Hi everyone, I know that there has been a ton of threads about air conditioner problems but I haven't been able to find one on my specific problem. So my problem is that when I press the ac button the light comes on, and I can hear the engine go under a load from it coming on, but I don't feel any cold air. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that when the freon gets low, the system no longer turns on. So I was trying to remove that possible problem from the list. I'm not sure though, any help would be great on this, thanks!
Ps. The light comes on, and stays on, it does not blink.

 

I'm assuming you have the automatic A/C? Have you tried manually activating the blower with the top-right button on the console?

Also just want to mention that there is no freon in these cars. It's R134a. Freon is R12.

 

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by automatic a/c? But I'm going to assume I do not, the ac doesn't come on unless I press the a/c snowflake button and when I do press it the light comes on and I hear the car idle down slightly but no cold air. I think this is the button You are referring to? And yes thank you, yeah I know it isn't freon I just forgot the name of the other refrigerant, I guess that doesn't mean I should call it something it isn't though😮

 

1st gen MINIs had an automatic A/C option that I think most cars have. You'll know you have a manual system if you have the 3 rotary dials to control the blower speed, temperature, and vents.

I think only auto A/C has the snowflake button. Try adjusting the blower speed in the top right of the console.

 

Aside from the blend door not opening to the evaporator core and blowing cool air into the cabin (which is rare), you need to have an AC shop recover the refrigerant and recharge the system with the proper level. That is the only way to accurately fill the system.

I've seen compressors that collapse the clutch, but the pump is internally faulty and doesn't build pressure.

 

I do have the three rotary dials so I believe it would be the manual version. Would adjusting the blower dial on this version change anything? I mean ivemessed with the controls and have yet to get it working

 

Ohh okay so what your saying is, is that the a/c system sounds like it's low on coolant? Wouldn't this mean I also have a leak in the system?

 

I wouldn't necessarily say you're low on refrigerant, but if the system has been worked on previously or has never been touched then chances are that the system is low. Near every car we've worked on has been underfilled from the factory, but not enough to cause poor cooling.

Start with getting the system vacuum tested and properly filled, then you need to read the high and low side pressures during operation (either have the shop do it with their machine or buy a set of manifold gauges), if all checks out then you need to look into blend door problems, but those are almost too rare to plant the idea in your brain.

 

Ohh okay yeah because to me it would seem more like the system is totally empty considering there is no temperature change with it on or off. I will have to see when I can get it brought down to our local mechanic, I'm just affraid to find out we have a punctured line in the system, can't imagine the price of that. We used to have a Ford Focus and that part was around 600, I can't imagine what a Bmw will be.

 

The AC systems on these cars are rather well tucked away, you either need to hit something with the condenser or the car be in an accident causing lines to rub on frame rails or trans mounts.

If the compressor is collapsing the coil there is at least a charge in there, is it enough? No idea until you get it looked at by an AC shop, but worst case scenario is a compressor and those are about $600 depending on where you get it from.