zetec
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 04:51 PM |
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Aircon.
I'm due to go to France soon in our elderly Focus. It's aircon works OK, but is it worth getting it regassed as it's never been
touched in 7years...£40 well spent or waste of money?
" I only registered to look at the pictures, now I'm stuck with this username for the rest of my life!"
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phoenix70
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 04:57 PM |
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probably worth getting it checked over and re-gassed. You can get moisture in the system and that affects the cooling that it can do.
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clairetoo
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 04:58 PM |
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If it aint broke - why fix it ?
Its cuz I is blond , innit
Claire xx
Will weld for food......
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mookaloid
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 05:15 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by clairetoo
If it aint broke - why fix it ?
Good point - but then again if we never changed our engine oil the engines would break.
Not sure if that's really the same though 
I wonder if we should protest about your topless avatar Claire?
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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wilkingj
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 05:17 PM |
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Does it blow nice and cold?. If its barely cold then do it.
My Volvo 850 was cool when on full air con COLD. I regassed it with a £40 kit from my locak car shop, (cheaper than Halfrods) Its Castrol R134a
refigerant gas. and £19 a refil tin.
You get a Tin and the Pipes and Valve for £40, and if you need another tin its just £19 and reuse the pipes an gauge,.
Was dead easy to do, jus followed the instructions.
Its certainly a lot colder now, and could probably do with a second tin, but mine will be OK for the UK in Summer.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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Paul TigerB6
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 05:18 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by clairetoo
If it aint broke - why fix it ?
As well as moisture (which can cause it to become broke and hold bacteria which can smell), the gas gradually permeates out and so the aircon loses
efficiency. Highly likely to be worthwhile doing it if it hasnt been done in years.
[Edited on 22/7/08 by Paul TigerB6]
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fesycresy
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 05:39 PM |
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If it's blowing cold leave it alone.
I wouldn't recommend the Halfords cans, too much gas can cause failure, although I haven't looked at the weight of gas or spec on
these.
The gas can leak out of an automotive system through the compressor seal as it's belt driven.
To test any refrigerant system and comply with REFCOM guidelines you should reclaim all the refrigerant in the system and pressure test with oxygen
free nitrogen. Then charge by weight.
Moisture (internal) will kill a system, but the only way to remove it is to reclaim and run a vacuum pump for a fair period.
The smells mentioned are caused by external moisture and has nothing to do with the performance of the system unless the coil is blocked.
External moisture (also called condensate) occurs when you pass hot air over a cold coil (the evaporator) and drips beneath the car.
Also, if you want it checked it may be worth finding a local refrigeration engineer rather than a garage who's just bought the
'kit'.
HTH
Lyn
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The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 05:39 PM |
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It will probably would benefit from a top up, DIY job but don't buy a top up aerosol with lubricant in the mix as it can lead to too much oil
in the system which dosen't do the efficiency any good.
You need a suitable pressure gauge to check the low side pressure with the system on and engine running The URL below links to a suitable
bundle of what you need. --- oh and if you car has a pollen fillter it might be an idea to change it.
http://www.car-air-conditioning-supplies.co.uk/caraircon/product.php?productid=520&cat=30&page=1
If you take it to a car air conditioning specialist they will try and turn it into a major job.
[Edited on 22/7/08 by britishtrident]
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worX
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 06:35 PM |
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What a load of BS!
What the hell do you know about aircon?
quote:
Originally posted by fesycresy
If it's blowing cold leave it alone.
I wouldn't recommend the Halfords cans, too much gas can cause failure, although I haven't looked at the weight of gas or spec on
these.
The gas can leak out of an automotive system through the compressor seal as it's belt driven.
To test any refrigerant system and comply with REFCOM guidelines you should reclaim all the refrigerant in the system and pressure test with oxygen
free nitrogen. Then charge by weight.
Moisture (internal) will kill a system, but the only way to remove it is to reclaim and run a vacuum pump for a fair period.
The smells mentioned are caused by external moisture and has nothing to do with the performance of the system unless the coil is blocked.
External moisture (also called condensate) occurs when you pass hot air over a cold coil (the evaporator) and drips beneath the car.
Also, if you want it checked it may be worth finding a local refrigeration engineer rather than a garage who's just bought the
'kit'.
HTH
Lyn
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 06:37 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by clairetoo
If it aint broke - why fix it ?
