Air Con Help/Advice re low or no gas

Hi,

Air Con not working no book symbol on HEVAC, compressor not cutting in & out, (OK when tested with 12v flying lead & all fuses/relays OK) I understand this could be due to low or no gas in the system due to a high probability the condenser rad has corroded.

My question is this, how can I easily test it has low or no gas without going to a garage and paying someone to tell me it has no/low gas due to a leak and charging me?

Indie wants £70 to re-gas, if it then leaks out on the way home seems a bit of a waste of money, or will they try a refill tell me it's leaking and where from and not charge me the £70?

there was a very simillar question/thread to this a week or two ago. Search should find it easy. It covered testing and the likely source of leak.

You just need a vacuum test, try KwikFit.

Any recharging station should be able to check the pressure on the low side and from that can see if it needs refilling or not.
They should always evacuate the system first to remove any moisture in the system.If you have a major leak then they wont be able to pull a vacuum and the machine should throw up a fault.if it does then they are not permitted to refill until the leak is repaired.(illegal to knowingly discharge the refrigerant into the atmosphere).Some will then pressurise the system with N2 to test for leaks.(at a cost of course)

If you have a minor leak ,when they refill they often will add a dye to the system to enable to detect later a small leak.(visible under uv light).

The weak link in the P38 aircon system is the condenser.You can often see a small hole on the top it.Mine had a visible hole on the top right corner.

You can also buy aerosol cans of 134a to refill the system yourself if you are so inclined.If you do this and you have a major leak you will hear the gas escaping as you try to refill.

Do as I did. Go to kwik fit and ask for a re gas. They tested my system and found a fault, traced the fault to a leaking condensor. Said to me sorry can't fill it because of the condensor fault... No charge... Fault finding done!!

spender said:

Do as I did. Go to kwik fit and ask for a re gas. They tested my system and found a fault, traced the fault to a leaking condensor. Said to me sorry can't fill it because of the condensor fault... No charge... Fault finding done!!

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Good advice; mine going into kwik-fit this week........blows cool, but no better than opening a window

Good re-gassed system should have the cabin like a fridge in just a few minutes!

70 Squid for a re-gas? He should be doing a vacuum test as well for that price...

Thanks for all the help & advice will try and get a vacuum test done, before this warm weather stops!!!

Been to Kwik Fit, didn't need a re-gas as sufficient in it to switch compressor on, but it isn't they suggest electrical fault to comp. No charges incurred!

Now wondering if when I fitted a new stereo head unit last month I have disturbed something on the back of the HEVAC unit or that little sensor thing under the clock (don't know if this has anything to do with A/C)

The little sensor thing is the compensator for solar gain, so quite important to the aircon function.

No, that's the one on the top of the dash. The one under the clock is the interior temp sensor - but I'm sure that's the one you meant Keith........

Derek Ward said:

No, that's the one on the top of the dash. The one under the clock is the interior temp sensor - but I'm sure that's the one you meant Keith........

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Brain fade Derek, the sun is shining here, you are right of course.

Sorted.............12v going into the trinary switch connector but not coming out, removed connector quick spray of WD40, reconnected and hey presto, compressor engaged and icy air inside car!

Good job although next time maybe use contact cleaner spray. WD40 ain't for anything lektric.

where is the trinary switch connector?

cheers

tommy

Front l/h side behind front bumper, can be got at from underneath.

sorry for the late reply (been on the road today) but thank for the reply, will have a fiddle with her tomorrow (wheyy)

Tommy