I don't suppose I've done too badly given it's worked perfectly for 7 years but I think the gas has run out on my aircon.
I was just moving the car and had the aircon on and you can hear the condenser kicking in every 10 seconds or so and the air doesn't feel especially cold. Is this because the car has stopped? It worked fine the other night but I assume that because the condenser is kicking in so often is because the gas is so low? (Ordinarily it you can only hear it kicking in when you're stopped every 5-10 minutes or so)
If it has run out, does anyone know of a decent place in the North West willing to re-gas it. How much would I be looking at?
Preferably somewhere close to either Liverpool or Manchester but if it's a decent place I'd be willing to travel (within reason!).
Many Thanks,
Adam
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Incidentally,
I haven't used it in months and had to give it a bit of Dettol treatment to get rid of the smell. But as I said, it's worked the past week. The most recent being Thursday night.
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It is because it is 7 years old and you haven't used it for 7 months. HJ recommends that you leave your aircon selected ALL the time, to keep the compressor turning and the seals in good condition! Liverpool specialists at
tinyurl.com/fqngq
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And Manchester ones here
tinyurl.com/pueen
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Thanks very much AS.
I'm still a little puzzled though. It keeps clunking but I was under the impression that if there was no gas, it wouldn't kick in. I don't suppose anyone knows why it's clunking then do they?
I know what HJ says but I've done it this way for 6 years and it's worked up until now! ;-)
The links you've provided are more than enough to be getting on with though.
Thanks again,
Adam
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It switches on and off because it's an orifice tube system. They use a low pressure switch to cycle the compressor, but when low on gas, the compressor pulls the suction pressure down really quickly (cos there's not much there)so it switches off. Of course, then the pressure comes back up so it switches on again.
Don't use it in this state otherwise you knacker the compressor, and ford's own compressors aren't the strongest to start with. You've got a leak somewhere, so get it gassed and dyed.
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I wish I'd have read that before I went out last night. I had it on and it was ice cold. Perfect as usual.
I take it it still needs regassing though?
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Adam I can't follow this! Your aircon was knackered, you didn't do anything to it and now it is working?
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Exactly!
I had to move my car yesterday so Dad could get his bike out of the garage. Whilst I was waiting, in the car, for him to move so I could put the car back, I heard the condenser kicking in every 10 seconds or so and the air just wasn't cold.
However, I went out last night having not read Dave's warning and had it on when it was ice cold for the entire journey and then all the way back too!
My head hurts.
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Well, it is a result but is it permanent? I hope so!
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Presumably at idle speed, the compressor mabye wasn't able to make enough pressure, where-as when driving the comp is masking the system low-ish pressure.
Meaning that re-gassing is required?
Try it again just at idle, and see if it repeats the same symptons.
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Something along those lines had crossed my mind Andy. I'll give it a whirl after.
As I said earlier, I'm not too unhappy seeing as I've got 7 years out of it. I'm sure everything's going to come crashing down around my ears after saying this but after reading all the "common" faults on these cars, I'm sure I must have a lucky one. Maybe they put more effort into the classier saloons. ;-)
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HJ recommends that you leave your aircon selected ALL the time
Ford recommend that you turn it off when you don't need it.
--
L\'escargot.
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This adds substance to Dave N's suggestion that Ford a/c compressors aren't up to much, ie they can't take being run all the time! My Peugeot handbook is ambiguous; it says "The air conditioning is designed to operate in all seasons" so that could mean all the time. It also says that the system should be used for 5 to 10 minutes once or twice a month to keep it in perfect working order. All a bit inconclusive really!
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Just had the system recharged on my 2002 1.6 Zetec. Cost me £60 plus VAT. Unfortunately they could not do a dye test because of some sort of incompatability with their gear. It now blows nice and cold. First problem with it since new. I run it every week or more over the winter because you hear about the seals drying out or something. By the way can anyone explain what this dye test for leaks is all about? Where exactly do you see it?
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You see it where the leak is but I think you need a UV light to see it.
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