GET IT FIXED!!!
When we went to norway a few weeks ago it was really hot over there and the aircon decided to stop cooling on the way there so we had 11 day of
driving in 29 degrees of sunshine with no aircon 
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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britishtrident
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 06:52 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by worX
What a load of BS!
What the hell do you know about aircon?
quote:
Originally posted by fesycresy
If it's blowing cold leave it alone.
I wouldn't recommend the Halfords cans, too much gas can cause failure, although I haven't looked at the weight of gas or spec on
these.
The gas can leak out of an automotive system through the compressor seal as it's belt driven.
To test any refrigerant system and comply with REFCOM guidelines you should reclaim all the refrigerant in the system and pressure test with oxygen
free nitrogen. Then charge by weight.
Moisture (internal) will kill a system, but the only way to remove it is to reclaim and run a vacuum pump for a fair period.
The smells mentioned are caused by external moisture and has nothing to do with the performance of the system unless the coil is blocked.
External moisture (also called condensate) occurs when you pass hot air over a cold coil (the evaporator) and drips beneath the car.
Also, if you want it checked it may be worth finding a local refrigeration engineer rather than a garage who's just bought the
'kit'.
HTH
Lyn
He is actually 100% correct --- if a professional works on your AC he has to comply with a whole pile of regulations. Also to maintain efficiency
you should ensure that the gas is air free - strange as it may seem air can premeate from low ambient atmospheric presure into a higher pressure gas
system--- for those interested it is all to do with "the Law of Partial Pressures" .
On the other hand a DIY top up is easy but as with any other high pressure system you must not over pressurise it --- use a gauge on the the LP side
to check the pressure is within working range.
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UncleFista
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 07:10 PM |
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Halfords do a computerised "Top-up" for £45.
They extract the gas, check for leaks then top up with a measured amount of gas/lubricant.
After a certain amount of time they check the pressure, if it's dropped above a certain percentage, there's no charge.
Seems like a decent deal to me...
Tony Bond / UncleFista
Love is like a snowmobile, speeding across the frozen tundra.
Which suddenly flips, pinning you underneath.
At night the ice-weasels come...
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Peteff
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 07:11 PM |
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I had mine done for £40 at a local garage. The machine sucks all your old fluid out and filters it then repressurises the system with the correct
amount of coolant. It has a built in program to run through. If there isn't enough in the system the pump will not engage as a built in safety
stops it. There are different fluids and older systems may not comply with newer regulations as well. He also recommended running the aircon for 10
minutes every week while driving round even when not needed as leaving it unused can cause problems.
[Edited on 22/7/08 by Peteff]
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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splitrivet
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 07:22 PM |
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If its blowing cold enough leave it alone, you wont get moisture in the system as its a positive pressure so how can moisture enter. You can do a lot
of damage with a DIY can if you dont purge the line at the service valve this allows both air and moisture to enter the sealed system and you could
overcharge it screwing up the valve reeds in the compressor.
Most systems have a prescribed weight of refrigerant in em and unless your a trained fridge man and read both high side and lo side pressure you can
overfill a system which serves no purpose.
Best tip for car A/C is to run it for 10 minutes a week through the year this lubes the shaft seal on the compressor the source of most leaks.
Cleaning the condensor (the radiator looking thing usually in front of the cars radiator) will help it run more efficiently.
Cheers,
Bob (15 years as a refrigeration engineer in me other life)
PS sorry Pete your post beat me to it.
[Edited on 22/7/08 by splitrivet]
[Edited on 22/7/08 by splitrivet]
I used to be a Werewolf but I'm alright nowwoooooooooooooo
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fesycresy
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 07:34 PM |
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Britishtrident, he's pissing about, Steve's a mate of mine.
And yes I do know a little about air conditioning, as in, I run an air conditioning company 
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The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
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worX
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 07:53 PM |
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I stand by my post
Steve
quote:
Originally posted by fesycresy
Britishtrident, he's pissing about, Steve's a mate of mine.
And yes I do know a little about air conditioning, as in, I run an air conditioning company
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austin man
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| posted on 22/7/08 at 11:02 PM |
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Had mine done at Halfords just short of 50 of the queens pounds including anti bacterial spray to vents, Im chillin like a good un plus the
refrigerant also has a leak sealer in it
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