147 climate control failure, but only when its cold

Got a 147 ts lusso with climate control. when it is cold there is no power to the climate control unit at all. it works perfectly in the warm weather but when its cold none of the lights come on, no fans no heat, nothing at all, so my windows steam up and it gets very cold in the car. sometimes, once i have been driving for a while it will come on.

this sounds to me like its some kind of connection issue, but the alfa service people are saying i need a brand new climate control unit costing £555 fitted. this is obviously a lot of money, so wondered if any of you have any suggestions re this.

they tell me that they have checked all the fuses etc but there must be something if it is only failing when its cold and it comes on when warmed up, maybe a connection expanding and contracting maybe.

i have very limited technical ability, but alfa romeo have been utterly useless so far with responding to my emails etc

cheers


--
xdeity

------------------------------------------------------------------------
View this thread: http://www.carstalk.net/viewtopic-372948.html

Send from http://www.carstalk.net

"xdeity" > wrote in message
...
>
> Got a 147 ts lusso with climate control. when it is cold there is no power
> to the climate control unit at all. it works perfectly in the warm weather
> but when its cold none of the lights come on, no fans no heat, nothing at
> all, so my windows steam up and it gets very cold in the car. sometimes,
> once i have been driving for a while it will come on.
>
> this sounds to me like its some kind of connection issue, but the alfa
> service people are saying i need a brand new climate control unit costing
> £555 fitted. this is obviously a lot of money, so wondered if any of you
> have any suggestions re this.
>
> they tell me that they have checked all the fuses etc but there must be
> something if it is only failing when its cold and it comes on when warmed
> up, maybe a connection expanding and contracting maybe.
>
> i have very limited technical ability, but alfa romeo have been utterly
> useless so far with responding to my emails etc
>
> cheers


So, I have the same issue with my climate control aboard the 147 Limited.
When the temperature displayed on the board comupter is under 5.0 C*, the
compressor of the A/C device does not turn on. As soon as the temperature
rises, it's possible to turn it on.
But, if the windows steam up, you can always turn on the ventilation to
clean the windows. Of course, not as fast as with the A/C active but it
cleans up quite fast also.
I didn't asked yet my local dealer (Croatia) about the issue but I belive
it's somekind of protection of the air compressor and for the air not to
freeze in the tubes conducting the air from the A/C compressor to the car's
interior. Just a guess, I'm not sure if I'm right.
I'll write down the answer for my dealer as soon as I get the time to
contact them.

With kind regards,
Robert

P.S. Please let me know if you find out something new. Thanks in advance!

xdeity wrote:

>
> Got a 147 ts lusso with climate control. when it is cold there is no power
> to the climate control unit at all. it works perfectly in the warm weather
> but when its cold none of the lights come on, no fans no heat, nothing at
> all, so my windows steam up and it gets very cold in the car. sometimes,
> once i have been driving for a while it will come on.
>
> this sounds to me like its some kind of connection issue, but the alfa
> service people are saying i need a brand new climate control unit costing
> £555 fitted. this is obviously a lot of money, so wondered if any of you
> have any suggestions re this.
>
> they tell me that they have checked all the fuses etc but there must be
> something if it is only failing when its cold and it comes on when warmed
> up, maybe a connection expanding and contracting maybe.

Indeed. Technically it might be a dry joint on a circuit board. Modular
engineering can really suck.

Personally I'd try an independant AC specialist of Auto electrician,
assuming you;re out of warranty. If you aren't then tell em to srot it and
sue.
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 OMF#22
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 156 TS S2
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

"xdeity" > wrote in message
...
>
> Got a 147 ts lusso with climate control. when it is cold there is no power
> to the climate control unit at all. it works perfectly in the warm weather
> but when > its cold none of the lights come on, no fans no heat, nothing
> at all, so my windows steam up and it gets very cold in the car.
> sometimes, once i have been > driving for a while it will come on.
>
> this sounds to me like its some kind of connection issue, but the alfa
> service people are saying i need a brand new climate control unit costing
> £555 fitted. > this is obviously a lot of money, so wondered if any of you
> have any suggestions re this.
>
> they tell me that they have checked all the fuses etc but there must be
> something if it is only failing when its cold and it comes on when warmed
> up, maybe > a connection expanding and contracting maybe.

