Need Advice on car Air-Con

[Freeman]

Recently feel that my car air-con not as cooling as before but still cold.

Tot need to top up gas so when to a air-con specialist in Poineer.

After a quick check I was told that the gas is fine but the compressor is weak, need to change immediately.

 

I said since it's not completely down can I just carry on using it?

He told me not to use it until it's completely spoil or it will cause more demage to other things like the air-con oil..etc.... it may cost me more demage if I carry on using it.

 

I really know nothing about this car air-con thing.....can any expert here throw me some light on this....is this guy trying to con me?

[Dwoon]

Think its BS. What does it mean by weak?

 

Go to Markcool to have it assessed.

 

 

[Torquey]

have seen some auto aircon shops tht are basically cut throat biz.

1st they say change condenser, then compressor, then cooling coil and the list goes on till the entire system gets changed.

 

go to a more reputable auto aircon shop for assessment.

 

[Kazuo]

Was told the same thing before, many times.

 

What they mean is that your compressor is not strong enough to 'cold' the air when your car is idling. Only when you driving, the higher rev will then be able to do the job.

 

You can try it in your own carpark? Try maintain the rev at 2.5k? or higher for a while to see if it's true?

 

It seems true for my case la, not sure abt you.

[Mustang]

I did some condenser cleaning last time on my ex-Civic EG using chemical and voila its back to normal.My personal advice is not too play with the temp often especially Malaysian,Chinese or Korean cars as the repair can cost u a bomb

[Wizzercool]

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Recently feel that my car air-con not as cooling as before but still cold.

Tot need to top up gas so when to a air-con specialist in Poineer.

After a quick check I was told that the gas is fine but the compressor is weak, need to change immediately.

 

I said since it's not completely down can I just carry on using it?

He told me not to use it until it's completely spoil or it will cause more demage to other things like the air-con oil..etc.... it may cost me more demage if I carry on using it.

 

I really know nothing about this car air-con thing.....can any expert here throw me some light on this....is this guy trying to con me?

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Let's me share with you my experience. This is genuine problem with car aircon.

 

My Toyota is having the same problem, air con not cold, so I sent it to Borneo Motor. But they can't detect any problem and proceed to top-up the gas. The aircon is back to normal for another 2 months. When it happenned again & this time the car became sluggish, so I sent it to Borneo Motor and reminded them that this is the 2nd time. Then, finally, they diagnozed that it is due to weak compressor. Since it is still under warranty, the compressor was changed FOC. Since then my car is back to normal.

 

 

[Freeman]

Thanks guys for the advises.

Actually I'm ok with the current situation, just not as cold as b4. Thinking of using it until completely down.

But this aircon specialist told me not to as that will cost even more demages.

Is that true?

[GoodCar]

Use to stay at a very polluted city. The aircon condenser (the heat exchanger infront of your engine) needs to be clean yearly

else aircon will not be cold after winter.

 

The condenser grill was full of fur, leaves and other stuff.

 

I think Singapore not that back, never have aircon problem here before

[Vextan]

the thing is, when a mechanic says compressor is weak and need to to change, we cannot really be sure it is the cause of the aircon not cold. and what if after change , then it is still not cold, then the mechanic says, oh, beside the compressor, the cooling coil la, radiator la, fan belt la, also need to change. thats why we are at their mercy, and it is best to go to a reputable shop, as they less likely to anyhow bullsh*t to chop.

[Picanto]

Recently feel that my car air-con not as cooling as before but still cold.

Tot need to top up gas so when to a air-con specialist in Poineer.

After a quick check I was told that the gas is fine but the compressor is weak, need to change immediately.

 

I said since it's not completely down can I just carry on using it?

He told me not to use it until it's completely spoil or it will cause more demage to other things like the air-con oil..etc.... it may cost me more demage if I carry on using it.

 

I really know nothing about this car air-con thing.....can any expert here throw me some light on this....is this guy trying to con me?

 

which black shop you went to?

[Freeman]

Can't remember the shop name. It's a car audio & aircon specialist.

Not sure whether black or not, wait till I seek for somemore opinion.

[Redlavita]

had the same 'problem' as yours, went to markcool to have it checked several hot months ago,

told the mech not very cold on hot days, or when just move off,

my car 5.5 years liao never top gas or oil!

the mech use a machine to check and says nothing wrong with my air con system,

all system is fine. he said no need to top up gas or aircon oil,

so i just leave it lor, unless got spare cash, change new condenser unit

my only conclusion is the condenser is dirty and not as efficient to remove the heat away,

just like what bro GoodCar say.

My god, it's 5.5years and never been clean!

Must really find some time for DIY cleaning liao

Edited October 6, 2009 by Redlavita

[Tigershark1976]

Use to stay at a very polluted city. The aircon condenser (the heat exchanger infront of your engine) needs to be clean yearly

else aircon will not be cold after winter.

 

The condenser grill was full of fur, leaves and other stuff.

 

I think Singapore not that back, never have aircon problem here before

 

 

dont think most modern car's aircon condenser is design for cleaning... hyndai and toyota for instance, placed the condenser depp inside the dashboard...

 

the better way to maintain it is to make sure that aircon filter is installed. That will reduce plenty of dirts, debris and even leafs from gg into the condenser...

[GoodCar]

Some correction,

 

The heat ex-changer under the dashboard is the evaporator

The heat ex-changer sitting with the radiator is the condenser.

 

Normally to keep the evaportor clean, do not open the vent, change air using the window bah.

To reduce moisture in the evaporator to slow down mold growth or foul smell,

it is a good practise to off the air-con and turn the fan hi to reduce condensation a few minute before you shut down the engine.

Changing the aircon air filter at recommended interval also help.

 

For radiator, If possible, during car survicing, ask mech to help you cleaning with water jet.

but sad to say, labour charge in other country is always cheaper.

Edited October 6, 2009 by GoodCar

[Redlavita]

dont think most modern car's aircon condenser is design for cleaning... hyndai and toyota for instance, placed the condenser depp inside the dashboard...

 

the better way to maintain it is to make sure that aircon filter is installed. That will reduce plenty of dirts, debris and even leafs from gg into the condenser...

 

hi bro, i think you got it mixed up,

condenser is the unit in the engine compartment,

while the evaporator is in the the cabin,

agreed that its good practice to change the air con filter regularly to

prevent dirt form clogging the evaporator.

Edited October 6, 2009 by Redlavita

[Briansg]

It's Better to have it service regularly then a one time service which is really costly ... especially for Aircon

[GoodCar]

It's Better to have it service regularly then a one time service which is really costly ... especially for Aircon

 

 

Beside the aircon air filter, can you advice what are other things that need to be serviced?

Understand that the aircon is a close-system, sub-standard gas top up may introduce moisture into the system and "screw" up the system more.

[Godfinger]

Think this kind of thread has been brought up many times.

Since you mentioned that its a closed system, so there should

not be any gas leak and if it really leaks, the flow rate will be

slow to be detected. As the saying goes, if it aint spoilt, dont fix

it. When you mention the A/c is not cold ( maybe 20 deg ) then are you expecting

a little too much?? I dont think there is a really a need

to regularly service the Condenser/Evaporator as per a determined Regime.

Changing of the Cabin Filter regularly should suffice.