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[Turk]

The £44.95 Kwik-Fleece deal is they measure the temperature at the coolest vent before starting (Mine showed 25c). The system is drained and a leak test is performed. If no leak is detected the system is replenished with gas and the correct measure of oil and the temperature at the coolest vent is measured again. If it's not 10% lower than at the start, you pay nothing.

All went according to plan. Final temp reading showed about 8c. Paid my £44.95 and away I go. I know it was working 'cos last sunday was a warm day and getting out of the car after the few miles drive home was like getting off a plane in a hot climate, the heat just hit me and I thought Wow..it's definately doing it's thing !!
The following day I notice things were not as cool as the previous day so I went back to K/F. They say they only drain, pressure test and replenish the system. They do not service or even check any other parts of the aircon system. They did re-check the temperature and it showed 27c (warmer than outside !!).

Any ideas what I can check with mine. The compressor kicks in ok 'cos the engine rev's drop very slightly when activated, This would not happen if the system had leaked 'cos the compressor would not engage.
I've re-synchronized the system as per the Handbook. Still no joy.

The belt went on a bit too easily and the tensioner wheel is at the highest point of it's adjustment, but surely I would hear it slip and would at least get some cooling but there's nothing.
 
Is there a fuse or connection I need to check and if so where's the fuse located and what connection should be checked ?

[TheBoy]

The £44.95 Kwik-Fleece deal is they measure the temperature at the coolest vent before starting (Mine showed 25c). The system is drained and a leak test is performed. If no leak is detected the system is replenished with gas and the correct measure of oil and the temperature at the coolest vent is measured again. If it's not 10% lower than at the start, you pay nothing.

All went according to plan. Final temp reading showed about 8c. Paid my £44.95 and away I go. I know it was working 'cos last sunday was a warm day and getting out of the car after the few miles drive home was like getting off a plane in a hot climate, the heat just hit me and I thought Wow..it's definately doing it's thing !!
The following day I notice things were not as cool as the previous day so I went back to K/F. They say they only drain, pressure test and replenish the system. They do not service or even check any other parts of the aircon system. They did re-check the temperature and it showed 27c (warmer than outside !!).

Any ideas what I can check with mine. The compressor kicks in ok 'cos the engine rev's drop very slightly when activated, This would not happen if the system had leaked 'cos the compressor would not engage.
I've re-synchronized the system as per the Handbook. Still no joy.

The belt went on a bit too easily and the tensioner wheel is at the highest point of it's adjustment, but surely I would hear it slip and would at least get some cooling but there's nothing.
 
Is there a fuse or connection I need to check and if so where's the fuse located and what connection should be checked ?

Check the HBV, and the vacuum to it...

[miggy]

The £44.95 Kwik-Fleece deal is they measure the temperature at the coolest vent before starting (Mine showed 25c). The system is drained and a leak test is performed. If no leak is detected the system is replenished with gas and the correct measure of oil and the temperature at the coolest vent is measured again. If it's not 10% lower than at the start, you pay nothing.

All went according to plan. Final temp reading showed about 8c. Paid my £44.95 and away I go. I know it was working 'cos last sunday was a warm day and getting out of the car after the few miles drive home was like getting off a plane in a hot climate, the heat just hit me and I thought Wow..it's definately doing it's thing !!
The following day I notice things were not as cool as the previous day so I went back to K/F. They say they only drain, pressure test and replenish the system. They do not service or even check any other parts of the aircon system. They did re-check the temperature and it showed 27c (warmer than outside !!).

Any ideas what I can check with mine. The compressor kicks in ok 'cos the engine rev's drop very slightly when activated, This would not happen if the system had leaked 'cos the compressor would not engage.
I've re-synchronized the system as per the Handbook. Still no joy.

The belt went on a bit too easily and the tensioner wheel is at the highest point of it's adjustment, but surely I would hear it slip and would at least get some cooling but there's nothing.
 
Is there a fuse or connection I need to check and if so where's the fuse located and what connection should be checked ?

Check the HBV, and the vacuum to it...

Got a simular problem with mine, front blows cold, the rear burns the house down, its like being sat in the engine bay.

Its a trip to Vx for me tomorrow.

[megaomega123]

I'll watch this with interest,  as mine did exactly the same.

