Hey Folks,

Hope ya'll are well. I have an 2006 A4 Base 2.0T. I just had it in the shop today because the air conditioner stopped cooling. It only blows hot air (it blows hot air whether the AC is on or not - even when cool out side at night). There is high pressure on both lines as well.

The mechanic did a diagnostic. He did evacuate the system and then did a recharge. He said he determined the compressor was working, but that an internal sensor was not working, so the compressor had to be replaced. As well as the A/C receiver dryer and orifice tube.

I have noticed that the ambient sensor reads higher than the actual cabin tempature and asked him about that, but he dismissed the issue.

So, my questions are related to others experience with this issue.
--Does this sound legitimate?
--Is it possible it is the other sensors (I've read there are two primary sensor up at the front of the engine that play a major role - the ambient sensor is one)?
--Is there an internal sensor and if so, how do you determine it's bad?
--If bad, does the compressor have to be replaced?
--Even if that's the case, do you have to replace the receiver dryer and orifice tube?
--Is it likely it's anything else?
--Lastly, advice or expeience on going with a used part? I don't plan on holding onto the vehicle a lot longer, so want to weigh the options accordingly.

Thanks in advance for any help ya'll can provide.

 

No it doesn't make any sense at all.

I'm not aware of any sensor inside the compressor. And there is no way to tell if the compressor is working, because it is a variable output compressor which means its always on even when the A/C is off.

This guy isn't offering a fix he is recommending an overhaul of your a/c system because he doesn't know whats wrong with it.

I can't answer the rest because i don't know what exactly is wrong with it. The drier and orifice tube really only need to be replaced if their is metal in the system because the compressor exploded. Its hard to give a recommendation because your really at the mercy of this guy's expertise. You can bring somewhere else for another opinion but you would be stuck paying another diagnositic fee.