So last year, the aircon packed up. Working one day, not the next. Lack of funds have prevented it being investigated, but whilst browsing the ECU for a different problem, we happened to come across a fault indicating that the gas pressure was low. A local garage have just started offering a ?15 + VAT aircon service to residents of the village. My neighbour took his motor in, and they re-gassed it for that money, which got his working again.
So I booked mine in for today figuring that even if there was a fault, it had to be worth 18 quid to get it diagnosed. When I went back to pick it up, they were most apologetic, saying that they had been unable to complete the service because the condenser was faulty. Assuming it was holed, I politely declined their ?235 to repair it, paid my ?18 and drove off. With hindsight, I probably should have asked to speak to the engineer to see exactly what he found.
But here is the bit that I now don't understand. As I drove off down the road, it was blowing frigid air. Tonight, I drove the five miles to Tesco, and the aircon was working. As I drove in, I turned it off. When I came back out and restarted, the ventillation was blowing warm air on full cold. As I gently cruised the car park, I turned the aircon back on, and felt the 'tug' on the engine as it kicked in. Further, it blew cold air all the way home again.
So what is going on here ? It didn't work when it went in. If the condenser was holed, there would have been no gas in it, which would go along with the message that was in the ECU. When the garage did a vacuum test on it, it would have failed, and as I understand it, that would have automatically prevented the system from adding gas. But clearly, as it's now working, there must be gas in it, and if it is leaking, it must be doing so extremely slowly.
What am I missing here ? Is it going to just stop again in a few days ?
Arfa