[miggy]

I'll watch this with interest,  as mine did exactly the same.

When you say DID does that mean you cured the issue,

 :question :question

[megaomega123]

I'll watch this with interest,  as mine did exactly the same.

When you say DID does that mean you cured the issue,

 :question :question

No. It DID the same thing but remains non working at the moment. Reluctant to refill in case it is leaking. However kwikfit said it wasn't leaking. When they charged it it only took half a charge and only lasted for 1 day. It has returned to the way it was before, press aircon button and hey presto NOTHING!!

[Turk]

er...ok...but HBV ?  Vacuum to it ??

[raximax]

i have a simlar problem my air con was not cold so did the same and took it to kwick fit but the temp did not drop so no charge,,, i decided to change the hbv which was fine and flushed the system now i have no heat when i flushed the system i used a garden hose on full could i have damaged somthing and since doing this i have a leak at the back of the engine not hbv think it may be oil cooler?? water in header seems clear??

[Marks DTM Calib]

i have a simlar problem my air con was not cold so did the same and took it to kwick fit but the temp did not drop so no charge,,, i decided to change the hbv which was fine and flushed the system now i have no heat when i flushed the system i used a garden hose on full could i have damaged somthing and since doing this i have a leak at the back of the engine not hbv think it may be oil cooler?? water in header seems clear??

Two questions with respect to the heater bypass valve and a general thing to consider for anybody struggling with poor aircon and heat.

1) Was it a genuine valve or a pattern part from the web, motor factors etc as we have seen many of the pattern items failing very quickly (causing water leaks).

2) Did you connect the pipes back up correctly on the side of the valve with two outputs, the top outlet must go to the heater matrix and the bottom to the engine...


If item 2 is wrong, you heat your nice chilled air with the heater and when you want heat, the bypass stops warm water flowing through the matrix....

[megaomega123]

Is it possible to get a pic or a rough location of the HBV to enable me to check my pipes are the right way round?


thanks

[Andy B]

Is it possible to get a pic or a rough location of the HBV to enable me to check my pipes are the right way round?


thanks

At the very back of the driver's side bank of cylinders.

[jonathanh]

another way of checking the HBV is working is to select 'cold' take the trim panel off over the pedals on the driver side (3 plastic clips), start up and feel the 2 heater pipes as they come through the bulkhead.  If the get hot (and the do quickly) then the HBV is not working properly, stay cold means it is functioning.

May be easier to establish whether the HBV works before you need to trace pipes in inaccessible positions.  

also FYI, I've just had a problem with a loss of vac at the HBV, turned out to be the vac feed from the bulkhead to the HBV was partially dislodged leading to a blocked pipe. Difficult to spot as well....

[megaomega123]

another way of checking the HBV is working is to select 'cold' take the trim panel off over the pedals on the driver side (3 plastic clips), start up and feel the 2 heater pipes as they come through the bulkhead.  If the get hot (and the do quickly) then the HBV is not working properly, stay cold means it is functioning.

May be easier to establish whether the HBV works before you need to trace pipes in inaccessible positions.  

also FYI, I've just had a problem with a loss of vac at the HBV, turned out to be the vac feed from the bulkhead to the HBV was partially dislodged leading to a blocked pipe. Difficult to spot as well....

Blower is blowing cold but the pipes in the footwell are as hot as hell, nearly as hot as the egr pipe  

Does this mean my HBV is knackered?

[jonathanh]

I've just had exactly this problem.  Could be the HBV or the vac feed to it

test the vac feed:  disconnect the pipe from the top of the HBV, turn temperature to cold and start engine.  Put your finger over the end of the vac line to see what you get.  If you get vac then HBV failed or not fitted properly.  If there is no vac then start working back down the vac line to find the problem,

Next connection is at the bulkhead.  From inside the car remove the left hand vac pipe at the bulkhead grommet.  You should get vac there with heater set on cold.  THe vac to the HBV is controlled by a soleniod that is activated (on non climate cars) by two micro switches on the tem controls.  It comes on only when BOTH are set to cold - you should also hear this click when you m,ove the temp switches

good luck and let us know how you go

[megaomega123]

Thanks for that. Is it a plenum off job to get to HBV?