Air con not working

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dwalsh1

dwalsh1

Active Member
Posts
309
Location
Harrow, Middlesex.
There was a thread sometime last year where someone comes round to your house and does something to the air con for around £50 (I think they re gassed if that's the term) Anyway I cant find the thread anywhere so if someone can re-post the link that'll be good. I presume that's what it needs. It was working last summer. cheers
 
I use Kwik fit regas AC. I wouldn't let them do anything else though. They used to charge £50 with a guaranteed improvement in AC function. If not, they refunded the money. They also didn't charge if the system had a leak.
 
Last edited:
Is there any obvious of testing the compressor is working? - I'm guessing you can feel it vibrate like I fridge one?
I need to get my A/C sorted after driving ~800 miles last week in the summer weather, which was a bit uncomfortable. Of course, if I do sort it, that will lessen the chances of any more warm weather, due to the law of the sod!
I checked yesterday and Kwikfit are still doing that £50 recharge offer it seems. But before I take it along there, taking up time, and have to deal with them trying to flog me all sorts of fixes for the vehicle, it would be useful to know if the compressor is working ok.
 
4Bee4Bee said:
Is there any obvious of testing the compressor is working? - I'm guessing you can feel it vibrate like I fridge one?
I need to get my A/C sorted after driving ~800 miles last week in the summer weather, which was a bit uncomfortable. Of course, if I do sort it, that will lessen the chances of any more warm weather, due to the law of the sod!
I checked yesterday and Kwikfit are still doing that £50 recharge offer it seems. But before I take it along there, taking up time, and have to deal with them trying to flog me all sorts of fixes for the vehicle, it would be useful to know if the compressor is working ok.
Click to expand...

You can see if the compressor is working, just by looking at it. You can see the clutch on the outside of the pulley. The clutch will be stationary, if the AC isn't working. If the clutch is cycling between spinning and stationary, then the AC is functional. If the gas pressure is low, then the Tri mode switch, stops the AC clutch from cutting in.
 
Nodge68 said:
You can see if the compressor is working, just by looking at it. You can see the clutch on the outside of the pulley. The clutch will be stationary, if the AC isn't working. If the clutch is cycling between spinning and stationary, then the AC is functional. If the gas pressure is low, then the Tri mode switch, stops the AC clutch from cutting in.
Click to expand...
That's all Chinese to me :) I don't even know where the clutch is. Is that the only way to check
 
I'm guessing you can feel it vibrate like I fridge one?
Click to expand...
mine does at idle rpm ..
well the engine does as it's under a slightly increased load with the ac on

if the fuel flow can be monitored ( e.g. on a scangauge or similar )
the fuel rate increases slightly at idle with the ac on ..
( idle rpm does not increase .. unlike with the ptc heater ..
( whereas the idle rpm will rise slightly for the increased load on the alternator
the ecu adds a bit more fuel to compensate for ac compressor load .
about 4hp worth .. something like that ..

and there's a tad more engine braking with the ac on ..
fairly obvious with a manual gearbox ..

with ac .. it's a case of ' use it or lose it ' ..
as the ac gas contains a lubricant for the compressor
and helps the various seals from drying out and leaking
( i think 10 min with ac 'on' per week is recommended )

i use mine almost all the time .. or at least for part of my daily drive ..
( i usually average 40 mpg )
i re-gassed it 2 years ago .. still working fine ..

if by chance too much gas is added ..
the compressor will cut in an out quite rapidly making an awful noise ..
be like someone stepping on and off the brakes when going downhill ..
found this out when my kit regass gauge failed .. and i added to much gas by mistake ..
was easy to let a bit of pressure out 'till all ran smoothly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Thanks for the pointers on what to look for. I'll take a look, before most likely trying out Kwikfit's offer. (fingers crossed!).
 
Anybody got any experience with the reseal kits that squint the sealant goo into the system? Read positive reviews online but at £50 for a regal and then circa £50 for the sealant etc its quite a punt if it doesn't work properly. Last time I had it regarded it lasted around 5 weeks then started to slowly fade so I have a slight leak somewhere.
 
I would not use them if you get a good person who re-gasses the system will be able to find if there is a leak and where it might just need new rubber seals also if it is a proper person doing the refill they will not over or under fill
 
I already replaced the condenser, the radiator and the orings for the pipes connected between them. The Kwik fit machine couldn't detect a leak before it filled it so the hole is miniscule wherever it is. I'm just concerned it might be in the pipework that runs in the passenger footwear as its not exactly easy to get to.
 
4Bee4Bee said:
Is there any obvious of testing the compressor is working? - I'm guessing you can feel it vibrate like I fridge one?
I need to get my A/C sorted after driving ~800 miles last week in the summer weather, which was a bit uncomfortable. Of course, if I do sort it, that will lessen the chances of any more warm weather, due to the law of the sod!
I checked yesterday and Kwikfit are still doing that £50 recharge offer it seems. But before I take it along there, taking up time, and have to deal with them trying to flog me all sorts of fixes for the vehicle, it would be useful to know if the compressor is working ok.
Click to expand...
I took mine to Halfords where they tested mine for free.
 
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