R36 Air Con & Vent Question

[Jakeys]

Me again :P

Two questions this time. One, after a thread talking a while ago about my demister taking ages, today we've had our first hot day in SA, and my air con did a really **** job. Took a solid 5-10 minutes to get cool, and never really got as cool as I wanted even blasting in LO mode, auto to max and AC obviously set on. Is this likely to be a regas, any way to tell if it's something else, and the costs involved?

Also, something that has been bugging me since I bought the car, the driver's side window vent, even when you face it as far left as possible, blows air at most over your right shoulder. I have a pretty standard driving position and it points absolutely nowhere near my face. The vents look like they're pointed right at me but the air comes out basically along the driver's side window. Surely this isn't normal, cause I end up with one half of my face cool and the other half warm, which is annoying!

Wondering if maybe it's obstructed inside or something and if so how easy it is to pull the vent out. If this is normal... that's horrible.

[ASR36]

When was the last time that it worked properly?

There could be a leak so even if a regas is done you might find that there could be another fault.


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[Jakeys]

When was the last time that it worked properly?

There could be a leak so even if a regas is done you might find that there could be another fault.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hard to say, it's been winter so I usually have it either on about the temperature it is already or heating. It worked last summer.

[prn31]

Hi Jakey, not sure that you want to hear this but I suspect that it is a compressor failure. My dealer said it was a pretty common fault - moreso for Golfs than Passats. I don't know for sure but I think mine would be a Sanden brand.

I've just had the compressor replaced under warranty in my MY10.5. Of course I don't have the bill, so I don't know exactly how much it cost, thought I was told it was in the vicinity of $1,000. I'm not even sure what brand of compressor they replaced it with. I presume another Sanden - I really should check. All I know is that it now works - though how the air conditioning compares to others cars I've had (Australian and Japanese) I guess I will find out soon enough....

Paul

[Jakeys]

Hi Jakey, not sure that you want to hear this but I suspect that it is a compressor failure. My dealer said it was a pretty common fault - moreso for Golfs than Passats. I don't know for sure but I think mine would be a Sanden brand.

I've just had the compressor replaced under warranty in my MY10.5. Of course I don't have the bill, so I don't know exactly how much it cost, thought I was told it was in the vicinity of $1,000. I'm not even sure what brand of compressor they replaced it with. I presume another Sanden - I really should check. All I know is that it now works - though how the air conditioning compares to others cars I've had (Australian and Japanese) I guess I will find out soon enough....

Paul

I'm prepared for that possibility. It does cool down eventually, but not as much as I'd like and I don't think it's as much as when I got the car last year. It has never been as strong as my old Verada as long as I have owned it, but then again, that's made for Australian heat. It's well known Euro systems are not quite as air con geared as Aus cars.

Is it at least easy enough or cheap enough to diagnose the problem so I know the costs moving forward?

Also, any answer on the issue with the driver's side vent not actually ever pointing at the driver's face?

[kamold]

I turned the AC on for the first time this spring.
Not a hot day, but was 30c out.
Cooled down within 30 seconds or so and was very cold on my face.

Also agree that from my driving position, the right vent bypasses your face, but does cool the chip on my shoulder ;)
The left drivers vent however is easy to adjust so it blows on your face which was plenty cold enough for me.

Wouldn't doubt that a big Aussie car would have better AC given its been engineered for harsh conditions here rather than for Europe, but I've never felt that the AC wasn't strong enough to cool the whole cabin even in mid summer.

[Jakeys]

I turned the AC on for the first time this spring.
Not a hot day, but was 30c out.
Cooled down within 30 seconds or so and was very cold on my face.

Also agree that from my driving position, the right vent bypasses your face, but does cool the chip on my shoulder ;)
The left drivers vent however is easy to adjust so it blows on your face which was plenty cold enough for me.

Wouldn't doubt that a big Aussie car would have better AC given its been engineered for harsh conditions here rather than for Europe, but I've never felt that the AC wasn't strong enough to cool the whole cabin even in mid summer.

