Good morning at this horrifically early hour.
As you may or may not remember, around the end of June, I took my car to get it's aircon regassed having thought myself lucky to only be experiencing problems with it after 6 years. According to the invoice it was degassed, vacuum tested, UV Dye injection, oil injection, regassed and tested. It certainly was regassed because up until yesterday it was blowing out jets of ice cold air. (The best kind of air).
However, guess what, now it isn't. Now it's warm air. Having it on recirculated air makes it twice as powerful so it's usually always on that but nope - nothing. Turning off the recirculation, the air seems to get marginally colder but that could just be me. It's still far too warm in any event.
Now the work is guaranteed for 3 months or 3,000 miles. As long as I take it back soonish, I'll fall within the mileage limit. My question is, is there any point? What I mean is, surely something horrendously expensive like an evaporator, condensor or something is leaking and not to put too fine a point on it, my bank balance is in minus figures - much as I love cold air, there's no way I could justify the cost of replacing something expensive when things like tyres are more important. I realise I'm asking for a remote diagnosis which is probably nigh on impossible but is there any chance the loss of gas (I'm assuming it's all gone) is down to a hose or something? Or for it to have gone in such a short time, is something bigger likely?
Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Donations to the Adam Air-Conditioning Fund can be made payable to:
Me
Thanks,
Adam
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Well, you have the dye in it so a trip to the aircon man who did the regass will reveal the problem.
Given the rather major hot spells we have had over the last couple of years, I would now never consider a car without aircon, indeed its the reason Nicole is dumping a perfectly good clio.
So if you have now a major problem, that means vast expense, I would seriously consider getting the thing regassed again, blowing cold air, and sell it off quickly while it still works.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Does the dye stain where the split or crack in a pipe is then once all the gas has gone? Makes sense I suppose.
>>So if you have now a major problem, that means vast expense, I would seriously consider getting the thing regassed again, blowing cold air, and sell it off quickly while it still works.<<
Sound advice but no way I could act on it. I'd be amazed if I made £2500 if I sold it and I couldn't get as good a car as that. Apart from this aircon problem, it's perfect. I'll try and get it regassed for nothing which should take me through the worst of the hot weather then I'll have to sell it when I can afford to change working or not. Don't forget, when I do come to sell it would have close to, if not 100,000 on the clock and be at least 7 years old.
Thanks for the help though - I'll take it down tomorrow and see what Mr Freeze says about it. (That's not his real name by the way).
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The dye shows up under ultra violet light. It should leave traces from wherever it has escaped. It may not be a joint or pipe leak, Adam, it may be failure of a sensor which is stopping the compressor cutting in, it may be failure of the condenser fan (under the bonnet) or it may be a catastrophic failure of the compressor or condenser.
The dye will leave traces as soon as it starts leaking, it doesn't wait until all the gas has gone.
I think TVM is right, go back and get a few minutes expert opinion. If they are a reputable company they will be keen to assist.
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Should have added, If it has lost its efficiency overnight, it suggests something worse than a "small" leak.
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Hi mjm,
Just gone out now and the condensor is cutting in, then out, then in, then out after about 10 seconds and the big fan that sounds like a jet engine is on too. It's not looking good!
I got it done on teh 24th June and noticed it not working last night so it must be a fairly big leak. I'll take it tomorrow and let you know what happens.
Thanks again,
Adam
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We had a similar problem with the air con. in our ex-Citroen Xsara. Took it along to one of our Ford dealers who diagnosed it needed re-gassing. Worked a treat for a couple of weeks or so then warm air came out. Back it went, this time it was the condensor, we sort a second opinion from a Citroen dealer, even larger quote to rectify. We got a quote from a local garage who fits nothing less than original parts, half the price to fix it, a couple of new parts required and fitted, worked a treat afterwards. Just under 1 year later the air con. failed again, not the same parts, the only other part not to have been changed this time. By this time we had had enough of throwing money at the Xsara, we'd had to replace the clutch, cylinder head gaskit (twice) including skimming, it goes on...the last time my wife buys a car via the Internet without seeing it or test driving it first ! She now has a low milage one owner new type Ford Focus Estate 1.8 TDCi and is over the moon with it, and the air con works a treat.
The bottom line is, we traded in the Xsara and told the dealer about the air con not working and all the work done to the car. First class condition according to them so they offerred us a good price as a trade in, no worries about the air con. either.
Basically if you are planning on selling a car there is no point spending a few more quid on it to temp fix something in an attempt to sell it to an unsuspecting buyer. Save yourself time and trouble and be honest and up front about it and price your motor accordingly, we did and we sleep easy at night knowing we did the right thing.
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Adam
Its that merc calling thats caused this.,Its weaving magic spells........
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Just to update you all - I've just got back from taking it to be looked at. There's a green haze which shows up under UV light on a pipe at the very back of engine bay (and very deep too!). He reckons the header tank would have to come out and it being about 2 hours labour minimum to do. Plus it might not be just that.
Minimum of £150 quid (including regas) so I'm just going to have to leave it. Hopefully we're over the worst of the hot weather now.
Thanks for all the help and advice,
Adam
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AdamP
The air con failed a few months ago on my 2002 Focus 1.6. A pipe had chafed/corroded through in the wheel arch area. The pipe was rubber with a metal section at each end. The metal parts had small holes in them. Cost me £60 .
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Thanks for that gadgee - the problem with this is, is the inaccessbility of the pipe which requires at least the header tank to come out and at least 2 hours labour. He said the O ring would be a couple of quid plus a regas which costs 55 quid.
I think it's best just to leave it - when I get rid, I'll mention what I found out today but given the car will have nearly 100,000 on (if not more), I can't see it being a problem.
Thanks,
Adam
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