How to Fix Faulty Air conditioning on an Audi A3 Etron
It is highly unlikely for a German-made vehicle to develop issues in the first few years after production. However, cars are machines at the end of the day, and faults can occur. If you are complacent and put off regular maintenance, random problems can pop up at any time and ruin your otherwise perfect day.
Unfortunately, for our client Mr. H, the dreadful moment came too soon when he had to drive his 2015 Audi A3 Etron into our garage, as a result of faulty air conditioning.
This particular vehicle intrigued our Audi expert Duncan Conway, who geared up to find a solution to the problem.
What We Found
Duncan began by doing a full inspection of the vehicle’s air conditioning system where he found that the whole air conditioning system was indeed not working.
It’s important to note that a vehicle’s air conditioning is a complex system which needs regular maintenance just like all the other working parts of a vehicle. So, when a vehicle comes through our doors with an air conditioning problem, we never assume it’s simply a case of re-gassing the system. Therefore, Duncan used our 15-step diagnostic procedure, which is designed to get to the root cause of the issue.
Duncan searched the Audi A3 E-Tron for fault codes, but found nothing relevant to the air conditioning problem. As a result, he shifted his focus towards inspecting the entire air conditioning system for leaks and other issues. A complete diagnosis was necessary to ascertain the seriousness of the problem and the extent of any possible damage to the system.
The 15-step diagnostic procedure and the keen eye of our technician led him to the source of the problem.
The Diagnosis
The first thing on Duncan’s list of things to do was to check the air conditioning vents and pipes for all possible leakages. The thorough inspection is one of the first steps in the 15-step diagnostic process, followed by Links Automotive.
Duncan couldn’t find any leaks in the system, so he moved on to perform a pressure test on the entire air conditioning system. This step is important since an air conditioning unit cannot function properly in the absence of the right amount of pressure.
The two previous attempts to find the source of the issue turned out nothing, so Duncan decided to check for fault codes and compare live data to identify any possible faults.
Our Audi technician was intelligent enough to consult the information provided by the manufacturer for the specific vehicle. The latter was necessary to compare the pressure and fluid readings found in the car.
After a thorough inspection of the air conditioning, Duncan found that the best way out of this situation was to flush the entire air conditioning system by performing a service and refilling all the necessary liquids for optimal performance.
Fixing the Audi Air Conditioning Fault
Duncan’s investigation showed that there was not much wrong with the air-conditioning, except that it required a complete service and gas refilling.
Therefore, our technician started draining the oil and releasing the refrigerant from the air conditioning system. Duncan also ensured that all the linkages were tight and fastened, as that’s the point where the gas leaks first.
Our technician refilled the compressor with the recommended oil, which is an important ingredient in the air conditioning system. Without the right amount of oil, the compressor could stop functioning properly, directly affecting the level of cooling in your vehicle.
Duncan moved on to add a UV dye to the air conditioning to help detect any future leaks. But why not adopt a surefire measure to completely prevent leaks in the future?
Unfortunately, there is no definitive way to stop leaks. If there is a pressure change or your car is involved in an accident, leaks could materialize and hamper the air conditioning’s performance. Therefore, the UV dye is added as a safety measure, so you know where the leak exactly happened.
The dye is specially designed so that it’s only visible under UV light and not to the naked eye. In other words, the person who knows their way around air conditioning systems would know where and how to check for leaks.
You would need someone like our Audi expert Duncan, who wasted no time finding the root cause of Mr. H’s A3 problem. He flushed the system, replaced the oil, checked for leaks, and replaced the refrigerant.
The gas or refrigerant is the most important in an air conditioning system as that is the key ingredient required to produce cool air. If you remove that from the equation, the air-conditioning would cease to work.
So, to ensure perfection, Duncan proceeded to fill the right amount and type of gas to the Audi A3 Etron. Afterward, he decontaminated the entire system to kill all the bacteria in the AIR CONDITIONING system.
When all was done and dusted, Duncan rechecked the air conditioning, measured its performance, and asked Mr. H to check it himself. Thankfully, the client was satisfied with our technician’s service, and he left Links Automotive with a smile.
Summary
Mr. H came into our garage, complaining that his air conditioning wasn’t working properly. Fortunately for him, his query was handled by Duncan Conway, our resident Audi specialist. Duncan employed our 15-step diagnostic procedure to inspect the car for all related faults and find the most effective solution.
It must also be noted that Duncan was working on a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Such cars are dangerous to work around, and the technician must be very careful when dealing with hybrid vehicles. Luckily, Duncan is a well-trained and certified technician who has experience working on hybrid vehicles like the Audi A3 Etron.
But what’s even more important is the level of professionalism displayed by our technicians when dealing with clients. Not only do our staff listen to your queries, but they are here to answer all your Audi questions.
It’s no wonder why Audi drivers keep coming back to us for their repairs. They trust us to give them great value for money and our Audi specialists to provide them with the best service imaginable. The values we instill in our workers at Links Automotive are exemplary. Something you cannot find anywhere else.
If you are looking for best-in-class Audi service and an unforgettable experience, don’t hesitate to call us at 01625 402262 and talk to our experts. They will help you every step of the way.
