Air Conditioning Tips

[wigs_1]

Hi all
My air con doesn't work, never has since I bought the car last October (I could have sworn I checked it.....). Anyway with the sunny weather looking like its here to stay I thought I'd do something about it (there is NO reduction in air temp whatsoever!!!!)

So...
The tank at the front (2) and all associated connections look ok.
There is no wiring diagram in my Haynes for the electricals but I can say that if I disconnect connector (1) (a pressure switch??)the two fans at the front (3rd pic down) kick in for a few seconds when I turn the ignition to stage 2 with the aircon on.
Also, with the aircon on, the compressor doesn't really turn with the belt, I assume that this is because pressure switch? (1) tells the clutch not to engage.....



I used a screwdriver to push in the ball/nipple on the inside of the valve (3) to check for pressure/gas. Not a sausage. Completely empty



Pressed this one in too (4) with the same result (but a dribble of oil).



The connections at the bottom of the condenser looked ok, no real signs of corrosion. Couldn't really see the condenser due to stuff in the way and limited time.

So, now for the questions....

- Is there anything else I should look for before I take it to a garage?
- Should I go to kwikfit (heard some good reviews on this forum) for a top-up or go to a specialist on the grounds that there may be a bigger problem lurking (given that the system is totally flat?)
- Anyone know a good specialist in/near Edinburgh?

Thanks in advance for any replies

Chris

 

[dave.robbo]

You're right in saying that the compressor won't run because of the pressure switch. It's a fail safe system. Don't force the pressure switch to get the compressor running, because if there's no oil to lubricate the compressor, it's an expensive fix!

Mine was low on refrigerant. Not out, just low. I went to Halfords and got an air conditioning refill aerosol. It comes with a pressure gauge, and you basically pump refrigerant into the system until the pressure gauge reads ok. Worked great for me!

Cost was £40, with a free air con disinfectant aerosol, too..

Gotta be worth a try?

 

[robert.saunders]

The beauty of KwikFit is that they will charge you nothing if they cannot make it cooler than when you brought it in; therefore, if your compressor is faulty you haven't wasted any money on a pointless regas. They use a machine that does all the hard work, and you get a print out of the gas removed, gas filled, oil etc, plus temp readings. Hopefully, it's just in need of some gas (unlike my car which needed a new compressor - ouch).

From their website:

Recharge or No Charge

Let Kwik Fit recharge your Air Con while-u-wait for only £44.95. We will replace and recharge lubricant and refrigerant levels in line with your manufacturer’s recommendation. If we cannot improve the coolest vent temperature from your car by more than 10% - then you pay nothing at all.*

* Please note if the ambient temperature around the car is less than 9 degrees Celcius it may affect the results of the AirCon recharge test results. In these circumstances, it is at the managers discretion whether to offer a refund with results less than 10%.

 

[Will]

Being honest here.

Most likely you have a fault in the system in the form of a leak. Without wanting to state the obvious, the gas hasn't just vanished for no reason

Kwik-fit and most other places will probably have a go at gassing the system but you really do need to know where the gas has escaped from, and fix this, before re-gassing IMHO. Otherwise the system may work for a few days/weeks and then you'll be back to square 1.

The condensor is a common failure - they rot through behind where the electric fans are located. Might start off as a small leak, but as it corrodes further it will get worse.

If nothing else, it's worth removing the fans to clean the debris out, you might even see where it's rotted through if that's the case

Good luck,

Will

 

[grober]

You have to ask why there's no gas in it? Usually it due to a pinhole leak in the condenser/heatexchanger where its exposed to damage by road grit. If you take it to a proper aircon shop they will put some fluorescent dye in with the gas. This will show up any leaks as little fluorescent droplets if you loose gas again quickly.

Oops Will got in before me!

 

[Dieselman]

Best to have a vacuum or pressure test performed before filling.

 

[wigs_1]

Being honest here.

Most likely you have a fault in the system in the form of a leak. Without wanting to state the obvious, the gas hasn't just vanished for no reason

My thoughts exactly which is why I've been looking for an obvious fault.
Is there any means of carrying out a home pressure test? Some adapter for a footpump to leak test it with air and see if it holds pressure? I also heard system pressure is around 80-100psi so a footpump wouldn't do any harm (provided you depressurise afterwards and didn't leave it full of air or tried to run it..... )

I've no idea if the above is possible or not, just putting an idea out there....

 

[Dieselman]

Probably. Have a hydraulics supplier make up an adapter to go from the valve to a Shraeder coupling.

 

[Will]

You could pump it up with air, but I personally wouldn't. Reason being is that air has quite a bit of moisture in it which won't be good for the innards of the A/C system, that's why they fit a receiver/drier to remove the tiny amounts of moisture present in the system (when it's 'sealed'!)

Maybe pop the electric fans off and do a preliminary check first? Might be an obvious leak.

I think A/C outfits normally use nitrogen for testing purposes, and UV dye if necessary.

Will

 

[vijilants]

Any half decent place including Kwickfit will do a leak test as a part of the aircon regass.

They will also vaqcuum the system to remove any moisture and also re-oil the system.

If there is a suspected leak, they put a dye into the system and then check the system with a probe.

I'd put my money on the condenser leaking at the bottom....aftermarket one costs about £100 - £150.

 

[imadoofus]

Best to have a vacuum or pressure test performed before filling.

Or both.

My car had a problem with a seal. The system leaked because the seal was leaking. A pressure test showed no problems, because it appears the pressure puched the seal back in. A vacuum test sucked it out again, so the leak showed up.

I just had both my cars pressure tested, vacuum tested (twice each) and regassed for £100 by a mobile chappie I found in the yellow pages. He probably won't travel to you though...

Try that, because it beats sitting around for upwards of an hour while your car's being tested in a garage somewhere.

 

[imadoofus]

I would also say you really want dye in the system whether or not there's a suspected leak, because if one occurs in the future, it'll make life a lot easier.

PJ

 

[robert.saunders]

I would also say you really want dye in the system whether or not there's a suspected leak, because if one occurs in the future, it'll make life a lot easier.

PJ

Very true; when Ford re-gassed the Mondeo a leak wasn't apparent to them (that's another issue), even though it actually was leaking on the main pipe into the broken compressor. It made the job of the Indy much easier

 

[nickcc101]

Had my system re-charged at local garage £65. System drained, gas weighed then refilled with correct amount of gas. Tried diy re-charge using aerosols off ebay in the past (ford focus) but ended up paying more than garage charged. My system turned out to be empty of gas but is still working ok after 12 months.

 

[robert.saunders]

My indy-chap will re-gas for £49, which seems a bargain

 

[BlackC55]

The most common place for a leak on a 202 is the condensor.

 

[stevesey]

Just had mine done - was a very small leak (3 months before compressor stopped) hard to spot you could only just see the UV on the back of the condensor.

 

[WLeg]

I had mine done at kwick-fit, as recommened by a former helpful member here. They do a presure check before filling to check if there are any leaks.

 

[tim.100]

The most common place for a leak on a 202 is the condensor.

Kwik-Fit re-gassed my system but couldn't find a leak. The gas was gone in a fortnight.

Car is a 202 and yes, it was the condensor! The A/C specialist said my had lasted quite well - they normally fail at 10 years. I mentioned that my car is 11 years old the leak started last year... I like older cars - others' experiences make them very predicatable.

I paid £350 inc tax for a new condensor, drier, and re-charge.

 

[BlackC55]

That is about the right price for a non-gen condensor fitted. The gen condensors alone are £300