I might have misread your question, but isn't is supposed to work like that?
My 156 behaves exactly as you have described, but I'm sure the manual agrees
and explains why!... If the outside temperature is below a certain level (I
think 3.5 deg C), then the air compressor can't be switched on to protect it
from freezing (I think I remember reading that in the manual).

Also if you have just turned your engine on and it is cold outside, then
there is not enough heat in the engine to warm the air in the cabin, so the
fans don't spin until the engine has warmed up enough to heat up the cabin.
There is no point blowing the cold, outside air on your hands, so the
computer waits until the air coming through is warm enough to blow on the
passengers!

GT wrote:

> "xdeity" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> Got a 147 ts lusso with climate control. when it is cold there is no
>> power to the climate control unit at all. it works perfectly in the warm
>> weather but when > its cold none of the lights come on, no fans no heat,
>> nothing at all, so my windows steam up and it gets very cold in the car.
>> sometimes, once i have been > driving for a while it will come on.
>>
>> this sounds to me like its some kind of connection issue, but the alfa
>> service people are saying i need a brand new climate control unit costing
>> £555 fitted. > this is obviously a lot of money, so wondered if any of
>> you have any suggestions re this.
>>
>> they tell me that they have checked all the fuses etc but there must be
>> something if it is only failing when its cold and it comes on when warmed
>> up, maybe > a connection expanding and contracting maybe.
>
> I might have misread your question, but isn't is supposed to work like
> that? My 156 behaves exactly as you have described, but I'm sure the
> manual agrees and explains why!... If the outside temperature is below a
> certain level (I think 3.5 deg C), then the air compressor can't be
> switched on to protect it from freezing (I think I remember reading that
> in the manual).

Mine dunt do that.

> Also if you have just turned your engine on and it is cold outside, then
> there is not enough heat in the engine to warm the air in the cabin, so
> the fans don't spin until the engine has warmed up enough to heat up the
> cabin.

This is true.


--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 OMF#22
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 156 TS S2
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

"Catman" > wrote in message
...
> GT wrote:
>
>> "xdeity" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> Got a 147 ts lusso with climate control. when it is cold there is no
>>> power to the climate control unit at all. it works perfectly in the warm
>>> weather but when > its cold none of the lights come on, no fans no heat,
>>> nothing at all, so my windows steam up and it gets very cold in the car.
>>> sometimes, once i have been > driving for a while it will come on.
>>>
>>> this sounds to me like its some kind of connection issue, but the alfa
>>> service people are saying i need a brand new climate control unit
>>> costing
>>> £555 fitted. > this is obviously a lot of money, so wondered if any of
>>> you have any suggestions re this.
>>>
>>> they tell me that they have checked all the fuses etc but there must be
>>> something if it is only failing when its cold and it comes on when
>>> warmed
>>> up, maybe > a connection expanding and contracting maybe.
>>
>> I might have misread your question, but isn't is supposed to work like
>> that? My 156 behaves exactly as you have described, but I'm sure the
>> manual agrees and explains why!... If the outside temperature is below a
>> certain level (I think 3.5 deg C), then the air compressor can't be
>> switched on to protect it from freezing (I think I remember reading that
>> in the manual).
>
> Mine dunt do that.

Page 106 of the manual - "The climate control compressor works only when the
engine is running and the outside temperatures is more than 2 deg C". (I
incorrectly said 3.5 degrees before). This sounds like the fault the
original question was regarding?!?

