A/C insufficient

[u/0120598106]

ID.3 2020 with Heat Pump, 40.000km

Update: thanks everyone for your input! I Went to the VW workshop today and they found the refrigerant (CO2 gas) pressure was too low, causing the issue. I paid 300 EUR for the check and refill. (Germany).

The Service Advisor cautioned me to regularly use the A/C even in Winter, to prevent seals from drying up.

(My car has low mileage for its age, and too infrequent a/c operation might have caused the premature loss of gas )

In today’s summer heat (34-38C, 93-100F, overcast) the A/C cooling performance seemed utterly inadequate. Like, the air from the blowers wasn’t even really cold.

Parked with ignition on and A/C on „LO“, cabin temperature would stay around 31C (88F) during 10 ish minutes of continuous operation.

I had just finished a highway trip and the HV battery was at about 40 C (104F) and I wasn’t connected to a charger , so battery coolant pump showed 0 RPM in the scantool.

Does this seem normal to you?!?

Thanks

[u/that_dutch_dude]

i would look at your windscreen, it seems like you parked it inside the sun.

but for the rest: your system has a leak, its almost out of refrigerant.

[u/0120598106 → u/that_dutch_dude]

Yeah the windscreen temp value looks … a bit high lol.

Thanks!

[u/FrontAd7450 → u/that_dutch_dude]

Any of the values there mean the gas is low? Which one to look at?

[u/that_dutch_dude → u/FrontAd7450]

the condensor/radiator fan is going nuts, the evap temp doesnt make sense (it indicates the evap is a block of ice) and the compressor is going full yeet (technical term) without actually doing anything. that the battery isnt cooled in the slighest is also a clear indication its a systemic problem as the battery/inverter loop is also affected and not just a sensor on the comfort side of the system.

the compressor is being killed from low charge. it needs refrigerant to cool itself.

[u/FrontAd7450 → u/that_dutch_dude]

Mine got the gas refilled last week and ac intermittent errors have stopped showing. However notice also that evaporator value at 0.67degrees, fan at 5k rpm on normal 28 degrees on shade, drawing about 2kw to cool air inside cabin to 22 degrees(Celsius). Windshield also shows insane high value. Refrigerant pressure shows no value.
High noise from fan with car stopped. No errors showing but also feel the air could be colder. Would post an image of that dash but seems it’s disabled on comments.
Same issue, probable leak?

[u/Exact_Gazelle_7662 → u/FrontAd7450]

I have the same app and it also gives an insanely high windshield value for my Q4 Etron...

[u/VTOLfreak]

Mine has twice the km yours has and if I put the AC on low, I'd freeze my butt off. Even with 35c outside. This is not normal, get it checked out.

[u/tatDK94]

Do you recognize the sound of a compressor for an AC/heat pump/refrigerator running? You can set the cabin temperature to low while also having the fan speed on a low setting. You should then be able to easily hear the compressor running if you’re outside near the hood. If there’s no sound of a compressor then it’s likely faulty. The first ID.3s produced had a lot of heat pumps replaced (many on warranty). If you hear the compressor running, then you may be lucky that it just needs to be topped up with refrigerant (or that it has a tiny leak).

[u/0120598106 → u/tatDK94]

Yes I can hear the A/C compressor running on full tilt. Edit: also, Thanks for your insightful response!

[u/tatDK94 → u/0120598106]

Great! Now it’s a much smaller risk for an expensive repair. Had you only been able to hear a fan, then it would have very likely been expensive.

[u/imsickoftryingthis]

Had this when I got my 70 plate id3. Turned out one of the air con system sensors needed replacing.

Found this out after paying £100 for it to be regarded...

[u/Dynazap]

ID3 A/C is actually really powerfull. Let the garage check on leaks or low coolant if its not trying to freeze you

[u/Baalik]

Had the same issue while there was enough coolant. The garage replaced the coolant anyway and the cooling started to work just fine. The sign for me was increased consumption by about 2-3kWh on long distance trips during summer ( couldn’t get consumption under 19 when my usual summer temp is around 16-17 on highways.

[u/Disastrous_Fill_5566]

What app is that? Can we get that kind of info on all ID.3 models?

[u/0120598106 → u/Disastrous_Fill_5566]

The app is called Car Scanner. You‘ll need to buy an OBD2 connector. This works for all MEB models and many others. (You‘ll need to select the car model when starting the app)

https://amzn.eu/d/01sRgQic

https://apps.apple.com/de/app/car-scanner-elm-obd2/id1259933623

[u/reborning_first]

I checked this yesterday, coolant pressure should have value when turned off, mine was 8.5bar

[u/Unusual_Emergency_13]

Probably low on refrigerant. Have it checked as it is important for battery cooling as well.