I have had various problems with the AC system in my 2000 Beetle GLS 2.0 in recent weeks. The system worked fine until suddenly the compressor stopped turning on and the cooling fans stopped working properly. I replaced the fan control relay and fixed a bad ground under the battery. This seemed to do the trick. Almost... I push the AC button on the dash and the cooling fans immediately start spinning and the compressor clutch engages and the middle of the compressor spins smoothly and the blower inside the dash blows properly. When I push the button again the compressor clutch disengages and the cooling fans slow down or turn off. Everything seems to work as it should. But even when the AC is switched on I GET NO COLD AIR FROM THE VENTS! I took it to a reputable AC shop and he pulled a vacuum and it held fine and he carefully measured and added EXACTLY the right amount of r134a. He said it initially started to cool at but only got to 50 degrees or so then it started to go backwards and get warm. Now even with the AC on and the clutch engaged and the compressor spinning it does not even begin to blow cold air. I checked the heater flap and it does not appear that any hot air is leaking through the vents. Besides, the AC coolant lines are not even getting cool. Maybe the compressor is shot and not generating enough pressure? Can you think of anything else that might possibly create these symptoms? Thank you for any help or guidance you can offer.
gsereikas
Perhaps some other component in the A/C system is not functioning properly? 
1 Damper
2 Refrigent hose
3 Refrigent pipe
4 Ambient Temperature Switch F38 (Switches off A/C Clutch N25 at low tempertures)
5 Refrigent pipe
6 Low pressure service valve (Only use Kent Moore ACR4 or equivalent)
7 A/C Pressure Switch F129 0r High Pressure Sensor G65 (Depending on engine type, you either have the switch or sensor)
8 Expansion Valve
9 Evaporator from 06
10 Evaporator thru 05
11 A/C Cut-Out Thermal Switch
12 Coolant Fan Control Module J293
13 Refrigent hose
14 Refrigent hose
15 Pressure relief valve
16 Condensor
17 Compressor
18 A/C Clutch
19 Drier
1 Damper
2 Refrigent hose
3 Refrigent pipe
4 Ambient Temperature Switch F38 (Switches off A/C Clutch N25 at low tempertures)
5 Refrigent pipe
6 Low pressure service valve (Only use Kent Moore ACR4 or equivalent)
7 A/C Pressure Switch F129 0r High Pressure Sensor G65 (Depending on engine type, you either have the switch or sensor)
8 Expansion Valve
9 Evaporator from 06
10 Evaporator thru 05
11 A/C Cut-Out Thermal Switch
12 Coolant Fan Control Module J293
13 Refrigent hose
14 Refrigent hose
15 Pressure relief valve
16 Condensor
17 Compressor
18 A/C Clutch
19 Drier
The amount of R134 added may have been incorrect - it only needs to be 10% off either way to give problems plus the 'correct' amount of R134 seems to vary slightly from car to car. As D2Beetle says, it could also be one a dozen items. Your A/C shop should not have given up on this - or at least have offered some explanations for your problem.
Someone asked me how it went and so I thought I might post a conclusion to my AC problem in case it helps others down the road...Yeah I got it fixed myself. The AC shop I had taken it too did not want to mess with it. Just because it was a VW... Anyway, I think the compressor was still working a little bit I guess but was not putting out the required pressure. Maybe... The way I got it working was to buy a new compressor. I also replaced the receiver/drier and the expansion valve. I got it as a single kit from a seller on ebay. Cost me only $235 shipped to my door which I thought was pretty fair price. And it has worked well. Once it was installed and carefully evacuated and charged the system worked great again. No more strange hissing noises behind the dash. and no more blowing warm air. I also had to buy some AC o-rings from the local auto parts store. I just replaced any o-ring seals where I had removed something and had to reconnect. In hindsight I might have tried to get OEM German o-rings if that is even possible. The replacement ones I got from Advance Auto Parts have worked fine but the sizes and diameters did not match up exactly. Another detail that I am told is important is to only break the seals on the receiver drier and connect the hoses immediately prior to evacuating and recharging the system. Otherwise the receiver drier tends to attract moisture and can be ruined pretty quickly. At least that is what I was told. A sticker under the hood of my beetle said 700g total of r134a to charge the system. So that is what I put in... Two cans plus a Just a little bit more from a third can. And it has been working ever since. For a year and a half now... 17k miles and counting. I hope that helps. thanks
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