Aircon with very low mileage

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

jb66 wrote: »

I don't really understand air-con. My girlfriends fiesta was blowing warm as she never used it (2 years old), went to kwikfit and told them and they said there machine checks if there are leaks and if none tops the car up with gas, been fine since (4 months), cant really understand how gas could have escaped and now doesn't

Because seals that are not lubricated dry out, and contract, and thus no longer form a seal. That's when the gas/liquid escapes.

jeannieblue

baccyman wrote: »

they check for leaks by using a chemical in the aircon unit and a uv light,
i have had a car where i did not use the aircon enough and the gas leaked out when i took it to a garage they just recharged the gas no seals were replaced.

Do you mean when they recharge and then put dye into the system?

It's now illegal to do that........... which is a shame as it was the best way to check for leaks. But even if they did that, you have to run the system for awhile - a week or so say - to get the dye round the whole system.

If a leak is suspected, you are not allowed, by law, to recharge the system.

fat-pudding

The machine we have at work will vacuum the system (removing all the gas) and will then hold that vacuum for a period of 15 minutes to an hour, if the vacuum doesn't hold then the system has a leak. That's how the machine tests for leaks.

Anyhow, you wouldn't be able to find a leak without re-gassing which you are allowed to do if you are repairing the system and the leakage is very small, (then you just shove the dye, gas and oil in, run the system, find leak, vacuum again, repair leak and regas) or if it is a major leak the machine will refuse to charge in the first place.

jeannieblue

fat-pudding wrote: »

The machine we have at work will vacuum the system (removing all the gas) and will then hold that vacuum for a period of 15 minutes to an hour, if the vacuum doesn't hold then the system has a leak. That's how the machine tests for leaks.

Anyhow, you wouldn't be able to find a leak without re-gassing which you are allowed to do if you are repairing the system and the leakage is very small, (then you just shove the dye, gas and oil in, run the system, find leak, vacuum again, repair leak and regas) or if it is a major leak the machine will refuse to charge in the first place.

But you cannot recharge & dye and let the customer take it away, which you used to be able to do.

Now that this silly law has come in, they say not to dye and to use other methods - which are very lengthy and far more expensive for the customer. I would say what the 'methods' are, but I can't remember to be honest!!

I just know that you are not legally allowed to recharge and dye or recharge and let the vehicle go if you suspect a leak. Or you will ruin the ozone layer and the earth will explode - something like that... :rolleyes:

fat-pudding

Actually, I just read up the relevant items on the Defra website, you are allowed to regas if there is a leak, just not if:

"Service providers are not allowed to refill a system if it has shown abnormal leakage until the cause of
leakage is identified and repaired if necessary.

There are technical difficulties when defining an abnormal leakage and further guidance and some
legislation will be produced towards the end of 2008."

It seems that they've not actually produced that legislation so you'll be ok as all sensible machines won't let you regas if you have a serious leak anyway.

cyclonebri1

Just to be the exception to the rule;

I had my last car, Vectra for just short of 8 years, enough punishment I know. I don't think I used the aircon for more than 3 or 4 times in all that period and it was still perfect when sold

Wifey allways seems to have trouble after a couple of years, but she uses hers:rolleyes:

bryanb

bryanb wrote: »

If you use the aircon regularly leave it alone - If it ain't broke why fix it?

So to quote my original post, leave it alone but use it regularly.

oldwiring

Thanks for the replies: you have given plenty of room for thought!

I must admit that often it's several days between use, as often we use our free bus passes, using thcar only when we need to... say a long journey.

The cause of the OP was that returning from Bristol to Hants last Tuesday, unless the blower was on and temp dial set to lowestthe car was not very cool.

jeannieblue

oldwiring wrote: »

Thanks for the replies: you have given plenty of room for thought!

I must admit that often it's several days between use, as often we use our free bus passes, using thcar only when we need to... say a long journey.

The cause of the OP was that returning from Bristol to Hants last Tuesday, unless the blower was on and temp dial set to lowestthe car was not very cool.

It may need to be recharged then...

jeannieblue

fat-pudding wrote: »

Actually, I just read up the relevant items on the Defra website, you are allowed to regas if there is a leak, just not if:

"Service providers are not allowed to refill a system if it has shown abnormal leakage until the cause of
leakage is identified and repaired if necessary.

There are technical difficulties when defining an abnormal leakage and further guidance and some
legislation will be produced towards the end of 2008."

It seems that they've not actually produced that legislation so you'll be ok as all sensible machines won't let you regas if you have a serious leak anyway.

It actually means (all that jargon) if you suspect a leak - you are not legally allowed to recharge the system, and definitely not put dye in. Which is a shame, its a load of old cods really - as we all know, that is the best way to check a leak.

But......... if you don't want the whole Universe to explode along with the polar bears, then you do not recharge and dye.......... :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

I hate this world................