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Air Conditioning Malfunction

1780 Views 17 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  arennie
I have been using this thread for months now to solve problems that I encounter. After searching extensively on this forum and others I finally broke down and joined so I could ask the question myself. The air conditioning on my Passat lately has been less than stellar. The air usually starts out good, blowing steady cold air, but then 10 minutes into my drive it will start to do some nonsense. It will sound like it is blowing but nothing is actually coming out of the vents. Every about 10 seconds once it starts this it will let out a small amount of air that is not cold. Usually after a couple minutes of this cycle it will go back to normal for another 10-15 minutes and then it starts all over again. Not sure if this has anything to do with it, but during the very mild Florida winter the heat sucked. I bought this car used and am not sure what the idiot before me might have done, or not done. Car currently has 80000 miles and has the Climacontrol or whatever it is called. If you guys could give me some insight on what might be going wrong I'd greatly appreciate it.
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Does it always blow air? does it work best on the highway? Does it cycle (COLD-HOT) regardless?
Check fault codes and post results, see this self diagnostic test.

http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jues/Climatronic_Self_Diagnostics.pdf
Also check your cabin air filter. When i bought my car, it was so dirty, that in full "blow" i barely had some air.
Its on the right side just below windshield(remove one small crossheaded screw, and then plastic)
Does it always blow air? does it work best on the highway? Does it cycle (COLD-HOT) regardless?
It doesn't always blow. It will sound like it is blowing but nothing will come out of the vents.
I have already replaced the cabin filter two weeks ago hoping that would solve the problem and there were leaves and twigs all in it. No luck there. :banghead:
Check fault codes and post results, see this self diagnostic test.

http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jues/Climatronic_Self_Diagnostics.pdf
Just did this diagnostic and got the following fault codes-
256
4F7
4F8
4FA
Those are hexadecimal numbers. Convert them to decimal numbers then look them up in a code chart.

Hex to Decimal Converter

00598
01271
01272
01274

Category:Fault Codes - Ross-Tech Wiki

01271 - Ross-Tech Wiki

01272 - Ross-Tech Wiki

01274 - Ross-Tech Wiki

Are you sure that first code number is correct?
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Three of your flap servo motors are reported as not working correctly.
This could be faulty motors, broken links, or binding flaps.
You could run the Actuator Test to check further. Note: Battery Voltage should read >11.5 <15.5V.
I don't have any info on code 256.

To get to the motors & flaps, you will need to remove centre console, steering wheel, and dash.
Just ran the check again and it was actually a lower case b. So the other code is 25b. Going to try and find a DIY to replace these. Would these malfunctioning cause the problems I am getting?
Three of your flap servo motors are reported as not working correctly.
This could be faulty motors, broken links, or binding flaps.
You could run the Actuator Test to check further. Note: Battery Voltage should read >11.5 <15.5V.
I don't have any info on code 256.

To get to the motors & flaps, you will need to remove centre console, steering wheel, and dash.

Ran the actuator test and got the same codes at the end.
Just ran the check again and it was actually a lower case b. So the other code is 25b. Going to try and find a DIY to replace these. Would these malfunctioning cause the problems I am getting?
Yes these faults could cause the problems you are having.

I don't have anything on 25b either, maybe it's not relevant.
In your posts you should list the codes, locations, and error types, you can get all that from the link.
Is there anything I can do to delay having to replace/repair the servo motors? Don't think I have enough know-how to do this one myself and don't want to bend over at the shop and give them $1500. Anything I can try that is less costly and might get me through the summer? The 25b fault code is Footwell/Defrost Flap Servo Motor.
It seems unlikely that you would have all those flap motors etc. go faulty at the same time.
It could be a bad earth, bad sensor, or the Control Unit, among other things.
Have you checked the ambient temp sensor, mounted on the PS cooler?
Is the temp reading in the dash correct?
It seems unlikely that you would have all those flap motors etc. go faulty at the same time.
It could be a bad earth, bad sensor, or the Control Unit, among other things.
Have you checked the ambient temp sensor, mounted on the PS cooler?
Is the temp reading in the dash correct?
Alright so I just took it out for a short drive. Before I left I cleared all the previous fault codes. While I was driving I monitored the temp reading and it ran about 3-4 degrees over the actual temperature outside. I was in the car for 30 minutes with one stop half way through. I almost made it home without it acting up, but about 25 minutes in it did the same thing I described in the original post. Is it possible that the Cabin Thermometer for the Climacontrol is acting up? Do you think an Evac and Recharge might fix it? When I got back I checked the codes again and the only one that showed was 4FA which is the Recirculation Flap Servo Motor fault code.
While I was driving I monitored the temp reading and it ran about 3-4 degrees over the actual temperature outside.
That shouldn't be a problem.


Is it possible that the Cabin Thermometer for the Climacontrol is acting up?
Yes, or any other sensor in the system.


Do you think an Evac and Recharge might fix it?
No.


When I got back I checked the codes again and the only one that showed was 4FA which is the Recirculation Flap Servo Motor fault code.
This would not cause your problem.


You could do more thorough checking etc. with VCDS (VAG-COM).
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I've had someone recommend for me to go in with a VAG-COM and reset the open-closed points of the flap motors because he thinks that they have lost their basic settings. I'm about to just take it into an import shop and let them try and find the problem.
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