Air conditioning

http://www.ukmgparts.com
Ask the Gurus - Use this board to discuss problems or technical issues you have with your MGF/TF - there's always an expert around to help you!

Moderator: Committee Members

Forum rules
Not many rules really, this board being aimed at technical issues, it shouldn't fall foul (hopefully) of some of the more personal issues that can affect forums.

Rule 1 - Is that you need to think very carefully before posting anything technical or asking anything technical relating to the security system of the car - See 'Security Issues' sticky for more info.

Rule 2 - We (MGF Register) do not support copyright infringement and therefore references to CD ROM, PDF versions or paper copies of the workshop manual (for instance) should not be posted on the forum. We don't want to get into trouble and we'd rather sell you a genuine hard copy through our Regalia shop anyway! :)

Because advice is honestly and freely given in this technical section, much of it will be amateur experienced based, so any information is given in good faith and is not guaranteed as correct.
Post Reply
Jorge D
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:32 am
MGF Register Region: United States of America

Air conditioning

Post by Jorge D » Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:44 am

:sf:
I need help with tf air conditioning only cools when parked
As soon as you drive hot air comes from outside
Any help would be great
Tks

User avatar
talkingcars
Posts: 5766
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:44 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: mk1 VVC
Location: West Sussex
Contact:

Re: Air conditioning

Post by talkingcars » Wed Jul 12, 2017 11:30 pm

Hi and welcome to the forum

Strange one, I'll give it some thought.

James
Home to black Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Q4, blue MGZR160, green MGF VVC and grey MGF 1.8i, and red MG Maestro T16.

MGF chatting on the Register and at http://www.the-t-bar.com

BodgeItAndScarper
Posts: 196
Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2017 9:43 am
MGF Register Region: Thames Valley

Re: Air conditioning

Post by BodgeItAndScarper » Thu Jul 13, 2017 1:31 pm

Jorge D wrote::sf:
I need help with tf air conditioning only cools when parked
As soon as you drive hot air comes from outside
Any help would be great
Tks
When you say hot air comes from outside, do you mean the a/c is still running but is overwhelmed by a leak? Or that it starts blowing hot instead of cold?

User avatar
nigelandjo
Committee Member & Regional Rep
Posts: 4908
Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:44 pm
MGF Register Region: Somerset & Dorset
Model of Car: TF85th,TF135,Trophy
Location: Berrow
Contact:

Re: Air conditioning

Post by nigelandjo » Thu Jul 13, 2017 9:15 pm

What age of car? Small things like this might help with the diagnosis. Are you really in the USA?
Nigel May
Vice Chairman, Somerset & Dorset Regional Rep, Membership Secretary, Registrar & Archivist
Email: somerset.dorset@mgfregister.org
members@mgfregister.org

MGCC Members register here: https://mgfregister.org/?page_id=319

David Booker
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2017 1:14 pm
MGF Register Region: South East

Re: Air conditioning

Post by David Booker » Sat Jul 15, 2017 12:02 pm

Have you tried having the 'Recirculate' function on? That way only internal air is cooled.

Jorge D
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:32 am
MGF Register Region: United States of America

Re: Air conditioning

Post by Jorge D » Tue Jul 18, 2017 9:44 pm

Hello Yes the air starts to blow hot from the vents
It's 2004

Jorge D
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:32 am
MGF Register Region: United States of America

Re: Air conditioning

Post by Jorge D » Tue Jul 18, 2017 9:45 pm

Air recirculating on or off same thing
First I thought it was outside air coming in the cabin

But no its blowing hot

User avatar
Rob Bell
Committee Member
Posts: 14422
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:36 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: MGF 1.8i + MGF Shed!

Re: Air conditioning

Post by Rob Bell » Wed Jul 19, 2017 2:39 pm

A stupid question, but what is the heater output setting? Is it on cold or on hot? The cabin heater/ air conditioning on the MGF/TF is extremely rudimentary ;)

User avatar
Reckless Rat
Posts: 1887
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:01 am
MGF Register Region: Europe
Model of Car: 97 1.8mpi in BRG
Location: South of France - in the Gard.

Re: Air conditioning

Post by Reckless Rat » Wed Jul 19, 2017 6:53 pm

Has the system been re-gassed? If not it will never generate cooling.

BodgeItAndScarper
Posts: 196
Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2017 9:43 am
MGF Register Region: Thames Valley

Re: Air conditioning

Post by BodgeItAndScarper » Wed Jul 19, 2017 7:37 pm

OP said cools when parked. I was wondering if the a/c overlaps with the cooling system somewhere.

