Air Con Mystery Commodore VE Series 2 - Any Advice?

mrvaluepack on 25/11/2020 - 19:02

Would appreciate any advice from any car enthusiast/mechanic on this issue before I send it to the workshop.

Car: 2012 Commodore VE Series 2

Issue:
-Melbourne ambient temperature today was 28C.
-Switched on air conditioner today and set to coolest temperature (16C with max fan).
-Only passenger side air vent was cooling down. Driver's side stay at ambient temperature ~28C.
-Back row air temperature was the same as driver's side.
-Middle two front vents above the entertainment unit - driver's side warm/ambient, passenger's side cool.
-Checked Single Zone climate control and A/C (frost symbol) on.
-Bought this car new in 2012.

I don't think its leaking refrigerant or the air on the passenger side wouldn't cool down. Could it be a sticky air temperature control valve that has something to do with the Dual Zone climate control?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Automotive

Comments

  • brendanm on 25/11/2020 - 19:04

    Mixer door stuck, or mixer door motor dead.

    • mrvaluepack on 25/11/2020 - 19:07

      Thanks, any idea what the repair would cost?

      • brendanm on 25/11/2020 - 20:00

        Can't recall exactly on a ve commodore, but generally anything mixer door related is dash out, so not cheap normally.

      • pegaxs on 25/11/2020 - 20:04

        any idea what the repair would cost?

        Sadly, on a VE, probably more than the scrap value of the vehicle.

        • mrvaluepack on 25/11/2020 - 20:36

          I checked car sales and average private sale price for my vehicle is around $10-15k. Are you saying the repair will cost that much?

          • pegaxs on 25/11/2020 - 20:48

            @mrvaluepack: No, more of a dig at the poor resale value of old commodores. And asking price =/= sales price. But with COVID prices, who knows.

            If it is something that requires the dash out, you will be looking at at least a day if not more in labour costs alone. New parts may not be available, so you may have to deal with used parts.

            Friend that owns a Mustang (that I talk about below) was quoted $3,500 to replace their evaporator until Ford Aust. stepped in to assist. I would imagine that doing a heater box and evap on a commodore would be similar.

            It is more likely a worn pump, oring, cracked hose or damaged condenser than it will be an under dash issue, but don’t rule it out.

  • highon2str on 25/11/2020 - 19:24

    I've seen it happen also where the mixer flap actuating arm detaches at the pivot point. Easy enough to snap it back in place and re-test flap function if nothing looks broken. Cost wise it really depends on what's wrong but as a ball park figure, anywhere from $80-$400 depending on the issue. Quick way to check (before pulling trim panels and glove boxes apart) is to try and actuate the flap via a scan tool to see what happens - if it comes good then the issue might be with the HVAC module buttons.

    You can try a free fix, to see if this is something a soft reset can fix (assuming it's software related), disconnect both vehicle battery terminals (negative/black off first) and touch the two terminals cables together (away from the battery posts) for 10s, then reconnect the terminals to the battery posts (positive/red on first).

    • mrvaluepack on 25/11/2020 - 19:31

      Thanks for the info. I disconnected the battery (one terminal only) for 30 seconds to reset the system but it didn't work.

      Do I have to do it exactly the way you described? D/C the two terminals and touch them together?

      • highon2str on 25/11/2020 - 19:49

        Touching them together closes the circuit and discharges any remaining charge in capacitors. But check out adr8's method below first, that looks easier to do!

  • adr8 on 25/11/2020 - 19:33
    +1

    Pretty common problem on VE. Try the relearn first by pressing and holding the recirculate button. More info here https://www.autoinstruct.com.au/manufacturer/holden/ve-commo…

    Also quite a few threads on the faulty actuators, search here https://forums.justcommodores.com.au/forums/ve-holden-commod…

    One of the many threads https://forums.justcommodores.com.au/threads/ve-hvac-actuato…

    • mrvaluepack on 25/11/2020 - 19:51

      Thanks, tried it. Could hear the actuators moving. No clicking sounds.

      I now think its a gas leak because even though the passenger side blows "cooler" air than the driver, its not as cold as normal.

      • pegaxs on 25/11/2020 - 20:02

        This could be correct. I know there is an issue with 2015~17 Mustangs that does the same thing. The evaporators on these vehicle had a manufacturing fault and would subsequently leak all the gas. The first symptom is that passenger side air is "cool" and drivers side is ambient.

        What happens is that there isnt enough gas to evaporate through the whole system. When the compressed gas hits the evaporator, it expands pretty quickly and basically only cools down one side of the evap while the other end of it remains at ambient temp. Because the evaporator sits basically on the firewall, it is divided into usually left and right roughly equally. Most cars I have worked on, the passenger side is the inlet side, so it tends to get cooled a fraction while the drivers side gets none.

        If the blend door is not stuck and moves freely, then yes, it is possible that the system is or has lost a lot of its refrigerant. You'll need to get it booked into an AC specialist (not a Holden dealer, because a: none left and b: rip off). They will leak test it and let you know if it's major fix (evap/condensor/pump) or a cheap fix (hose/o-ring)

      • adr8 on 25/11/2020 - 20:09

        The actuators could still be faulty without making clicking noises.

        Also, if you read the thread a few mentioned cold air coming out of passenger side and hot from driver's side, so similar to what you described.

      • burgermaniac on 25/11/2020 - 20:53
        -1

        Not a gas leak, just needs new gas

        • pegaxs on 25/11/2020 - 22:43

          And how do you think the old gas got out of the system that resulted in the need for “new gas”?

  • MS Paint on 25/11/2020 - 20:05
    +1

    Free assessment here

    Join up and look for free AC RRP$90 check

  • burgermaniac on 25/11/2020 - 20:53

    Aircon Regas. Trust me on this, I had the exact problem on my 09 Cruze. One side had air at about 23°, while the other side was blowing hot air out. Big difference whe nyou do the regas.
    Same thing on my parents car, when the AC has two different temps from different sides, it's just a regas.

    • mrvaluepack on 25/11/2020 - 21:47

      Ok thanks, will ask them to check for leaks as well.

      • MS Paint on 25/11/2020 - 22:20

        If there is no gas then you have a leak. It's a sealed pressurised system. Do you still use the AC in winter on a regular basis?

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