GT wrote:

> "Catman" > wrote in message
> ...
>> GT wrote:
>>
>>> "xdeity" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>> Got a 147 ts lusso with climate control. when it is cold there is no
>>>> power to the climate control unit at all. it works perfectly in the
>>>> warm weather but when > its cold none of the lights come on, no fans no
>>>> heat, nothing at all, so my windows steam up and it gets very cold in
>>>> the car. sometimes, once i have been > driving for a while it will come
>>>> on.
>>>>
>>>> this sounds to me like its some kind of connection issue, but the alfa
>>>> service people are saying i need a brand new climate control unit
>>>> costing
>>>> £555 fitted. > this is obviously a lot of money, so wondered if any of
>>>> you have any suggestions re this.
>>>>
>>>> they tell me that they have checked all the fuses etc but there must be
>>>> something if it is only failing when its cold and it comes on when
>>>> warmed
>>>> up, maybe > a connection expanding and contracting maybe.
>>>
>>> I might have misread your question, but isn't is supposed to work like
>>> that? My 156 behaves exactly as you have described, but I'm sure the
>>> manual agrees and explains why!... If the outside temperature is below a
>>> certain level (I think 3.5 deg C), then the air compressor can't be
>>> switched on to protect it from freezing (I think I remember reading that
>>> in the manual).
>>
>> Mine dunt do that.
>
> Page 106 of the manual - "The climate control compressor works only when
> the engine is running and the outside temperatures is more than 2 deg C".
> (I incorrectly said 3.5 degrees before). This sounds like the fault the
> original question was regarding?!?

OI*C* I missed the bit about it coming on later. Good point.
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 OMF#22
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 156 TS S2
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

"Catman" > wrote in message
news
> GT wrote:
>
>> "Catman" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> GT wrote:
>>>
>>>> "xdeity" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>>
>>>>> Got a 147 ts lusso with climate control. when it is cold there is no
>>>>> power to the climate control unit at all. it works perfectly in the
>>>>> warm weather but when > its cold none of the lights come on, no fans
>>>>> no
>>>>> heat, nothing at all, so my windows steam up and it gets very cold in
>>>>> the car. sometimes, once i have been > driving for a while it will
>>>>> come
>>>>> on.
>>>>>
>>>>> this sounds to me like its some kind of connection issue, but the alfa
>>>>> service people are saying i need a brand new climate control unit
>>>>> costing
>>>>> £555 fitted. > this is obviously a lot of money, so wondered if any of
>>>>> you have any suggestions re this.
>>>>>
>>>>> they tell me that they have checked all the fuses etc but there must
>>>>> be
>>>>> something if it is only failing when its cold and it comes on when
>>>>> warmed
>>>>> up, maybe > a connection expanding and contracting maybe.
>>>>
>>>> I might have misread your question, but isn't is supposed to work like
>>>> that? My 156 behaves exactly as you have described, but I'm sure the
>>>> manual agrees and explains why!... If the outside temperature is below
>>>> a
>>>> certain level (I think 3.5 deg C), then the air compressor can't be
>>>> switched on to protect it from freezing (I think I remember reading
>>>> that
>>>> in the manual).
>>>
>>> Mine dunt do that.
>>
>> Page 106 of the manual - "The climate control compressor works only when
>> the engine is running and the outside temperatures is more than 2 deg C".
>> (I incorrectly said 3.5 degrees before). This sounds like the fault the
>> original question was regarding?!?
>
> OI*C* I missed the bit about it coming on later. Good point.

So I don't think the original question actually identifies a fault in the
system at all. Unless I have misunderstood the problem - which is quite
common!!

xdeity, does this sounds like a short summary of the problem... The
compressor (snowflake button on dashboard) won't come on below 2 degrees
(external temperature) and secondly, the fans don't blow until the engine
has warmed up (unless you manually turn up the fan dial)? If that is an
accurate interpretation of the problem, then there is nothing wrong - that
is what is supposed to happen! Don't fork out £555 for a new unit!!!

OI*C* I missed the bit about it coming on later. Good point.

Mine works in this way too, but the lights still light up.

I think everyone missed the bit about, no lights on dials lighting up.

John,UK.

OI*C* I missed the bit about it coming on later. Good point.

Mine works in this way too, but the lights still light up.

I think everyone missed the bit about, no lights on dials lighting up.

John,UK.