A class air con

[bantamd175]

I have purchased an 2001 A140 with climate control and have had problems with the air con not lasting, the dealer (not merc) has had it back 3 times, recharged the system and replaced the pipes in the engine bay and they are having it back again to try and sort it, it appears to be loosing the gas. Any help please.

 

[mioba]

I have purchased an 2001 A140 with climate control and have had problems with the air con not lasting, the dealer (not merc) has had it back 3 times, recharged the system and replaced the pipes in the engine bay and they are having it back again to try and sort it, it appears to be loosing the gas. Any help please.

well its obviously got a leak in it somewhere, have they done a leak test, ie put some dye in the system, this needs to circulate then they can check it again with a uv lamp.

 

[bantamd175]

I am presuming so, but perhaps I should ask the question, are there any common faults ?, thanks

 

[Andy Wr]

Compressor shaft seals and condensers are the most common parts to leak, incidentally it is illegal to keep recharging a system with refrigerant with out first identifying and repairing any gas leaks, it is classed as negligence of duty and a negligent person is liable to 6 months in prison and a £20,000 fine as they are knowingly discharging refrigerant gas to the atmosphere, I kid you not.

 

[bantamd175]

Thanks, I will advise them of that fact and info might help them sort it at last.

 

[Andy Wr]

Thanks, I will advise them of that fact and info might help them sort it at last.

Ask them if they pressure test using nitrogen with a R134a trace as recommended under the latest CITB or C & G safe handling of refrigerant, with out the qualification they should not be messing with gas and as things are tightening up now supplies of refrigerant gas during the next 18 months will be stopped unless you can prove that you are a competent and qualified person to use and handle all of the types of refrigerant gas.

Also as a point of interest, if a garage removes the old gas from your system to dispose of, they have to have a waste transfer licence issued by the EPA allowing them to store waste (or recovered) gas on the premises and all waste gas even removed from a vehicle for disposal has to be documented and the records have to be saved (you are within your rights to ask for a copy of the sheet relevant for your own vehicle as even with fly tipping, if you pay a person to dispose of your rubbish from home and they dump it in a lay by you are still responsible in the eyes of the law), the days of just letting the gas go if the engine has to be changed are long gone. If your car is short of gas all of the old gas has to be removed, the system dehydrated using a vaccum pump and a fresh charge added by weight, you can not just "top up a car" the charge is critical, over charging can do as much damage as under charging causing wear and stress on components.

 

[Blobcat]

Firstly I would find an independant AC specialist to fix your problem rather than the MB dealer. It is not their speciality and as you have found they are not that great with AC problems. Yellow pages or if you put up your location members may have a recommendation.

 

[bantamd175]

I am not paying for this work as it was not working when we looked at the car, they charged the system be fore we collected it and it was working for a few days after, so it is all being sorted through warranty.
I am in Kidderminster, Worcestershire. Thanks.

 

[Blobcat]

OK warranty is different, just keep on at them until it is fixed. It looks as if they are trying to get rid of you with the cheap option of a regas. Insist that a dye is put into the system and a leak test done. Condensor leaking is a fairly common problem.

 

[bantamd175]

They found the condenser was cracked, so they have changed it and 1 week on it still works!!!!!!!

 

[Blobcat]

Excellent thanks for posting back with the outcome