Weak AC with B8.5?

[phanker]

Is the AC unit inherently weak in our S4s?
When set to AUTO, the fans are on full blast on a semi warm day and the air coming out of the vent isn't very cold compared to other cars.
Thought it might have been just something wrong with my AC unit but Audi said everything looks normal.
How do you guys find yours? Thanks.

[VADERS4]

Use the re-circulate button along with the Auto function and it will freeze you out of the car!! And I'm in Vegas!!!

[RickFLS4]

I'm in South FL and no issues with mine either since I got the car in August 2012.

[A4 Joe]

Mine makes cold air her in Los Angeles.

[MrFunk]

Just because the fan is full blast does not mean the AC is at full capacity or even on for that matter. Turn the temp down to low and you should get colder air (obviously). Mine gets very cold if I turn it down. I don't like ac so I don't turn it too low.

[levigarrett]

My AC is actually too cold. I live in FL and drive around with the AC set at 78. In other cars I would have used a much lower temp. My AC is super cold. I think you may have a problem.

[ride1157]

You need to take it to the dealer have them do an evac and fill. Find out how much refrigerant was recovered. The temps should be cold anywhere in the USA. I work in climate control at an oem and you should not be complaining unless it's actually an issue and it sounds like it is. You may be able to log panel temps with a vag com when on low then log someone else's for a comparison. But first thing if do is a full evac and fil. Audi will cover that for sure.

Edit: Sorry, forgot the car may not be instrumented with thermal sensors at panel.

[LakeShow]

No issues here, just use recirculate.

[Danno9]

Mine seems fine here in S. AZ but I do wish it wasn't so noisy.

[tanklee]

might be the g395 ac pressure sensor. also there seems to be problems arising with moisture getting into ac compressors in the newer cars

[coolwater]

Check a/c pressure sensor.
Got towed in for dsg malfunction.
They did the a/c fix since my car was on the list.
Huge difference in how cold the a/c is now.

My dsg is still broke though....

-cW

[ride1157]

might be the g395 ac pressure sensor. also there seems to be problems arising with moisture getting into ac compressors in the newer cars

possible the pressure sensor could be giving a false reading but doubtful. And moisture getting into the refrigerant loop after the system has been charged is not likely. Unless there was moisture in the system at the assembly plant and somehow it passed the evac fill process (also very unlikely as these machines have a very strict set of parameters). I think if it is truly not blowing as cold as it should your car has a low charge and needs to be taken to the dealer to be checked for a leak in the system. Or your a/c compressor is seeing a "d-rate" condition due to something else asking it to disengage the clutch.

I'm not sure if audi uses die in the refrigerant loop but if they do, shine a blacklight under the hood and look for it it'll shine bright like a yellow highlighter.

[tanklee]

^bingo, had some audi engineers tear apart a few ac compressors from cars which were basically brand new with low mileage, and found some presence of moisture in the ac compressors. audi is investigating more to see if it was the actual compressor company or something else from factory.

[ride1157]

^bingo, had some audi engineers tear apart a few ac compressors from cars which were basically brand new with low mileage, and found some presence of moisture in the ac compressors. audi is investigating more to see if it was the actual compressor company or something else from factory.

This sounds like cars were passing at evac and fill at the actual assembly line. This may be an issue with the actual evac/fill equipment at the Audi assembly plant where this car is coming off the line. This stuff is a nightmare for the engineer, it sucks but i deal with it from time to time... And yes, the moisture should not be there to begin with. The supplier of the compressor (prob Denso usually do good work) or the A/C lines themselves have the moisture. Moisture in the IHX is almost ALWAYS the hardest place to control.

[tanklee]

yup, it could quite possibly be at the assembly plant

[phanker]

Thanks for the excellent info guys. Sounds like I have an issue even though Audi has checked and said everything looks normal. It's always been like this since day one so I wasn't sure.
Hope it's just missing the a/c fix coolwater mentioned.

[suban]

My ac didnt work from the factory. Turns out it was the pressure sensor and they recharged the system

[SwankPeRFection]

You can't just hit Auto and go with that. You need to set your temp preference as well. I keep mine at 74 and have no issues. Also, LOCK both temp controls to the driver side knob (press and hold the driver's side until it locks both). That way when you turn one, both sides change.

[SwankPeRFection]

Check a/c pressure sensor.
Got towed in for dsg malfunction.
They did the a/c fix since my car was on the list.
Huge difference in how cold the a/c is now.

My dsg is still broke though....

-cW

Then you shouldn't be driving it. They need to fix it if it threw a code or has perceivable drivability issues and no codes.

[Skywagon]

Go manual!