Air con not working - re-gas required?

[Deleted User]

AdrianC wrote: »

So changing a sodden, blocked, long-neglected pollen filter will improve ventilation... Well, that's hardly news, is it? If it'd been the air filter, you'd have gained 10mpg, by the sound of it.

I bought the car last spring and didn't have any mist until the winter started. Obviously if it had been my car since new then it would have had a new filter every year. Smart !!!!.

BeenThroughItAll

Deleted_User wrote: »

Err I didn't say change the pollen filter instead of using the AC.

Where did I say you did?

daveyjp

Mine is now fixed, but I would be wary of any outlet which says a full aircon system service can be done on a while you wait basis. They may be able to replace the gas quickly, but carrying out leak tests takes a few hours.

motorguy

Iceweasel wrote: »

Of course not - same if a stone hits the condenser.

But I do think that most folks problems with their AC are caused by lack of use, especially over the winter.

Not using it for months at a time is just an invitation for leaks right.

Half an hour a week would do it, if you don't run it all the time.

But running it constantly in Winter is the best idea as the interior of the car is kept dry and misting-up is therefore a rare occurrence.

Yes, totally agree, however your original post basically read "use your aircon regularly and you wont have problems like this".

I'm an all year round person too. Definitely agree with you.

EdGasket

Marktheshark wrote: »

You can buy the fluid for about £15 and do the job yourself, just locate the low pressure filling point and follow the instructions on the can.

No you can't. From Helfrauds they are £39.99 with £10 refund on the can, and not much cheaper on fleabay with no refund! One can only just about refills one car as the pressure in those cans is not high; just about gets the needle to the top of the green.

[Deleted User]

I checked mine when it wasn't working and the air con belt had disappeared. :eek:

fred246

I had a really weird experience with my air conditioning. I thought I would have it re-gassed. I found an advert from someone who claimed to be an expert in air conditioning. I went round to his garage and I found some-one who knew what they were talking about. He understood how the system worked and understood some science. It took a while and we had a good chat. Charged £50. Just amazing to find someone working in a garage that knew what they were doing.

B00st

Marktheshark wrote: »

You can buy the fluid for about £15 and do the job yourself, just locate the low pressure filling point and follow the instructions on the can.

Though you have no idea how much gas is already present in the system so could potentially overfill it, cannot check for leaks and have no way of evacuating any air that will also be present in the system if the gas level is low.

snowcat75

Iv spent years (long enough to have worked on R12 systems) as a side line working on AC systems (and received the legal training), in both earth moving equipment and small domestic cars,


Much of what has been said on here is pretty good advice,


Using the A/C system all year round will keep it working mostly without a hitch, as others have said switching the system off will allow the seals and O rings to dry out, but most crucially the cup seal on the end of the compressor, this can result in a system that's never "tight" unless the compressor is replaced which is at least £200+VAT part for an equivalent compressor. The other major problem in switching a system off for months is you can get oil drain away from the compressor and switch it back on suddenly and the compressor can seize which will normally shred the Aux belt, handy if your on the motorway.


THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A TOP UP, anyone who says there do so should be given a wide birth, Gas is weighed into the system as per mfs instructions, as Refrigerant gas pressures change with ambient and core temperatures there is no way to tell just by looking at manifold gauges if the gas is of the correct amount or not, They are used by those who know what there doing for diagnostics, ie Blockages, major leek, failed compressor etc)


It is ILEGAL to fill a system with a known leek, if gas is the cause then the leek should be found, typically with nitrogen and/ or a dye trace, before vacuuming and refiling.


A dirty Evaporator or a failed fan are just as likely to cause poor cooling, other common problems are thermostats freezing cores, failed clutches or electrical faults, even down to compressor meltdown, in other words just sticking gas in often wont fix anything, and it is likely to cause more problems.


Anyone worth there salt and with experience can pinpoint towards a problem in a few minutes, unfortunately most garages just don't seem to train the guys to do the job.


Auto diagnostic machines are OK but they still fail to recognise many faults and never replaces experience.

EdGasket

snowcat75 wrote: »

It is ILEGAL to fill a system with a known leek,

There weren't any growing last time I looked, just a fair amount of moss

On a more serious note, while all of what you say is valid, people like me on a budget and with an old car aren't interested in spending £££'s on getting problems with air-con diagnosed and fixed. We just want a cheap refill to get cold air through the summer. I have used a can of EZ chill on the Merc which has lasted into its second season and a can per season on my Hyundai which lasts most of the summer. If it gets to the point where a top-up/refill doesn't work, then I'll just open the window instead.