Air Con Temp

[Uncle Fester]

Hi all, I have noticed that the climate control struggles to lower the temp to 18 degrees (and it's not even proper summer yet), in fact I get fed up with the fan on max for 20 mins and turn it off, so I think the air con will need regassing?

Has anyone used the Halfords DIY regassing kits?

Do they work?

Are they worth the money?

Anything to be aware of when using them??

 

[jaymanek]

dont use DIY kits, they cannot be accurate at all..

Most places have offers on at the moment for around £40 for a proper A/C Service. Kwik fit, Nationwide autocentre, your local MOT garage etc etc..

 

[kwakdonut]

If you have a dark-ish interior and leather seats, the A/C will take its time to cool the interior. I had mine re-gassed (thanks again Olly!) recently and yes, it does take a while to get down to 18c but you don't have to have the fan at full blast all the time, you can turn the fans down!

I use the auto-window/sunroof opening on mine (press and hold the 'Open' button on your keyfob after unlocking the car, pointing it at the door handle) and this helps the initial 'blast' of hot air contained within the car to escape.

Your A/C will struggle if you don't open the window at least a little to help release hot air.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Thanks, yes I have a black interior (cloth seats) and no sun roof, also it's an estate, so the space needing cooling is larger than the saloon.

I have the controls set to auto, and the fan speed lowers as it gets nearer to the desired temperature, but there are times when I'd like the temperature to be lower than 18, maybe 16 degrees (I like to be cool)

I just wondered if the DIY stuff was up to the job, as it's £45, or is it advisable to take it to a specialist?

EDIT:
Just read Jaymanek's post

 

[kwakdonut]

Sounds like your A/C is working properly and you're just impatient lol!!!

I concur with Jay, go to a specialist (even Kwik-Fit!!)

 

[gkerr4]

I agree - take it to a place.

I bought a can from halfords to try on my old BMW - it actually overfilled the system even though the guage said it was still underfilled after the whole can. (instructions followed to the letter and I'm an instrument mechanic by trade) - I knew exactly what the issue was the first time I tried to run it - the overpressure sensor kicked in and shut down the compressor - you could hear it operating - result = no air-con.

took it to a place a day or so later - an auto-electrical place in preston - who removed the old gas, leak tested and refilled for £39 - the same as I had paid for the can in halfords - lesson learned for me!

(BTW - it made a MASSIVE difference to the cooling - really - it was bloody freezing after that. Apparently aluminium pipework and radiators in AC systems are slightly pourous to the R134 coolant gas used so you lose a lot of gas every year!)

 

[killwilly]

My car is just 4 weeks old, with black interior and it takes forever to cool down, twice as long as the BMW it replaced, but once it's there it's very efficient.

 

[kwakdonut]

My car is just 4 weeks old, with black interior and it takes forever to cool down, twice as long as the BMW it replaced, but once it's there it's very efficient.

Again, my advice about opening windows while it initially runs up still stands. If you put the A/C on with the car shut, it will take much longer to cool down!

 

[seymansey]

I just had mine filled up from Kwik Fit, watched the whole process and now i have freezing aircon (and a slow car because the pump doesn't half sap power!)

 

[Uncle Fester]

Found this while bumbling around the internet, comments welcome.


"You can disinfect the a/c system quite easily (and more importantly cheaper) yourself with this trick of the trade courtesy of the Toyota Owners Club forum:


Wiith the air conditioning it will smell if not used every week for at least 10 mins. its a bacteria build up on the condenser.People will sell you (bombs) that supposedly clean it off. these are only a temporary fix like air freshners. I will now let you into a trade secret.
Get an old kettle(you can use a wallpaper stripper, but it takes longer) and put a tray in the front passengers footwell (INTAKE FOR AIRCON) to catch slpahes and drippers fill the kettle with water and rig the switch to keep boiling. TAKE CAR NOT TO BOIL IT DRY, JUST TOP IT UP AS NEEDED. Start the engine and put the aircon on COLD AND RECIRCULATE, and leave boil for at least 1/2 hour.You will see pools of water underneath the car as the condenser is 'washed' . Once 1/2 hour has passed turn off the kettle and put on aircon to normal (outside intake). This will clear any lingering steam/condensation and hey presto one clean smelling aircon system

.It also cleans all upholstery and headlining of dog and cigerette smoke smells. I have done this dozens of times to loads of makes and with a very good success rate. Oh nearly forgot, dont forget to blow out the cabin pollen filter and make sure its dry before replacing it.

(Its behind the glove box on the new shape avensis, and to the left behind the clutch pedal on pre new shape avensis!)
Hope this helps, "

 

[GordonTarling]

Not worth buying those Halfords cans at £39 - in the USA, the very same ones are sold for around $15 !! Rip-off Britain again!

 

[kwakdonut]

Found this while bumbling around the internet, comments welcome.


"You can disinfect the a/c system quite easily (and more importantly cheaper) yourself with this trick of the trade courtesy of the Toyota Owners Club forum:


Wiith the air conditioning it will smell if not used every week for at least 10 mins. its a bacteria build up on the condenser.People will sell you (bombs) that supposedly clean it off. these are only a temporary fix like air freshners. I will now let you into a trade secret.
Get an old kettle(you can use a wallpaper stripper, but it takes longer) and put a tray in the front passengers footwell (INTAKE FOR AIRCON) to catch slpahes and drippers fill the kettle with water and rig the switch to keep boiling. TAKE CAR NOT TO BOIL IT DRY, JUST TOP IT UP AS NEEDED. Start the engine and put the aircon on COLD AND RECIRCULATE, and leave boil for at least 1/2 hour.You will see pools of water underneath the car as the condenser is 'washed' . Once 1/2 hour has passed turn off the kettle and put on aircon to normal (outside intake). This will clear any lingering steam/condensation and hey presto one clean smelling aircon system

.It also cleans all upholstery and headlining of dog and cigerette smoke smells. I have done this dozens of times to loads of makes and with a very good success rate. Oh nearly forgot, dont forget to blow out the cabin pollen filter and make sure its dry before replacing it.

(Its behind the glove box on the new shape avensis, and to the left behind the clutch pedal on pre new shape avensis!)
Hope this helps, "

And how much will it cost to boil a kettle for half an hour?!!

Easier way is to remove the cabin filter and, with the A/C running, spray something like Dettol Surface Bacteria Spray through the intake. Does the same thing!

 

[Uncle Fester]

And how much will it cost to boil a kettle for half an hour?!!

Easier way is to remove the cabin filter and, with the A/C running, spray something like Dettol Surface Bacteria Spray through the intake. Does the same thing!

Sounds feasible, when you say "cabin filter" I take that to be the "pollen filter" located above the battery ?

 

[nickcc101]

Bought a couple of the regas cans off ebay a few years ago, even bought the correct pressure gauge, for my Wifes Focus, total waste of money (in my opinion), ended up having a regas and aircon service at the local garage for the same price that I paid for the stuff off ebay.