Stock Problems/Issues Discussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for MINI Clubman (R55), Cooper and Cooper S(R56), and Cabrio (R57).

AC Repaired-Tips

Old Aug 28, 2019 | 09:24 AM
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techman1
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AC Repaired-Tips

No issues now, great, cold, everything seems to work better.

What happened:
Daughter home from college over summer. Drove her 09 MCS down, AC died a week after arriving. Would only blow hot air, in Florida in July. Not a good thing.
Symptoms- Cabin controls worked properly i.e. speed, max, temp and zones. But only hot air.
Compressor was running when selected, Important but the front radiator / cooling fan was not. I hooked up a Foxwell scanner, controlled the front fan, works like it is supposed to. Auto turned on at proper temp.
Why is the compressor cycling, but the fan is not? Why no cold air?

Next, visit a shop and get pressures They revealed the next big tip. Low pressure was too high, as in 60 to 70, maybe more. High was over 100. No real change when the compressor was on. The shop said their best guess, something internal to the compressor, running, but not moving much. It sounded a little noisier than normal. Maybe. In the back of my mind was still the question of why the front fan would not come on with the AC. My reasoning is the system pressure switch was showing low side too high, and not enabling the fan, but why? Is there another pressure sensor?

Ordered compressor, condenser and expansion valve. Did the replacement. That expansion valve in the firewall is....difficult. Removal easy, new install hard. The collar that is behind the connection is not fixed in place, so it needs to be held in place, but can not be reached. I had to cut the rubber gasket, fold it, reach in and hold it, and all went well. It is possible the expansion valve was the culprit, failing and letting pressure blow thru, the old one looked different by comparison.

The shop pulled vacuum, nice tight system they said. Cold AC now!

Notes for future repairs:
It is possible for the compressor to cycle, and not the fan. My guess is a pressure sensor saw enough to turn on compressor, but not the fan?
The expansion valve does not need the special tool to install, just patience.
 
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