Aircon Problems - Not always cold, temperamental, long to kick in and then drops out

[doridori]

Hi,

I have a 2010 Jetta 125 TDI with factory MK6 climate controls and my airconditioning has been playing up.

It is now quite erratic and does what it wants to do in terms of regulating the temperature.

Note for the below, i've always manually set the temperature to the lowest rather than rely on the auto climate control and is on recirculating mode.

Sometimes when i turn it on, the system will take 5-10 minutes before it start putting out cold air even if the car was stored in cool underground parking so it's not heatsoak from the sun.

This will then continue for a little while then the cold air stops being cold and just starts blowing out slightly cool air which may or may not be just ambient air. After 5-10 minutes (sometimes longer) the cold air will start pumping through again.

At no point in time were any AC controls changed and this could occur on the highway, city or wherever.

Does anybody have any idea what the issue could be?

Is it the compressor? When it does pump out cold air, it's pretty cold and works as it used to. It just doesn't like doing it continuously.

if i have the setting on 22C, the unit sometimes can't decide if it wants to give me cold air or warm air.

I have reset the flaps on the system (by holding the AC button and front vents until the lights flash but that doesn't always work.

Thoughts?

[arcadelt]

Get the compressor checked ASAP. I have a 2010 Tiguan that was exhibiting the same behaviour from my purchase some years ago. I ignored and have driven the compressor to destruction, which now requires replacement of the compressor and another major parts, plus a full flushing of the system. You may just get away with replacement of the compressor, a much cheaper option. BTW, two air conditioning specialists tell me this is a common fault in this vintage VWs.

[doridori]

Ah ok thanks for that. Was yours doing the same thing?

It still blows cold air so I’ve been wondering if it’s something else which regulates the temperature or if it really is the compressor.

Any suggestions for shops in Sydney?

[arcadelt]

Yes. I let it go because I thought the climatronics was just crap, but I have been told VW climate control is actually very good.

I don't live in Sydney.

[doridori]

thanks for that mate

anybody else have some experience or know shops around Sydney?

[whichonetoget]

Is it true that all VWs of this vintage (MK5 era) will have faults with the A/C??

[doridori]

well in the end i just had my normal servicing workshop get it fixed and i believe they outsource it to someone else.

Cost me $1000 to replace the compressor and flush the lines.

not gonna say that a lot of mk5s have AC errors, but my 2nd car, a 2008 r32 now also have aircon issues

[jets]

Is it true that all VWs of this vintage (MK5 era) will have faults with the A/C??

My '06 Golf TDI has had no problems with the AC. That said, I live in a moderate climate of low humidity & only turn it on when needed.
Some drivers, I have noticed, never turn there's off so naturally it will wear out faster.

[whichonetoget]

Can you guys recommend me someone is Sydney that can look at my A/C?

Just bought a MK5 GTI where the A/C is now blowing air only. I note that it was re-gassed in 2015 with it only recently dying again...

[asa572]

Is it true that all VWs of this vintage (MK5 era) will have faults with the A/C??

My '06 Golf TDI has had no problems with the AC. That said, I live in a moderate climate of low humidity & only turn it on when needed.
Some drivers, I have noticed, never turn there's off so naturally it will wear out faster.

220,000+ klm's on my MKV and the only issue I have had with the ac was the temp sensor in the centre of the on-off dual buttons.
My ac is never off.