Yeah the left vent smashes my face with cool air once the system gets going, problem is, that means the left half of my case ends up super cold while the right half is warm, and it's uncomfortable. But at least it's not just me I guess!

Sounds like my air con, while functional, is obviously not performing the way it should. I don't get very cold air within 30 seconds like I did last year. As said, took at least five minutes to get to what I would consider to be properly chilled air. Although thinking on it now, I was parked at the lights for a while when I noticed it wasn't working the way it should so if it's not very efficient when it's just been started and is sitting still, that could explain some of it. But I definitely need to get it checked over as I am not convinced it will do the job when the 40+ days start turning up.

[kamold]

Yeah it gets bloody hot down there. You'll want it nice and chilly. I drove to Perth a few years back and copped a dust storm and about 48 degrees on the Eyre peninsula. And went to the last Big Day Out in Radelaide when it was bastard hot.

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[prn31]

It was a warm day in Sydney so I set the temp to 21 and my air con worked - yah! I agree that the air coming out of the right vent isn't as strong as that from the middle vents.

When I was researching the air con problem I read that often the pressure control valve (PCV) can be faulty, but it could also be the compressor. Getting to the unit I am told is quite an involved task. Anyway it is best that you get it checked out by a specialist because it is a known problem.

[Jakeys]

I thought I would update this. Had it diagnosed by a VW air con tech. At idle the compressor is not able to maintain pressure. When you rev the engine to about 2000 rpm or above the compressor has sufficient power to pressure and will then start to cool. He showed me the dials, it has a high and low side dial and when I rev it, one of them starts to rise and the air starts to chill and then when I stop revving it very slowly falls back down to a baseline of 200 and the air warms up again. Dunno the units. Basically, the compressor is not dead, but dying, or at least weak. So unfortunately it is a full compressor replacement.

The labour and parts on the compressor itself are apparently only about $700ish, but since you should also do a dryer filter or something as well when replacing compressor, the price goes up to about $1600 as that is apparently very labour intensive.

Sad result for me.

[prn31]

I thought I would update this. Had it diagnosed by a VW air con tech. At idle the compressor is not able to maintain pressure. When you rev the engine to about 2000 rpm or above the compressor has sufficient power to pressure and will then start to cool. He showed me the dials, it has a high and low side dial and when I rev it, one of them starts to rise and the air starts to chill and then when I stop revving it very slowly falls back down to a baseline of 200 and the air warms up again. Dunno the units. Basically, the compressor is not dead, but dying, or at least weak. So unfortunately it is a full compressor replacement.

The labour and parts on the compressor itself are apparently only about $700ish, but since you should also do a dryer filter or something as well when replacing compressor, the price goes up to about $1600 as that is apparently very labour intensive.

Sad result for me.

Sorry to hear that Jakey. You would think that an air conditioning compressor would last more than 5 years, but apparently not when it comes to VW Passats and Golfs...

I know that there was a definite problem with the (Valeo?) compressors in early B6 Passats (2006-07) but I thought this was remedied in the Sanden type compressors that are fitted to the later Passats like ours.

Obviously not... :frown:

[slipshot]

My R36 did the same and an air con tech showed me how the gauges did not move when they should have done at idle and revving - although mine was past the stage of working at all. He thought there were three different models of compressor I could have and he would check it out. Said top whack was $1400 but not sure if that was for everything or just the compressor itself.

Took it to my local specialist who had a look and sorted it out. Because he's a friend, charged me cost for the compressor which was $829 trade price so all up about $1100 for fitting, discharging the gas and then recharging which he had to have someone else do. Model compressor that came off mine was a Sanden I think, and he said he had an R36 in the previous week for the same issue and has seen many Passat's and Golf's in with the same problem...

[Jakeys]

Sorry to hear that Jakey. You would think that an air conditioning compressor would last more than 5 years, but apparently not when it comes to VW Passats and Golfs...

