A/C Doesn't Work For Long When Hot
 

So, get in the hot car, start her up, cold air starts coming out, drive off and then it slowly turns warm air :angry_smile:

Had her gassed as that's normally the sign and it was still cold to start with, 300m down the road and its warm again :(

Outside temp was over 25C

Next day drove 500 miles with an o/side temp of max 22C and it was cold as anything.

Now I did try and start up outside my house and sit there for a wee while and sure enough, after about a minute I heard a "clunk" from somewhere and then the warm air started again.

Anyone any ideas?

Air Con condenser clutch?
My 1996 960 has a very audible "clunk" when the clutch engages :)

Cheers

Me thinks you mean the compressor clutch ?

If the compressor clutch gap is the problem as it was for me, I fixed it with this simple and free solution.

Also, if it's been over filled (ie pressure is too high) it will work for a bit and then stop.

Which is why I take mine to the dealers where it is emptied then refilled with correct amount.
The DIY kits can work but it's hit and miss.

Paul.

Hmm...

Well thought I'd take a look yesterday, so opened the bonnet and looked down like in the video and could I see it? Could I heck. Eventually lay on floor and looked up and saw the compressor working away then cutting out. Put a feeler gauge in and I think it was just over .6 but I couldn't get another thin one in (said 63 on big and 10 on small but I've had them 20 years so could be anything).

Set off on my way back to London and sure enough it was pretty muggy, so I turned the a/c off, waited 30 secs and then back on and it worked fine all the way back.

But there is no way I could get anything in from the top, I'm sure it must have been a different engine? And again, from the bottom I don't think it would be possible due to the chassis being in the way.

Out of interest does the rad fan come on with the aircon?

Had a Mondeo at the garage today which had the air con not working all the time turned out to be the cooling fan module wiring had burnt out.

Yes, the fan draws air across the AC condenser If you disconnect the rad fan so it wont start and then run the AC it wont work. Tried this myself recently out of curiosity when I put a new radiator in my P3

Did you get it fixed? I have exactly same problem with my 2011 S60 D5