User avatar
Reckless Rat
Posts: 1887
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:01 am
MGF Register Region: Europe
Model of Car: 97 1.8mpi in BRG
Location: South of France - in the Gard.

Re: Air conditioning

Post by Reckless Rat » Wed Jul 19, 2017 7:51 pm

Normally on an air con system the system won't run unless the heater fan is switched on to at least position 1. There should be a warning lamp (green or yellow illuminated on the A/C switch if that is the case to show that the system is active. Given that the heater fan resistor pack is a very unreliable part in the MGF could this be a source of your problem? Failing that, when the A/C is activated are the front radiator fans running? They should be. You should be able to hear the clutch engage on the compressor when the system activates, and engine revs at tick-over may drop slightly when that happens.

Jorge D
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:32 am
MGF Register Region: United States of America

Re: Air conditioning

Post by Jorge D » Thu Jul 20, 2017 1:45 am

Thanks all for the advice but I've done everything regas it's on cold fans are on cluch engages as soon as I drive to a stop light it starts cooling again
It's so weird I don't know and understand my town there are not good shops to rely on that's why Y need help
Attachments
IMG_9281.JPG

User avatar
Reckless Rat
Posts: 1887
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:01 am
MGF Register Region: Europe
Model of Car: 97 1.8mpi in BRG
Location: South of France - in the Gard.

Re: Air conditioning

Post by Reckless Rat » Thu Jul 20, 2017 8:02 am

From what you say it sounds like there is ram air passing into the car without going through the air-con radiator in the heating/ventilation system. Not being familiar with A/C equipped MGF/TFs (they are very rare in the UK apart from the chinese ones) is it possible that there is a part of the trunking that's missing - warm air passing into the car directly from the inlet on the front bulkhead rather than passing through the cooled radiator in the fan unit.

Has the vehicle ever been accident damaged and had the dashboard removed/replaced? Is there a problem with the recirculating flap that's preventing air going into the unit and instead directing it into the cabin?

Jorge D
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:32 am
MGF Register Region: United States of America

Re: Air conditioning

Post by Jorge D » Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:09 am

The recirculation mode works and no accidents
Where does it get the air Into the cabin
I found a inlet in the front hood that looks like a snorkel but I don't know if I can block that might be air going somewhere else
Attachments
IMG_9282.JPG
IMG_8886.JPG
IMG_9286.JPG

User avatar
talkingcars
Posts: 5766
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:44 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: mk1 VVC
Location: West Sussex
Contact:

Re: Air conditioning

Post by talkingcars » Sat Jul 22, 2017 9:59 am

The air comes in through the snorkel through the A/C rad where it is cooled and then through the heater matrix where it is heated to what ever temperature the system is set to, the air is always cooled first.

I suspect what happening is that you have some air in the heater matrix and you have a faulty temperature control valve.
When the car is stationary and the revs are low there will be little coolant in the matrix so the cooled air predominates.
When you are moving more coolant is pumped through the system and heater matrix so the cooled air is now being heated.

I would start by checking all three bleed points to make sure there is no air in the system.
Once this is done you may well find that the interior fan blows hot all the time.
That would be the clue to check the temperature control valve operation.

James
Home to black Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Q4, blue MGZR160, green MGF VVC and grey MGF 1.8i, and red MG Maestro T16.

MGF chatting on the Register and at http://www.the-t-bar.com

Jorge D
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:32 am
MGF Register Region: United States of America

Re: Air conditioning

Post by Jorge D » Sat Jul 22, 2017 6:44 pm

Thanks James
Sorry for my ignorance
What are the three bleeding points and how can I check for that problem
Thanks again

User avatar
Reckless Rat
Posts: 1887
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:01 am
MGF Register Region: Europe
Model of Car: 97 1.8mpi in BRG
Location: South of France - in the Gard.

Re: Air conditioning

Post by Reckless Rat » Sat Jul 22, 2017 6:48 pm

One on the radiator, RHS when looking at it from the front. Second one on the heater matrix (you have to remove the under bonnet plastic shielding to get to it and a 3rd one on the engine coolant rail, best accessed after removing the engine access hatch.

User avatar
talkingcars
Posts: 5766
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:44 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: mk1 VVC
Location: West Sussex
Contact:

Re: Air conditioning

Post by talkingcars » Sat Jul 22, 2017 7:19 pm

Jorge D wrote:Thanks James
Sorry for my ignorance
What are the three bleeding points and how can I check for that problem
Thanks again
You are welcome

Lots of info here on the cooling system, there are lots of other how to guides on the site.
Home to black Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Q4, blue MGZR160, green MGF VVC and grey MGF 1.8i, and red MG Maestro T16.

MGF chatting on the Register and at http://www.the-t-bar.com

Post Reply