Disco 2 Will a re-gas help my air con?

I don't know how well the air-con performed when it was new, but compared to the system in my old Volvo the Disco seems quite slow and doesn't cool all that well - but it does cool a bit.

It seems to need to "warm up" (ironically ), and works best down the motorway. This leads me to think that the system probably still has a pretty decent seal and some refrigerant left, but could benefit from topping up.

Does anyone know better? Were these systems always a little pants and it'll be money down the drain?

I think I read somewhere that the system loses up to 10% a year typically. Don't know how true that is, but if true the system will be pretty useless after a few years. I bought a re-gassing kit from Halfords a few years back, not too expensive.

My mate re gassed mine after I fixed the leak properly, aircon both front and rear my boys turned it off in the back because they got to cold. The fan on the condenser was seized so I took it off gonna fit a replacement soon.

My disco puts out between 6 and 8c from the dash vents and that's from a vehicle which is 20+ years old.
You do have the system switched to recirculation or are you trying to cool the outside air as well, also a disco is slight bigger than old Volvo's that's why the rear AC system was offered as an option.
If you don't know the history then why not have the system tested and a re-gassed professionally .

Wimblowdriver said:

I think I read somewhere that the system loses up to 10% a year typically. Don't know how true that is, but if true the system will be pretty useless after a few years. I bought a re-gassing kit from Halfords a few years back, not too expensive.

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I tried re-gas kit from Halfords, followed it to the T.. bloody complicated and my aircon didn't work. Took car in to garage for new aircon, they said are you sure we have NEVER seen aircon fail on this model.... persuaded me to let them re-gas it... and said they would take the cost off aircon if it was at fault..... it worked. best money ever spent...

discool said:

My disco puts out between 6 and 8c from the dash vents and that's from a vehicle which is 20+ years old.
You do have the system switched to recirculation or are you trying to cool the outside air as well, also a disco is slight bigger than old Volvo's that's why the rear AC system was offered as an option.
If you don't know the history then why not have the system tested and a re-gassed professionally .

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Yeah I'm definitely using it right; recirc and windows closed. Just feels a little limp and sluggish. I never had any intention of a DIY kit.

I had mine regassed a couple of years ago and it transformed it. It was only about £30 IIRC.

Of course with the current weather there will be huge queues......

Just had my D2 regassed at ATS for £35 with a groupon voucher and it’s amazing!! They have an up to date machine that does a vacuum hold test before filling. Mine was fine but only had about 150ml of refrigerant left out of 750ml and it was contaminated.
Well worth £35 in my book!!

iansoady said:

I had mine regassed a couple of years ago and it transformed it. It was only about £30 IIRC.

Of course with the current weather there will be huge queues......

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No you won't find huge queues not many people offering re gas this year the government added a huge tax on the old gas its gone up x10, the new type gas is eco friendly and is dirt cheap trouble is you can only use it on newer cars no older than 3 years it Connor be used on older cars my mates properly qualified for both types but won't be buying the newer machine at 2k as he said if you own a car less than 3 years and your aircon isn't working you get if fixed under warranty.

My disco has old R134a gas and the new HFO-1234yf gas is as stated is used in modern vehicles and cost at least three times as much, no worry there I’ve only had my Jag for 2years.

Go and get yourself a A/c regas from a proper garage, the garage I work at is a stone's throw from halfords and we've never seen one of the top ups from there work, a good garage will also replenish the oil for the compressor and put a leak dye in the system in case of small leaks

Worked a treat. The garage pressure tested first to confirm no leaks, then refilled. For a system which should hold 700g it was down to 100 haha.