I know that there was a definite problem with the (Valeo?) compressors in early B6 Passats (2006-07) but I thought this was remedied in the Sanden type compressors that are fitted to the later Passats like ours.

Obviously not... :frown:

Once this is fixed my 12 month maintenance cost will be almost $5000 unfortunately. I'm not having a good time maintenance wise with this car. It's lucky it's so amazing when it works. I may sell it if I have another year like this, get something else similar instead.

[OilBurna]

Good luck dude hope not too expensive to get sorted I think mine is also on the way out although mine is 7 years seems to take 5 mins or so to cool down and also only once the car is moving might have to try it out at idle on the next hot day

Weirdly wife's a class 12 years old never had a regass still blows ice cold

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[Jakeys]

My R36 did the same and an air con tech showed me how the gauges did not move when they should have done at idle and revving - although mine was past the stage of working at all. He thought there were three different models of compressor I could have and he would check it out. Said top whack was $1400 but not sure if that was for everything or just the compressor itself.

Took it to my local specialist who had a look and sorted it out. Because he's a friend, charged me cost for the compressor which was $829 trade price so all up about $1100 for fitting, discharging the gas and then recharging which he had to have someone else do. Model compressor that came off mine was a Sanden I think, and he said he had an R36 in the previous week for the same issue and has seen many Passat's and Golf's in with the same problem...

Yep mine was very similar. He showed my gauge did not move at idle, it did move when I revved it however as soon as I stopped revving 2000+ the gauge slowly dropped back to where it was when it was idling. So mine is not dead, just weak and dying.

I was told based on a slightly older TDI Passat (So prices are approximate pending exact models) compressor is typically $6-700 part, however you should also be doing a couple of ancillary parts as well, only one I remember was a dryer filter or something which add more dollars. Labour and regas cost on the compressor is not heaps however do to everything else requires front off so the price rises to about $1600 in total with retail on parts and full labour costs. Judging by your $1400 quote I would say you got all the work done too.

Luckily I've got an air con tech mate too I met through EuroSA who has been extremely helpful, he's up for doing the work as a cash job so looking at more like $1000 the lot for me too. Glad to hear your prices are roughly in line with mine.

[revivor]

Mine is slightly <6yrs old. Air is cold but not on a hot day after encountering >35deg last week.

So my 1st A/C service next Monday. Well lasted 5 yrs+ for me and still happy with it.

[damo_t]

Hi All,

Reading up on this thread, and sadly I think my MY10.5 is exhibiting the same behaviour. Any recommendations for a VW air-con specialist in the Sydney area? I called Dean of VW mobile servicing, and unfortunately due to the air-con portion of the work, he can't help.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise, the old interweb will be first port of call.

Cheers,
Damo.

[Radius]

Hi Everyone,

Really grateful for the fantastic info on this forum. We have an MY10 R36 which is unfortunately showing the same signs... no cold air for first 5 to 10 minutes on the first start up of the day, then works quite well while driving..... AC kicks in quicker (but still not immediate) the second time round ie. after re-starting the car on the return trip.
I'm assuming this is classic compressor failure?
I had the car checked at our VW dealer who ran the fault codes and said it was fine.... which it clearly is not.
Was wondering if anyone has recommendations for someone in Melbourne? It'll be the first time I'm taking the car out of VW network. A friend recommended Audvolks for mechanical work but not sure if they can do AC work?

Thanks everyone for your advice!

[damo_t]

Update.

I had my compressor and condenser replaced with a full de-gas, flushing of the lines and then re-gas. Total cost ~$2K. It's a full days job which required the front bumper to be removed.
I have to cop the bill shock on the chin, as the VW repairer was very diligent and gave me a lot of confidence in his work and provided constant updates and communication.

He showed me pictures of the metallic shards that had come off the compressor that would still be in the lines if I did not do the flush. Scary to think they would be floating in there.

It now blows out of the vents at 2.5-3 degrees celsius within seconds. A very noticeable difference in behaviour. The positive is that it is just in time for the mini heat wave in Sydney!