2006 MKV Golf GTi - no Radiator Fan operation or A/C cooling

2006 MKV Golf GTi - no Radiator Fan operation or A/C cooling

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galaxie500

Original Poster:

69 posts

170 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
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Recently bought this GTi from the original owner. I’ve had one before and I believe turning on the A/C will bring on the radiator fans. The car is not getting cool when the A/C comes on so the air isn’t being dried which in our wet winter is a great feature.
Not in this car! Had the A/C regassed at Kwik Fit but the temperature was no different after the R134 was added. I’ve looked at the compressor and it’s turning correctly, the clutch pulley is on properly but the tell is when the AC button is pressed on the Climatronic panel the fans do not spring to life. They both turn freely by hand.
I’ve checked fuses both in the drivers door and in the engine bay.
Should I try to apply 12V to the larger fan, bypassing any control unit to test it actually runs?
Thanks for any advice!
PR

Belle427

9,742 posts

240 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
quotequote all
Have you checked the large fuse links on the battery box as i believe one feeds the fan control module.
These are a pita to diagnose, vcds may help you to drive the outputs on and read codes etc.
Dumb suggestion sorry but its not in Econ mode is it which i believe disables the air con.


galaxie500

Original Poster:

69 posts

170 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
quotequote all
Thanks for your reply.
Yes, checked for continuity at the fuse links with a multimeter; assuming that’s the only way to see if they’ve blown? AC was on and not in ECO mode; tried switching back and forth and no fans working with Air Conditioning selected.
I’ve read the pressure switches can shut it all down….?
I’m going to take a look tomorrow. I’ll report back.

Belle427

9,742 posts

240 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
quotequote all
Yes they are a common failure, I believe you can replace without needing to de gas, access is a little awkward.
I had an issue with mine a few weeks before I was due to sell it, someone told me it was the control valve in the compressor which I changed but it was still the same.
I just left it as is.

galaxie500

Original Poster:

69 posts

170 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
quotequote all
Thanks. I’ve seen that valve solution too; requires recovering the refrigerant before changing it so I’ll go through everything else before changing out that one!
I won’t give up on it; plan is to run this GTi for a while so AC will get sorted.

catso

14,853 posts

274 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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I had an A3, 3.2 which is, likely a similar setup? Had a fault with the fan controller, although my fans actually stayed on even when engine switched off but, I was told the that the fan controllers are a fairly common failure point?

IIRC, the controller is in the body of the fan and so needed new fan(s) - not sure if this is any help to you?

galaxie500

Original Poster:

69 posts

170 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
quotequote all
Hi Catso.
Thanks for your message.
I’ve been playing with the car this afternoon and apart from the pressure switch in the AC system which I’ve not been able to test I’ve managed to test the fans and they’re working OK independently of any controller so I’m think your diagnosis is correct and new fan controller it is. Not sure if I have to replace both though? I thought the larger fan houses the controller so I’ll investigate if I can replace it on its own. Thanks again!

catso

14,853 posts

274 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
quotequote all
galaxie500 said:
Hi Catso.
Thanks for your message.
I’ve been playing with the car this afternoon and apart from the pressure switch in the AC system which I’ve not been able to test I’ve managed to test the fans and they’re working OK independently of any controller so I’m think your diagnosis is correct and new fan controller it is. Not sure if I have to replace both though? I thought the larger fan houses the controller so I’ll investigate if I can replace it on its own. Thanks again!
Pretty sure I was told that the controller was in one fan but that both fans needed changing together, of course that could have just been the garage taking the piss being thorough by replacing both whilst they had it in - probably was actually, as they also sold me a new radiator, as mine (apparently) had a minor leak...

in fairness it did need a top up now and again.

Belle427

9,742 posts

240 months

Friday 24th November 2023
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Find yourself a hooky vcds on Facebook for £50 and you can test it all.
That's what I did, its been great for me.
Apologies if that offends anyone.

galaxie500

Original Poster:

69 posts

170 months

Friday 24th November 2023
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I was thinking about VCDS or OBDEleven; I think VCDS or VAGCOM is the more complete but probably complex tool and OBDEleven might work for me. Glad to hear anyone’s experience with these.
Managed to replace O/S outer CV Joint and boot today. Boot was torn pretty badly and I was getting a noise when turning right especially out of junctions. A load of grit had found its way inside so thought it better to replace the whole thing. It’s still noisy - which means it’s probably the inner joint! Arghh.

Belle427

9,742 posts

240 months

Saturday 25th November 2023
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I normally just change the whole shafts these days when they go as the other one wont be far behind, they are not silly money.
Used J&R driveshafts recently for my Skoda Fabia, they seem to get mixed reviews but ive not had an issue with them.
Thats the only issue with them as they get older, most people dont look after them as well as an enthusiast and they can become a bit of a money pit.

galaxie500

Original Poster:

69 posts

170 months

Saturday 25th November 2023
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I think I should have done just that! However, I understand VW does not sell this drive shaft anymore and after market replacements are solid where the original part is hollow. I’ve read this can cause a vibration at certain rpm/ road speed.
Now I’ve replaced the outer CV joint I’ll have to bite the bullet and do the inner too. Looks more challenging eek