Air Con Fix - Is it worth it to DIY?

I know there are a _lot_ of threads on air con - sorry for this one - my question is ...

Is it worth DIY or not? Is this one of those things you learn to live without or pay the dealership to do?

I have the same problem I have bought a new pipe the one that goes through p clip. I have learned that I need to take the grill off. I think to do that I need to take lights out. The dealer wanted£370 for the job. The same dealer that recently serviced and re gassed it. The first time I used It IT didn't work. I think they are charging £100 an hour labour. You make your choice.

Hi DBree! I saw your thread - mine's a disco2 - So I didn't want to mess up your d1 thread.

That said I guess it'll make little difference.

I for one am not a great fan of the high hourly rate - mostly why I started DIY mechanics.

But my question still stands - are the nasty gases and leaky pipes one of those problems properly left to the experts?

I found this site - they seem to have stuff to seal leaky pipes and a kit to topup a system - is this something a DIYer could seriously use or is it just a gimic?

do not disconnect the gas pipes - it is a criminal offence to knowingly release gases to the atmosphere! Only registered peeps can do it, but if the system has been de-gassed then it is then ok - but yu will have to pay to have it regassed - about £60 a time.

Cheers MHM!

I guess this begs the million dollar question...

How does a DIYer even know if the system is degassed?

Also, is there a 'howto' on disco 2 air con maintenance?

I'm up for most DIY mechanics but I don't want to break the law or destroy the environment. Similarly I don't want to empty my wallet if I can avoid it

Yu can check the lp side of the system, or loads of peeps (halfrauds, qwik snip etc) will check for free. Otherwise take the car to a professional air con place who will de-gas and flush the system for about £70. yu can then work on it and then take the car back after to have it leak tested and regassed for another £70.

first question is do you actually need aircon ..... my disco is the only car ive owned with it fitted.... but the drive belt was removed by the previous owner, "to improve the mp", ive not bothered fitting it back on.... if im hot i open a window and take me coat off.

Kwik Fit are still doing their £49.99 check and re-gas deal - but didn`t have the right adapter for my RRC. So long as you phone them up first to check it might be the cheapest way of getting a healthcheck - there is some sort of offer they make that if the aircon is not at least x% colder when you leave the service is free, though I expect there are pages of small print

Yup - mine's been broken for a few years. One or two days a year it makes the car uncomfortable, I leave a window down or sun roof open.

If I was ordering a new car, I wouldn't pay for A/C as an extra....but then again I live in Scotland

If I take the Disco back abroad in summer, I WOULD fix and re-gas it, but not for running about in Scotland and N England...

do not disconnect the gas pipes - it is a criminal offence to knowingly release gases to the atmosphere! Only registered peeps can do it, but if the system has been de-gassed then it is then ok.

Click to expand...

I had assumed that mine had already leaked into teh atmposphere, that's why its not working?...maybe not?

TaDa said:

Cheers MHM!

I guess this begs the million dollar question...

How does a DIYer even know if the system is degassed?

Also, is there a 'howto' on disco 2 air con maintenance?

I'm up for most DIY mechanics but I don't want to break the law or destroy the environment. Similarly I don't want to empty my wallet if I can avoid it

Click to expand...

Haynes do a generic automotive air con manual that I found useful when sorting mine out

MartinK said:

Yup - mine's been broken for a few years. One or two days a year it makes the car uncomfortable, I leave a window down or sun roof open.

If I was ordering a new car, I wouldn't pay for A/C as an extra....but then again I live in Scotland

If I take the Disco back abroad in summer, I WOULD fix and re-gas it, but not for running about in Scotland and N England...



I had assumed that mine had already leaked into teh atmposphere, that's why its not working?...maybe not?

Click to expand...

I assumed all new cars come with air con or climate control as standard.

Thanks peeps!

I'll give kwik fit a call - £49.99 seems like a bargain
And I'll see if I can find a local professional Near Bideford (or Barnstaple) and check their prices.

I'll lookout for the haynes manual too - a good generic reference on air con would be handy.
Richard Martin - which one do you mean - the blue one, the black one or even the green one?

I've put up with no (or little) air con for a year now - but a summer european road trip looms and 30° C for hours on end with no aircon fills me with dread.

BTW DBree - just re-read your thread - I was half asleep - Yours was a d2 - I should have stayed with yours! (doh!)

TaDa said:

Cheers MHM!

I guess this begs the million dollar question...

How does a DIYer even know if the system is degassed?

Click to expand...

Yu attach a pressure gauge to the lp side of the air conn (it will only fit on one side) but it mite need an adapter and check the pressure. I know Halfrauds sell em for £20 now. Go and have a look and ask for a free check while yu are there

The Mad Hat Man said:

do not disconnect the gas pipes - it is a criminal offence to knowingly release gases to the atmosphere! Only registered peeps can do it, but if the system has been de-gassed then it is then ok - but yu will have to pay to have it regassed - about £60 a time.

Click to expand...

I've got my 'F' gas cert and charge £45 for a regas i don't know anyone cheaper in my area

thats a good price - do yu evacuate, leak test and weigh the recharge for that?

The Mad Hat Man said:

thats a good price - do yu evacuate, leak test and weigh the recharge for that?

Click to expand...

30min vac 10 min vac hold auto pag oil replacment (replaces what came out with system vac) then regas to manufacturers spec weight in grams, all done automaticly, will be doing preasure leak checks soon anorl when i get me nitrogen system installed in my work shop, my A/C system is capable of doing this automaticly anorl

oldskool said:

30min vac 10 min vac hold auto pag oil replacment (replaces what came out with system vac) then regas to manufacturers spec weight in grams, all done automaticly, will be doing preasure leak checks soon anorl when i get me nitrogen system installed in my work shop, my A/C system is capable of doing this automaticly anorl

Click to expand...

You tart You could have done mine :blabla:

matthew2riches said:

You tart You could have done mine :blabla:

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Bloody cheek but ya probably right i can do any one's youve only got to ask :doh: would even do a special price for LZ members