AC compressor advice (not Mercedes!!)

[matthew k]

Hi, I need a bit of advice, but apologies this is in regard to my mums car. The ac declined last year then stopped working, we tried to get it regased and they said it was leaking so aborted. The condenser was replaced last week and they had an ac engineer round to gas it.

 

[bembo449]

Yes it does , the whole system needs to be fit for ut to work efficiently pal

 

[LostKiwi]

Check out Hella compressors. Reasonably priced and OEM.

 

[rorywquin]

Going forward , run the a/c all year round so the the seals do not dry out.

 

[flowrider]

Hi, I need a bit of advice, but apologies this is in regard to my mums car. The ac declined last year then stopped working, we tried to get it regased and they said it was leaking so aborted. The condenser was replaced last week and they had an ac engineer round to gas it.

Is there a question in there or are you just telling us that you had your mums car AC regassed?

 

[Botus]

I suspect the point of the post was to ask, would a condenser really need to be replaced?

if that's the question, YES they fail all day long

Its the biggest cause of lost gas and AC not working. If its a Merc then its dead by 9 years but most limp on for 11 years leaking out the gas... it can last 6 to 9 months between top ups for 3 years. Then many cars of this vintage end up in a skip, so many owners don't know it was ever gone...

if its a VAG expect 5 years

 

[mioba]

condensors fail due to rot, in the hot weather turn them off 5 mins before you stop so they dry out.

My w220 ac still works perfectly and its 16 years old.

To the OP get some dye in the system and find the source of leak. Use a proper garage!

 

[matthew k]

Is there a question in there or are you just telling us that you had your mums car AC regassed?

Sorry, weirdly loads of that got deleted, not on purpose! Yeah, had an attempt, went to QF. I'm normally very wary of such places, especially after my dreadful experience at National Tyres last year, absolute clowns/bxxxxxds. However, these guys were really good, I've been disappointed at other branches, but this seems a good one.

The car took the R7 but the compressor wouldn't run. The guy actually ran a diagnostic for me, and got it started, but it kept cutting out. Needs a new compressor by the looks for things. It's juat had a new condenser.

Thanks guys, I'll keep you posted

 

[matthew k]

Sorry, weirdly loads of that got deleted, not on purpose! Yeah, had an attempt, went to QF. I'm normally very wary of such places, especially after my dreadful experience at National Tyres last year, absolute clowns/bxxxxxds. However, these guys were really good, I've been disappointed at other branches, but this seems a good one.

The car took the R7 but the compressor wouldn't run. The guy actually ran a diagnostic for me, and got it started, but it kept cutting out. Needs a new compressor by the looks for things. It's juat had a new condenser.

Thanks guys, I'll keep you posted

Just to add, my contempt for NT was their not balancing my wheels properly, attempting to rip me off, and jacking my car up in the wrong place damaging the sill. I unfortunately didn't realise until I got home. Had I done so a evidential video would have been made, and their insurers would have been paying to repair it.

 

[Bogus]

I suspect the point of the post was to ask, would a condenser really need to be replaced?

if that's the question, YES they fail all day long

Its the biggest cause of lost gas and AC not working. If its a Merc then its dead by 9 years but most limp on for 11 years leaking out the gas... it can last 6 to 9 months between top ups for 3 years. Then many cars of this vintage end up in a skip, so many owners don't know it was ever gone...

if its a VAG expect 5 years

Looks like my 1992 merc is bucking this trend then, a/c working perfectly, no leaks and still with the original condenser.

 

[LostKiwi]

Looks like my 1992 merc is bucking this trend then, a/c working perfectly, no leaks and still with the original condenser.

My 93 129 ditto.
But then, it never gets driven on salty winter roads.

 

[flowrider]

I had the condenser replaced yesterday on my 2004 SL.

 

[Botus]

Looks like my 1992 merc is bucking this trend then, a/c working perfectly, no leaks and still with the original condenser.

they used to be made properly.... on current cars bacofoil is far stronger,

check Porsche forums.... lucky to get 3 years out any radiator, intercooler or condenser

 

[Blobcat]

they used to be made properly.... on current cars bacofoil is far stronger,

check Porsche forums.... lucky to get 3 years out any radiator, intercooler or condenser

I had 10 years out of my 977 condensers (1 each side)
The reason they fail is road detritus comes into the openings and sits at the bottom of the condensers and they corrode until they leak.
I made up some 5mm stainless steel mesh coverings which I fixed into the 3 openings (ATF cooler in the middle). That stopped the leaves and rubbish getting in and the condensers have been perfect since then.

 

[Uncle Benz]

condensors fail due to rot, in the hot weather turn them off 5 mins before you stop so they dry out.

My w220 ac still works perfectly and its 16 years old.

To the OP get some dye in the system and find the source of leak. Use a proper garage!

It’s a valid point, but the aim is to dry the evaporator. The condenser at the front of the car is the hot part of the system, and can be surprisingly hot when the ac is on. The evaporator inside the car is the cold side. It does generate a lot of condensation in operation, and you’ll see it draining under the car often too. Switching off to dry the evaporator before stopping the car helps to dry it and combats bacterial growth in there too, which creates the bad smells

 

[Bogus]

they used to be made properly.... on current cars bacofoil is far stronger,

check Porsche forums.... lucky to get 3 years out any radiator, intercooler or condenser

Yes I know, my son has just replaced his on a 2014 peugot and the guy who serviced my a/c tells me that condensers and condenser inlet lines are a huge part of his livliehood.

 

[matthew k]

The new part arrived, they offered either a reconditioned version at £125 or a new one for £175. My father went with the latter, but the case clearly isn't new, you can see spanner marks etc. However, I don't really expect a new one for that money either, so is the extra £50 just a cynical ploy?

 

[flowrider]

The new part arrived, they offered either a reconditioned version at £125 or a new one for £175. My father went with the latter, but the case clearly isn't new, you can see spanner marks etc. However, I don't really expect a new one for that money either, so is the extra £50 just a cynical ploy?

Looks new to me. Someone had to assemble it and I dont think spanner mark's are out of place.

 

[Frontstep]

Its what inside that matters.

 

[matthew k]

Looks new to me. Someone had to assemble it and I dont think spanner mark's are out of place.

Just below the hole where it clamps on, you can see where the head of a spanner has previously been, although it's been painted over. TBH, I'm not really worried, so long as it works. But I don't like being deceived that's all.