😱£1000+ To Repair My Broken ❄️Air Conditioning⁉️ [VW Seat Audi Skoda Repairs]

My Air conditioning light wouldn't stay on. This will happen when temperatures dip but this was summer time, I clearly had an aircon fault in my car.
This video looks at how I diagnosed the problem and how I ended up paying over £1000 to fix it.
Although intended as a guide to VW group air condition, ie SEAT, SKODA, Audi and VW it still applies to many other cars out there from BMW, Ford and Peugeot to Mercedes who all employ similar designs and setups and share these typical problems.
I highlight some of the common areas and problems in air conditioning systems that can cause low refrigerant pressure and stop your air conditioning working.
I'll take you through step by step on how I got this issue sorted and repaired my air conditioning.
This certainly applies to VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat and other VAG group cars, but most other manufacturers airconditioning works in a similar way so you can get some tips and helpful repair tips and advice from this video.
We look at diagnostics, tests on the aircon system from using a dye to detect leaks, to vacuum tests, and which parts will typically need replacing in an older car with air conditioning problems.
www.torquecars.com

[@manavsharma6503]

I have got the same problem with my a3, I'll get it checked today.

[@beano6452]

This is a very good example of the Concorde fallacy.

[@paulam18v]

This is exactly what happend to my a4 last summer. took it to the garage the same proccedure as you mentiond , vacuem test for around 40 mins everything ok but about 3 weeks later nothing . I couldent afford any work done on the car so I left it . but will deffo get it looked at next year. Better get saveing then eh !!!

[@torquecars]

Wish I had investigated more fully, I got totally sucked into this one. Glad its working now and the missus is happy which is a plus, just got to pay off the credit card now. I don't know about you but I use the aircon more in winter than in summer, it really helps demist the screen quickly.

[@diggerlenny4836]

Id say aircon pipes are one of the worst failure points. Getting freezing cold and then at other times hot cant be ideal for longevity. Wonder can they be replaced with some form of silicone hose🤔 Nice video tho showing an expensive rabbit hole

[@harminderkambow9642]

This is what happened to my 406 coupe. I had the compressor replaced and a few weeks later there was no cold air/it stopped working and there was a leak in an air-con pipe. I think when they replaced the compressor, it disturbed the part and it failed.

[@torquecars]

It is not just me then. So expensive, but air con is an essential in summer.

[@Rickylucas86]

Was your aircon making a noise but not blowing out air ? My a5 fans work when aircon is off as soon as I switch it on aircon it makes a noise but doesn’t blow out cold air. Strange this is when I put on the screen blower with aircon on it blows out cold air.

[@torquecars]

The fans are separate from the aircon itself, in my case the aircon light would not stay on, but the fans were still blowing out air, just not cooling it. So your aircon stops the airflow completely when you turn it on unless directed at the screen using I guess the Fast clear button?

[@anjilegacy9149]

I have a problem on my 730d, the car is sending cold air at the back, hot air at the front.

[@torquecars]

I've spoken to a few people on this for you. It seems a common issue but all 3 people have said different things. Here are summaries of our conversations.... Have you checked the ventilation settings in Idrive? On the front controls setting all to auto on the dash controls has fixed the problem for some. There is also an ALL button on some versions. If a car didn't come with rear climate control then you'll only get fresh air to the rear center vents. Warm air only goes to the side vents on the door frame.

[@dingdang2757]

I have a 2011 Audi A4 B8 2.0L Quattro 170bhp and had air con re-gassed and after a few months it just stopped working!! I have a code of 00256 Sensor for refrigerant pressure / temperature: Lower limit not reached. I have replaced the sensor at the front of the car with genuine Audi part and all fuses appear to be intact but cannot find any help out there, please advise or help.

[@torquecars]

It sounds like there is a leak in the system, in my case the rust spots on the pipes were the only indication initially we thought it was the compressor. Often the seals go. If you get it pressure tested and then leak tested (they insert a dye in the gas and it shows up under the test lamp to show the leaks.)

[@dingdang2757]

Thank you for your fast response and will consider taking it back to a garage or Audi but just wish I could of sorted it myself. Also I have read in the Haynes manual that the compressor does not have a clutch on it (which threw me a bit) but trust the Germans to make things difficult but excellent motors when all working correctly.

[@melissajarrett7252]

What was the year and mileage on the car out of interest?

[@torquecars]

2015 at 47,000 miles. AIRCON was not used much through lockdown which probably didn't help.

[@melissajarrett7252]

@@torquecars yea, but it's not that old really is it!!

[@Robert-xo3yi]

I have kinda the same problem. The A/C is not the issue but the 'A/C button' is broken. When i turn it on, it switches off directly.

[@torquecars]

Are you sure it is the switch, this is what mine did. The light went out almost straight away. Switches themselves are quite easy to swap out. Check for error codes, low refrigerant will show up via the OBD port.

[@justthisguy]

My A/C button has stopped working and the gauge shows no gas inside... Was trying to find a video about fixing it myself but your video has just swayed me to take it to a garage. Just need a few more shifts under my belt before I take it into a and get hit with the RS tax 🥲