Hi Folks.

I own a '99 1.8T Avant, 102k miles. The A/C has worked great since I got the car about 18 months ago. This past weekend we drove to southern California (from the bay area) and were in almost 100 degree heat, and the A/C didn't cool as well as it should have during the peak of the hot days.

We got on the road to head home, and once the outside temperature cooled a bit (to about 80) the A/C began to feel cool again.

The A/C is definitely still blowing cool air, but not as frosty as I recall from past hot days... and since we're planning on driving to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks (with 100+ degree days on the horizon) I'm taking the car in tomorrow to be looked at.

My [very, very trustworthy] mechanic doesn't do A/C work -- they have a deal with another local shop. Without checking the car and without taking it to the other said shop, my mechanic said it could just need an A/C recharge, or could also be leaking freon, or could have a busted compressor.

I'm definitely feeling cool air, but not icy cold, so just curious what you enthusiasts think is the case -- simple A/C recharge, or perhaps something more complex (and more expensive.) I just don't want to be taken for a ride since it won't be my normal shop doing the work.

Many thanks, in advance.


cloude.

 

Could be many things including diverter flaps in the blower system. Also make sure that with the AC on and the car hot that the secondary electric fan in the engine compartment is working.

 

Remove the plastic cover around the battery. There are two pipes on the passenger side of the battery. The one closer to the battery is on the low pressure side. This side is colder when the A/C is on. If there is a valve on the low pressure side , you can add R134a. They sell it in a can with a pressure guage , lubricant and stop leak.