Air Conditioning Questions & troubleshooting

[sjgharib]

I have a 2017 Golf TSi.
The AC seems "weak" - in that it doesn't get very cold. The other curious thing is that it seems like it's colder on the drivers side vs the passenger side.
I can't see the compressor engage either - the clutch always seems to be spinning regardless of whether the AC is switched on or off.
so questions:
1. My car does not seem to have "dual zones" where the passenger and drivers side can control the temperatures separately. Not even sure that was an option in these cars. So is it simply that the drivers side is drawing air off the evaporator with a priority and the passenger is thus warmer?
2. Is the compressor clutch the traditional "click on / click off" style, or is it some progressive thing that doesn't have that typical "click" and you can actually see the clutch either spinning or not?
3. I've researched and heard that the pressure switch is one of the failure modes - is there a way to test the switch? Can the switch be replaced without recharging the system with refrigerant?

Thanks!
Simon

 

[Jachas]

2. Is the compressor clutch the traditional "click on / click off" style, or is it some progressive thing that doesn't have that typical "click" and you can actually see the clutch either spinning or not?
3. I've researched and heard that the pressure switch is one of the failure modes - is there a way to test the switch? Can the switch be replaced without recharging the system with refrigerant?

2. Compressor in golf regulated by valve, not clutch
3.Check the pressure measured by sensor in measured values

1. My car does not seem to have "dual zones" where the passenger and drivers side can control the temperatures separately. Not even sure that was an option in these cars. So is it simply that the drivers side is drawing air off the evaporator with a priority and the passenger is thus warmer?

1. Manual A/C or climatronic? Either way, you are low on refrigerant. Or you have leak or just refrigerant missing, but either way, you have A/C system to check

 

[sjgharib]

Yes, it was low.

I evacuated it, drew and held a vacuum, and refilled with 500g of R134a. I put in the UV dye to see if anything showed up over time, but the fact it held a vacuum for ~30 min is a good sign. I suspect there's a tiny leak somewhere. I'm nervous about putting that "leak seal" stuff in there however - i've not heard good things, although the marketing is fantastic!

Good to know on the valve regulation, as it looks like a clutch on the pulley but I guess it's not.

I assume this is manual controls as it just has the cold/hot knob & fan speed knob.

Thanks!

 

[sjgharib]

"measured values" - in the OBD2 data?

 

[Jachas]

I'm nervous about putting that "leak seal" stuff in there however - i've not heard good things, although the marketing is fantastic!

And the marketing is only "good" think about it

I assume this is manual controls as it just has the cold/hot knob & fan speed knob.

And no buttons in knobs for max A/C, defrost,etc.

"measured values" - in the OBD2 data?

OBD2 is only for emission related stuff. I was thinking about measured values in 08-HVAC control unit

 

[Justin .:R]

Yes, it was low.

I evacuated it, drew and held a vacuum, and refilled with 500g of R134a. I put in the UV dye to see if anything showed up over time, but the fact it held a vacuum for ~30 min is a good sign. I suspect there's a tiny leak somewhere. I'm nervous about putting that "leak seal" stuff in there however - i've not heard good things, although the marketing is fantastic!

Good to know on the valve regulation, as it looks like a clutch on the pulley but I guess it's not.

I assume this is manual controls as it just has the cold/hot knob & fan speed knob.

Thanks!

How did you diagnose it was low? Did the refill fix it?

I went through a similar issue and it was a faulty relay control valve on the compressor.