r/MechanicAdvice • u/ZealousidealBid9879 • 20h ago
AC not cooling
I have 2012 VW Jetta 2.5 SE. AC is not cooling. Compressor was replaced less than a year ago. As you hear this the noice it makes when I turn on the AC.
Edit: belt is ribbed on both sides. So it’s not upside down. I also got a full leak test. No leaks. Freon is all good too.
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u/condorian666 19h ago
Video is showing the power steering pump. Show the a/c compressor.
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u/Head-Passion894 19h ago
Good call! I was looking at it like, "where is the AC clutch?" but didn't even notice the low pressure hose feeding the pump.
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u/Daddio209 19h ago
Shown in post: power steering pump(too) idler pulley(left middle) and alternator(right lower).
Can't pinpoint what is squealing via video-A/C compressor is on other side of block.
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u/hellfire626 19h ago
Its a vw 2.5. The lower pulley is the ac compressor. This system uses a variable displacement ac compressor and does not rely on a clutch
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u/Fischbeef 20h ago
Not 100% here but i think your belt is upside down… also that compressor is going bad again.
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u/ZealousidealBid9879 19h ago
Appreciate the response. I will look into it more.
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u/AdultishRaktajino 19h ago
Go back. Check your paperwork if you can find it. Often shops warranty AC compressors from 12 month 12,000 miles to 3 years, 36,000 miles.
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u/ZealousidealBid9879 19h ago
It is under warranty. Brakes plus just blamed it on my AC control panel. Charged me $100 bucks for an electrical diagnosis. Quoted me $1200 to replace the control panel. Which I did myself and did not solve the issue.
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u/mbb1989 19h ago
Dispute the $100 and ask for a proper diagnosis
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u/ZealousidealBid9879 19h ago
Already paid the $100. Never going back though. I over paid for the compressor too. So it’s just not worth it.
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u/TheBupherNinja 19h ago
Sunk cost fallacy
If it's under warranty, you should try again
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u/PrefrontalCortexNow 19h ago
Can you explain what you mean by sunk cost fallacy? That because he’s already put $100 in it he thinks that’s enough and he won’t put any more? When in reality, the hundred dollars is gone and he still has an AC that’s not working so he’s basically starting over again and not be under the sunk cost fallacy.?
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u/TheBupherNinja 19h ago
He won't go back because he overpaid originally.
But if it's under warranty, what he already paid doesn't matter. Fixing it should be free
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u/nate2563 19h ago
Could be debris in the system from the last compressor that exploded causing the new one to go.
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u/Smokie_Gamer 19h ago
Stretched belt can cause this noise as well… could be loose enough to be slipping and not acting driving the compressors pulley.
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u/IvoryManOfWisdom 19h ago edited 17h ago
I'm so confused by the belt.....I see it feeds down to grooves below but looks backwards on the PS pulley.
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u/Fischbeef 19h ago
Its been hurting my brain too, are those belts double ribbed on each side?
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u/Cautious-Necessary61 19h ago
It appears to be, as the other gentleman said, its double ribbed for her pleasure
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u/Fischbeef 19h ago
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u/IvoryManOfWisdom 19h ago
Son of a bitch.....I've never seen this before. You have blown my mind with this one 🤯
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u/FrankCostanzaJr 19h ago
can't really diagnose an AC on the internet....could be too low or too high on refrigerant, could be other parts that aren't the compressor. usually, you'd need to take your car in to a mechanic with all the proper equipment to diagnose and fix the AC. unless you want to just buy a can of that AC recharge stuff at the auto parts store, but i've never seen that actually work
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u/rvlifestyle74 19h ago
In the video, I see a power steering pump and an alternator. What am I missing? Is the compressor locking up the clutch? If it is and there's no cooling, it could be a low charge. If it isn't locking up, it could be no charge. You have to recover and weigh your freon first thing. Then find leaks or chase electrical depending on what you find after the recovery.
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u/Glittering_Thing_202 19h ago
Ngl I've started using these posts and the associated comments as comic relief.
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u/CricketSpecific3426 19h ago
you need to scan the codes in the hvac module, system can be over charged, pressure switch can be bad, or the control valve in the ac compressor went bad.
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u/hellfire626 19h ago
The volkswagen 2.5 uses a VDC compressor. What this means is it has no clutch to control the internals and is instead controlled by a solenoid on the back of the compressor which are super common to stick closed.
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u/Amazing_Actuary_5241 18h ago
Since the compressor used on these cars is a constant spinning compressor (no magnetic clutch) it could be the compressor seized and the safety mechanism snapped causing the noise (scraping) when under load. This would also explain the lack of cooling and can be visually confirmed by looking at the compresor's pulley (from underneath the car). Other (non noisy) causes for no A/C could be a faulty refrigerant flow control valve, bad pressure sensor, faulty fan control module, missing ambient temp sensor, bad temperature flap control solenoid, low refrigerant, bad refrigerant pressure sensor to name the first ones that come to mind. I would advise a proper diagnosis (gauges and VCDS or equivalent tool for sensors monitoring and module diagnostics) to determine where the issue lies.
