Fusebox relay module...?

[wiggal]

Hey all!

I have a poorly car!

Her air con has never worked since I got her 2 years ago, but now need it fixed as my OH is going to use her as a company car.

Took her to Kwikfit to be recharged, they tried but couldnt and said I had a leak... took her to the garage yesterday who then phoned and said it was a problem with the electrics and they could have a look and try and sort it... oki by me.

Today they phoned, and he said it is a problem with the fusebox relay module and I need a new one :-(
My car was only 2 when I got her, so any ideas what could have caused this to go?

Just wondering really as the part is going to cost me £200 to fix, and the garage say the part and fitting it will cost me £500! Ouch! There goes my redundancy!!

Ta!

[jake-the-peg]

Did you get the quote for the work from a main dealer? or was that kwikfit?

I'd not use a main dealer as they're likely to be rather expensive and I don't know that I'd trust Kwickfit with an electrics job like this

If I were you I'd say thanks to them then I'd take it to an auto electrics specialist and see what they say.

[jno]

not sure I'd trust Kwikfit with anything much... I got a battery from them once that conked out after 11 months; they gave me another one that also lasted 11 months... Okay, they had a year's guarantee so I wasn't losing financially, but I could have done without the conking out. The AA man told me they were known for using cheap batteries (but then, he sold me a more expensive one).

Which doesn't answer your question at all.

[wiggal]

After trying to re charge it kwikfit said they could not do anymore, so I took it to a garage near my mums. It is not a Renault garage, but does seem to be pretty good as they always have a lot of custom.

When i spoke to the women yesterday she said the manager was going to be having a look and he is their specialist when it comes to electrics, but as I dont know what a whatever it is I need is, I dont really know!

Apparently the messages are getting to the relay, but no further which is why my air con is blowing out hot air? But because of the type of car, the bit I need is built in so have to replace the whole thing.

[R1Geezer]

stand back.

Rule 1 Never go to Kwik fit, shower of sh1te the lot of them.
Rule 2 Air con is notorious for being a con mans dream
Rule 3 see rule 1
Rule 4 Air con is being notorious for people not admit they know jack broccoli about it and guess, with a sharp intake of breath and the make up something.
Rule 5, see rule 1

If air is blowing out it is almost certainly not an electrical problem, that will be a cooling problem, ie the condenser, a leak sounds plausible, however without looking I can't tell. It is worth talking to a main dealer for a diagnosis, they'll be dear but they'll have a better chance at an accurate diagnosis.

Have a good look around for an airconditioning specialist, unfortunately there are a lot of charlatans out there who will try and rrip the ar5se out of it.

[chas2008]

could be climate control, upmarket air-con, then its quite possible it could be electric, air-con specialist the best recomendation...

[AlBags]

Yep
Take to an air con specialist.
He will charge it a bit and check for leaks. They use a "sniffer tool"
He will advise you on the relay situation.

[newbie99]

It maybe the compressor is not running. When you turn on the A/C the solenoid may not operate correctly to advance the mechanical linkage to turn the compressor.

When you turn on the A/C, does the car revs drop slightly or could you feel the drop in the engine speed? If so, the compressor is running.

[Andyvon]

Hi Wiggal,

I agree with geezer and the last few posts. NEVER go to KwikFit for anything like this. I wouldn't even trust them to change a tyre (they stripped the wheel nut threads from the front hubs last time I let them change my front tyres!) Don't go to a general garage either - go to a vehicle air conditioning specialist. Whatever your problem is it will almost certainly be a simple fix for them.

A common reason that AC doesn't work is that a seal has perished and the refrigerant fluid has leaked away. In that case a specialist renews the seals and recharges the AC system. Straightforward and it might just be that.

[AlBags]

On newer motors, there are usually two switches .. low and high pressure. These monitor the pressure, and the system will not run/work properly unless pressures are correct.
That is generally why they charge up a bit first and check for leaks before doing much else.

[Toureman]

There should be one of these near you, they do a proper job..........

http://www.nationwide...o.uk/Air-conditioning

[boro1986]

I agree with everything said about Kwik Fit. I had my car serviced and MOT by them on the Sunday, passed without a problem. Took it home and on monday would not start EST failure. I have ended up having to buy a shiney new car (shame) as it appears it was an ECU problem. Strange to happen after a full service and MOT DO NOT USE KWIK FIT.

[bednobs]

why cant he just open the window, presumably like you have been doing for the past 2 years?

[wiggal]

Thank you all, apart from one for your very helpful answers.

I have just found out that it should still be under warranty which is rather handy, and hopefully will save us some pennies!

bednobs, baring in mind that I have driven my car to and from work and not much further, no air con has been ok to deal with. With my OH driving 200/300 miles a day round the country, having working air con would be preffered.

And seeing as in total the car finance has been costing just short of £20,000 what is so wrong with wanting all parts of it to work!?

[bednobs]

nothing wrong with wanting it all to work, it just seems a bit rich that it's ok for you to drive a car with no ac but then YOU have to spend YOUR redundancy money on getting it fixed for HIM!

[wiggal]

Well baring in mind that as I didnt realise there was still a warrany and the air con has not worked since I got the car, why should he have to pay when my ex and I could have had the car fixed before hand and would not have to pay at all?

And I hardly think it is that rich when my OH has just taken out a £9000 loan to pay the settlement figure to get the car transfered from my ex to myself because I would not have been able to.

Therefore I think trying to sort out the air con is the least I could do!