Air con re-gas

[area51]

My air con is struggling to lower cabin temperature and probably needs a re gas.
It has been suggested that it would be a good idea to replace the receiver/drier [A160, year 2000, almost certainly never been changed ].
Any words of wisdom on this? Good idea, bad idea, waste of time..

Thanks in advance,
Chris

 

[Cole@MBS]

Probably just needs a regas, dont replace things unless you have to!!!

 

[SQ_W211]

And dont go to Kwick fit. Its £50 down drain as they dont finish the job(in my case anyway)

 

[Cole@MBS]

And dont go to Kwick fit. Its £50 down drain as they dont finish the job(in my case anyway)

They under filled yours Amo! only running at 6 bar of pressure, cool, not cold!!

 

[television]

And dont go to Kwick fit. Its £50 down drain as they dont finish the job(in my case anyway)

Well if they cant fix it they do not charge, and providing the EC lamp is not lit it should re charge OK

 

[124coupe]

Their statement is 10c cooler or you don't pay - therefore from not working to part working fits the "guarantee" so you have to pay....I guess they missread the car model and told the machine to fill up less refrigerant than required.

I would have gone back and not left until they filled it again...

 

[Dosco]

Some general points..

Re-gas is a very popular 'short term quick fix' but is usually just that and it does not last.

There can be several causes for the problem if there is no gas in the system then it has leaked out either through a hole in the condenser - most likely, the evaporator again a hole, or a leak in one of the pipe work connections. Blockage in the system caused by either moisture or foreign body in the condenser or filter drier. Compressor not working - clutch or the control system(thermostat etc) failure or the compressor has failed altogether and is not 'pumping'

I do not have the knowledge to comment on how the system is controlled on your motor but the above is a resume of what can happen to most A/C systems.

The filter drier should always be changed when the system is opened to atmosphere - ie as in a repair being carried out. but is not normally required if a re-gas is carried out.

To find a leak most repairs centres will add a dye to the charge unless when they do a leak test they find the culprit. Also many use O2 free N2 (dry nitrogen) to pressure test and purge the system to remove any last vestiges of moisture.

A good 'pump and pipe' man should be able to resolve it for you

 

[SQ_W211]

Too late now... Car all sorted now by MBS guys

 

[Cole@MBS]

Agreed, but we have had cars in running over 20 bar of pressure and over filled our aircon machine oil pot after sucking out the oil,

All car were filled up by........................................you got it, a kwick fit fitter!!!

 

[rf065]

Is it a simple job to check the pressure yourself?

Russ

 

[SQ_W211]

It has to be done on STAR as I was shown by MBS

 

[rf065]

It has to be done on STAR as I was shown by MBS

I don't think Kwik Fit have access to STAR though?
Surely it is easy enough to check the pressure at one of the valves?
Or do you need a special gauge?

Russ

 

[SQ_W211]

I think the recharge machine Kwick Fit use does not tell you how many Bars of pressure you have. I may be wrong but when I put my car on STAR today, it showed the exact pressure in BAR so we knew that it was below the required pressure

 

[Cole@MBS]

And we showed you on our air con machine today Amo!!

High and low pressure gauges, add the two together!!

 

[turbopete]

i think you can buy a guage to check something on your air con from halfrauds. dont know what it checks or how accurate it is though. id rather pay that little bit extra to have it put on a proper aircon machine and checked properly than trust a £20 halfrauds dial personally!

 

[Dosco]

i think you can buy a guage to check something on your air con from halfrauds. dont know what it checks or how accurate it is though. id rather pay that little bit extra to have it put on a proper aircon machine and checked properly than trust a £20 halfrauds dial personally!

Doubt if it would be worth it unless you are confident as to what the pressures (head and back pressure that is) are telling you. Less hassle and cheaper in the long run to use a good Indie or MB (costly) or a vehicle A/C specialist, again can be costly, who has the appropriate set of gauges and a charging station.

 

[mattkh]

Is it a simple job to check the pressure yourself?
Russ

Hi
Halfords do a free pressure check.

 

[Hertfordshire Merx]

I have a Kwik Fit just round the corner from me and I am pleased they are there! I am getting a lot of A?C faults and regasses off their back. I recovered 1100grams of gas out of a C Class requiring 750grams just this morning. Got another coming in at 4pm today so will see how that goes.

 

[Cole@MBS]

I have a Kwik Fit just round the corner from me and I am pleased they are there! I am getting a lot of A?C faults and regasses off their back. I recovered 1100grams of gas out of a C Class requiring 750grams just this morning. Got another coming in at 4pm today so will see how that goes.

Great company arnt they!!!

 

[Hertfordshire Merx]

Hey I'm not complaining...