No A/C in UK heatwave

[Tim]

Mines not working either. Just came back from service (Bell & Colvill) where they said they would have tested it?!

Exact same symptoms as the OP - all lights/controls work, but the air is just ambient temps.

I’ve never had to regas a car, so surely a regas on a 3 year old car means there’s a fault?

 

[geoffbland]

Car's will lose their A/C gas over time. You often need to re-gas them every 2-3 years to keep them working at their best. That said it is unusual for them to completely stop cooling, the cooling degrades over time (or starts smelling `off`) - so something is definitely wrong with your cars.

 

[Kimmax]

Get your radiators checked and confirm you have those o-rings replaced, there's a recall for that

 

[NSXer]

Car's will lose their A/C gas over time. You often need to re-gas them every 2-3 years to keep them working at their best. That said it is not usual for them to completely stop cooling, the cooling degrades over time (or starts smelling `off`) - so something is definitely wrong with your cars.

ive owned multiple cars mostly japanese brands and i never had to regas in the space of 2-3 years ... heck my s2000 is 20 year old this year and its never had a regas and the A/C is as strong as ever.

i do feel there is an underlying issue and i need to explore the o-ring issue with my dealer prior to my wrranty expiring

 

[NSXer]

Get your radiators checked and confirm you have those o-rings replaced, there's a recall for that

thanks for this info ... do you know when the recall for this was first communicated out?
would not mind getting some facts so i can present to dealer if there is issues?

TIA

 

[NSXer]

Mines not working either. Just came back from service (Bell & Colvill) where they said they would have tested it?!

Exact same symptoms as the OP - all lights/controls work, but the air is just ambient temps.

I’ve never had to regas a car, so surely a regas on a 3 year old car means there’s a fault?

let me know how you get on with B&C, but very frustrating

its a week now since my regas and so far everything is ok with regards to cooling.

 

[Sanguineous]

Not being a hater, but if Gas exit a close system... Then the system isn't close at all...

While the "regas" should not be cover by the warranty; then the leak should definitely be.

If there are recall that needs to be done; sure, but if you guys have everything "OK" then I would 100% ask for them to do a leak check under warranty.

AC gas don't just quantum tunnel out of the AC system... Would love to hear a Lotus Tech explain to me how gas escapes if there are no leaks.

 

[geoffbland]

Not being a hater, but if Gas exit a close system... Then the system isn't close at all...

Modern A/C systems use rubber - believe it or not but most rubber is porous to gas - this includes synthetic rubbers. Even old style copper tube A/C used rubber o-rings - again slightly porous.
If you have ever done any PC water cooling you'll know that over time the coolant levels go down - this is as the water vapour escapes through the plastic tubing (PETG and Acrylic) and through the O-rings as vapour.
You will also have seen that baloons deflate over time no matter how hard they are tied.

Source: https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ScientificPapers/nbsscientificpaper387vol16p327_A2b.pdf

 

[Sanguineous]

Modern A/C systems use rubber - believe it or not but most rubber is porous to gas - this includes synthetic rubbers. Even old style copper tube A/C used rubber o-rings - again slightly porous.
If you have ever done any PC water cooling you'll know that over time the coolant levels go down - this is as the water vapour escapes through the plastic tubing (PETG and Acrylic) and through the O-rings as vapour.
You will also have seen that baloons deflate over time no matter how hard they are tied.

Source: https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ScientificPapers/nbsscientificpaper387vol16p327_A2b.pdf

Read some of the article, not arguing about porous material, I know nothing is perfectly sealed, but for 98% pure R-134a water vapor's concentration is still really low ~0.001% and C2H2F4 is a big molecule compare to water/hydrogen.

The article mentions 190 to 200 better permeability than hydrogen for ethyl chloride and R-134a is almost 60% heavier... so you can expect even better number.
Cool article by the way, thank you!

Overall what I'm saying is that, in my opinion, 3 years for a complete leak of A/C is a design problem not a permeability and should be cover by Lotus' warranty.
Though since it is a Lotus, and what your saying is true... I would not argue and just take the L.

