nele_zimmermann24

Spider AC Failure

Help! My 1998 Renault Spider (gasoline engine) AC is toast. 232334 km on the clock. The error memory has refrigerant compressor failure stored, the air con doesn't cool, it won't even switch on, and the warning light is taunting me from the speedometer. Could it be the climate control unit? Has anyone seen this before?

4 comment(s)

Sounds familiar. I've got a Renault Spider too. I had similar AC issues a while back. Have you checked the basics like refrigerant level and the compressor clutch? I hope you have, because I didn't, which cost me a fortune!

Refrigerant level I haven't checked myself (don't have the tools), but the garage did a quick check and said it was fine. Compressor clutch looks okay visually. The garage suggested the AC control unit might be the culprit. Did yours end up being that unit?

Yep, eventually it was. I spent ages fiddling with relays and fuses, chasing down imaginary leaks. Turns out the control unit was sending bad signals. I'd recommend taking it to a proper air conditioning specialist or Renault expert. Probably not what you want to hear, but it saves a lot of pain in the long run...

Thanks for the insight! Guess I'll bite the bullet and get it looked at properly. The garage has estimated 980€ for the AC control unit replacement. Seems steep, but probably worth it to get the AC working again.

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