to and from the compressor will be hot. One is the return from the evaporator and it picks up heat. The other is the compressor outlet, when you compressor anything it gets HOT. The condensor on the front of the car is what cools it down. the pipe going to the interior will be cold, this runs down the driver side of the engine bay.

 

My A/C failed two weeks ago and the dealer fixed under warranty, they said it was the 2nd stage relay, which I assume runs the engine coolant fan which also passes air thru the condensor which is co-located with the car rad, and must be cooled when ever the a/c is ON. The pipe to the interior wa sHOT on mine under this condition.

 

I have recently bought my car and noticed that my feet were always getting warm, yesterday I sat in the passenger seat while my wife was driving and again my feet were getting very hot even though there was no heat on.

 

When I felt the pipes at the front of the car in the centre console footwell, they were very hot, the pipes on the drivers side were also very hot. I have auto a/c and it was not switched on, is this normal??

 

I have never had this on any car before and my last three all have a/c.

[GSD]

I have recently bought my car and noticed that my feet were always getting warm, yesterday I sat in the passenger seat while my wife was driving and again my feet were getting very hot even though there was no heat on.

 

When I felt the pipes at the front of the car in the centre console footwell, they were very hot, the pipes on the drivers side were also very hot. I have auto a/c and it was not switched on, is this normal??

 

I have never had this on any car before and my last three all have a/c.

 

To bring things up-to-date I asked our friendly local aircon specialist to take a look at the C3 and he said that as only 2 bar of pressure remained in the system this was pretty clear evidence of a leak. However as a UV dye hadn't been added when the system was last regassed he wasn't able to detect where the leak was.

 

He confirmed that it was industry standard for a UV dye to be added when a system was regassed and that we should therefore take the car back to the local Citroen garage that did the previous regas in May. This was because a regass plus dye was necessary now to enable the source of the leak to be detected which would be completely wasted when the repairs were made.

 

As the original invoice for the regas in May does say that a dye was added and that no evidence of a leak was found it will be interesting to see what they find next week. GSD

[stimulator]

Just a few observations made over the last two days in my C3 with climate control.

 

Day 1

Outside air temp (OAT) 15C, interior set to 21.5C.

Floor vent suppling hot above body temp) air, face vents supplying supplying warm/cool air. Interior fan speed half a blade.

 

Day 2

OAT 22C. Interior set at 21.5C

Floor vent suppling cold air, face vents supplying cool/cold air. Interiro fan speed one and a half blades.

 

These conditions resulted in a comfortable interior on both days.

[Guest roy collingwood]

Just a few observations made over the last two days in my C3 with climate control.

 

Day 1

Outside air temp (OAT) 15C, interior set to 21.5C.

Floor vent suppling hot above body temp) air, face vents supplying supplying warm/cool air. Interior fan speed half a blade.

 

Day 2

OAT 22C. Interior set at 21.5C

Floor vent suppling cold air, face vents supplying cool/cold air. Interiro fan speed one and a half blades.

 

These conditions resulted in a comfortable interior on both days.

 

 

I take it thats on 'auto a/c' ?

 

roy

[stimulator]

Just a few observations made over the last two days in my C3 with climate control.

 

 

 

yes climate control another word for auto a/c

[GSD]

To bring things up-to-date I asked our friendly local aircon specialist to take a look at the C3 and he said that as only 2 bar of pressure remained in the system this was pretty clear evidence of a leak. However as a UV dye hadn't been added when the system was last regassed he wasn't able to detect where the leak was.

 

He confirmed that it was industry standard for a UV dye to be added when a system was regassed and that we should therefore take the car back to the local Citroen garage that did the previous regas in May. This was because a regass plus dye was necessary now to enable the source of the leak to be detected which would be completely wasted when the repairs were made.

 

As the original invoice for the regas in May does say that a dye was added and that no evidence of a leak was found it will be interesting to see what they find next week. GSD

 

The local Citroen garage did kindly agreed to regas the C3's aircon FoC and found a leak coming from the junction between the high pressure pipe and the bottom connection to the condenser, where it's very exposed to muck etc. being thrown up from the road. They said that this might just need a new seal but that past experience had shown that the pipework at this point can corrode. The difficulty with this is that Citroen only supply the high pressure and low pressure aircon pipes and seals as one complete unit costing around £88 so it's not possible to simply replace a defective section of pipe. As a result the cost of replacing the entire aircon pipework and then regassing the system would have been around £285, including about two hours of labour.

 

As a result our friendly local aircon specialist said that the would first try to replace the seal on its own, but having done this and then pressure tested the system it was clear that the leak was from the pipe itself rather than the seal. This meant that we then needed to purchase a complete set of aircon pipes for the C3. However rather than installing these as one unit, which would have been fairly difficult and quite time consuming, the aircon specialist decided to simply cut off the small section of new pipe and connecting bracket that we needed, did the same with the pipework already installed, and then attached the new pipework and bracket to the remainder of the existing pipework using an alloy compression joint. He then joined this to the bottom condenser bracket in the normal way, pressure tested and regassed the system which seems to be working well so far. Whilst this meant that the rest of the new pipework we bought is basically scrap it did mean that the overall cost of making the repair in this way was very much quicker and therefore much less costly, saving us around £125.

 

Interestingly it turned out that Citroen had changed the design of the aircon brackets and seals since the car was manufactured so perhaps they have discovered a bit of a weakness with them. GSD

[raveydavey]

I'm glad it's all sorted for you now.

 

Interestingly it turned out that Citroen had changed the design of the aircon brackets and seals since the car was manufactured so perhaps they have discovered a bit of a weakness with them. GSD

 

If you see my earlier reply, Citroen have superceded several A/C components so they must be aware of an issue (otherwise why change them?). It sounds like you had the same problem I had.