 

[NSXer]

Just a heads up on my a/c system and after regas status ... all has been going well with the regas which happened Monday last week. unfortuantely i took the car out for a quick test yesterday evening and put the system to LO Auto, and there has been considerable reduction in cold air ... its not completely gone but it is a massive step down from how it was cooling last wek. so my a/c has definitely got a leak/issue. i will now have to put urgency on my my dealer to repair as my warranty expires this month. wish me luck !

 

[NSXer]

car booked in for next friday with dealership and hopefully resolve this issue prior to warranty expiration

 

[Tim]

So had a really awesome mobile aircon guy out to it today. He could only recover 130g of gas (spec is 725g)… all filled and working great now.

He did mention that the likely cause was because I don’t drive it often - the gas tends to leak more when left for extended periods without running the compressor

 

[NSXer]

just an update ... Lotus is not helping me with the issue even though warranty has expired and the last service was done by me in good faith with the dealer prior to warranty lapsing.

i have contacted Lotus CS and unfortuantely drew a blank there and Lotus not willing to help resolve/fix my aircon. I will not be bringing the car back to my dealer as their rates are pretty extortionate and i am concerned that this would end up with a hefty bill before any potential new parts are required (and these are not cheap either)

Car is booked in with an independent car a/c specialist next week and hopefully he will be able to diagnose the problem quickly and it is easily fixable and not too costly. i will update here to help out others going forward on diagnosis and hopefully fix

I have to admit this has left a sour taste with me and Lotus ... NB i did not walk in to this ownership blind i know what you are up against as a customer but they really are a disgrace. good product shame about the rest of the organsiation

 

[NSXer]

further update to my ac issues it appears at this early stage that my condensor (behind the number plate) has been peppered by stones and there is a fairly sizable hole plus additinal smaller ones. a new compressor from Lotus is circa 290 quid. going to see if my specialist can build one.

next stage will be taking the front end off and getting the unit installed ... im sure that will be fun and not cheap

 

[NSXer]

Decided to purchase new unit from Lotus as keen to get the car back and get the issue hopefully done in dusted.

My issue ... so much for driving the car and enjoying it!!!

 

[fraz]

Mine went in last week, got a new compressor fitted under warranty. By Sunday it’s just blowing ambient air again so need to take it back, must be a leak somewhere.

 

[NSXer]

Mine went in last week, got a new compressor fitted under warranty. By Sunday it’s just blowing ambient air again so need to take it back, must be a leak somewhere.

at least you got a new compressor, not exactly a cheap part!!! Well I would point them in the direction of the condenser if you have been using the car and driving as intened
my compressor was siad to be working fine and i am hoping a replacement condenser will sort out my issues

 

[fraz]

I can’t really fault Lotus Glasgow, been good with warranty so far. I got a full years manufacurers warranty on it when I bought it in October (‘22 car) so I have been making use of it!

 

[NSXer]

just a final update on this thread, my a/c is now fully working again. new condensor rad fitted and everything is working normally. great to have lovely cold air in this spell of good weather across the UK.

I will bring my condensor rad to the dealership and see if there is any hope of acknowledgement and possibly some sort of refund but i very much doubt it.

so anyone who expereinces a/c issues and drives the car like it was intended and starts to have a/c issues, do yourself a favour and properly inspect your condensor as it will save time hassle and money in the longer term

 

[geoffbland]

just a final update on this thread, my a/c is now fully working again. new compressor rad fitted and everything is working normally. great to have lovely cold air in this spell of good weather across the UK.

I will bring my compressor rad to the dealership and see if there is any hope of acknowledgement and possibly some sort of refund but i very much doubt it.

so anyone who expereinces a/c issues and drives the car like it was intended and starts to have a/c issues, do yourself a favour and properly inspect your condensor as it will save time hassle and money in the longer term

Do you mind telling us what the cost was to repair? It may have some bearing on decisions on buying (indepedent) extended warranty.