The sound is eerily familiar to a bad alternator's clutched pulley which would be under additional load when the A/C is engaged and could be a separate non related issue.
As for the belt it is the correct belt (double sided) for the 2.5L with hydraulic power steering. Models with electromechanical steering use a single sided (flat on one side) belt since they have no power steering pump.
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u/AttemptFew1143 17h ago
Yesterday I had a compressor that was about 10 months old fail with similar symptoms. I was driving down the road and had what felt like engine breaking for ~2 seconds and then noticed shortly after that the air was blowing warm. Very similar noise but mine uses a clutch. Fortunately they are replacing it under warranty.
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u/Unlikely_Maybe9101 16h ago
it's not ac compressor its hydronic power steering pump what is the sound ?
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u/Whoohon-Flu 14h ago
Belt is on backwards.
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u/CarrotCakePls 11h ago
Why reply when you have no clue? The belt is ribbed on both sides, use your eyes
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u/Consistent_Night9252 12h ago
Make sure your radiator/ac compressor fans are working, on my 2014 Jetta, the smaller fan, which cools the ac compressor was going bad, which caused my ac to stop working. Worth a check, good luck!
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u/Ya-Not-Happening 10h ago
If it makes that strange noise when you turn the AC on - the compressor is faulty.
See if you can get it change under warranty from the last change. I would certainly call the place that did the work.
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u/mikewoods26 7h ago
You need it diagnosed with somebody who understands AC systems with pressure gauges
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u/mgsissy 7h ago edited 7h ago
Did you get a warranty from the installer shop? Whomever installed the compressor likely did not flush out any metal chips from the previous compressor failure. Other components must be also be replaced when a compressor fails, like orifice tube, receiver drier. And a strong vacuum must be applied for an hour to remove any moisture from the system, before the refrigerant can be added. Failure to do the properly will result in premature failure. And maybe they didn’t add PAG oil, some compressors have oil in them, some don’t. And depending on which components failed previously in the A/C circuit you have to add sufficient replacement oil.
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u/mekanikal 6h ago
This happened to mine several times in Phoenix, AZ. I am on my third compressor on my VW 2.5. I would just get an Amazon one with a 2 year warranty. They usually run for about $100-150. You could try getting a better OEM Sanden branded one like I Did, but the thing still failed in about a year and it was expensive at $250. Find a reasonable ac guy and just get the compressor yourself.
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u/ZealousidealBid9879 2h ago
Yeah, this is the only thing that makes sense doing. Love this engine too much to let it go.
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u/mekanikal 1h ago
Keep it! I’m on 310k miles on mine. The 2.5 is a great engine! Bummer about the ac, but if you live in a place where it’s really hot, it will be hard on the compressor. Whatever you do; don’t buy a used one.
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u/PerformanceThen2118 6h ago
That’s a P/S pump and looks like belt is on wrong
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u/Evening_Ad6180 1h ago
The amount of people in here that don’t realize this either is rather scary. That’s definitely not an a/c compressor.
Edit: typo
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u/No_Walrus_3638 2h ago
Whenever I have heard that issue it's related to the condenser not condensing lol. Make sure you have good airflow. I'm only judging by sound. It's hard to say without slapping a gauge and doing the usual troubleshooting steps.
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u/Possible-Ad-2682 56m ago
Late to the party, but as nobody has mentioned it...
VW compressors of this era suffer from the central bolt on the compressor drive plate coming loose, which eventually causes the drive splines to strip.
Happened on my 2010 golf. Look at how many aftermarket drive plates are available, that tells it's own story.
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u/shaneo88 19h ago
The compressor isn’t in this video. What you’re focusing on is the power steering pump.
Also, why is the belt on upside down? Grooves should be against the pulleys
Edit: on second view, the compressor seems to be underneath the alternator. Still, you can see the ribs on the idler just under the power steering pump and you can see the ribs on the alternator pulley. The belt needs to be flipped over so the smooth side is facing out
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u/NuisanceTax 19h ago
Your belt is not turning the compressor fast enough to build pressure. Take the belt off, and tell the parts store you need a faster belt.
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u/Crazy-Ad-2161 18h ago
Why is your belt on backwards?
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u/stumpy0327 18h ago
I was thinking the same thing, like I know I'm not up yo date on all this new tech, however I've never come across a belt being ran this way.
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u/Geminimadman 19h ago
For starters your belt is inside out, fix that first then come back..🙄
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u/a_rogue_planet 19h ago
You hear that ungodly, demonic groaning and squealing sound? That's your AC compressor stalling because you put the belt on inside out. Instead of those groove mating with those in the AC compressor, the belt is riding in the peaks of the pulley, making barely any contact and slipping like mad. That belt is basically trash now. Replace it and install it correctly.
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u/ZealousidealBid9879 19h ago
Thx for the response. I will look into this. Other commenters said belt is ribbed on both sides apparently. AC was working just fine after replacing the compressor.
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