I've just used one on my wife's Ford that hasn't been re-filled since we bought it in 1998 and I have to say that it works and I'm impressed (praise indeed).
It's only for R134a systems though so I guess that rules out series ones
Ta Ta, Colin.P
Full Version Air Conditioning
Hi all, got air conditioning that needs a top up ? don't pay the dealers lots of your hard earned money, just pop along to Halfords and buy their handy-dandy refilling kit comprising of a gas bottle and the adaptor pipe with built in pressure guage, cost around £40.00 for the two but further refill kits (gas bottle only) are half this price.
I've just used one on my wife's Ford that hasn't been re-filled since we bought it in 1998 and I have to say that it works and I'm impressed (praise indeed).
It's only for R134a systems though so I guess that rules out series ones
Ta Ta, Colin.P
I've just used one on my wife's Ford that hasn't been re-filled since we bought it in 1998 and I have to say that it works and I'm impressed (praise indeed).
It's only for R134a systems though so I guess that rules out series ones
Ta Ta, Colin.P
Kits for refilling olders systems are available too. I've seen them on a couple of websites. Personally I am wary of these tools, because the A/C systems need refilling when there is a leak somewhere, however small. Small leaks tend to get bigger. So doing this job yourself is only a temporary solution - I think 
Hi all
I had my mk1 converted to R134a a couple of years back it was £200 i think, as regards re-filling the system, i was told by a local a/c specialist that the system will loose about 5% a year even in sound condition, So the system should need topping up from time to time.
I had my mk1 converted to R134a a couple of years back it was £200 i think, as regards re-filling the system, i was told by a local a/c specialist that the system will loose about 5% a year even in sound condition, So the system should need topping up from time to time.
| QUOTE (dean @ Jul 12 2007, 08:06 AM) |
| Hi all I had my mk1 converted to R134a a couple of years back it was £200 i think, as regards re-filling the system, i was told by a local a/c specialist that the system will loose about 5% a year even in sound condition, So the system should need topping up from time to time. |
Probably so, and it may work for you. But rubber hoses and seals also deteriorate and the receiver/dryer is an item that requires attention if you want to avoid the expansion valve getting clogged by a burst silica gel bag
Hi All
After a bit of searching I came across some refill cylinders with a hose and pressure gauge on ebay. The pressure gauge can be used independant of the refill cylinder to check the current pressure level. This helps decide whether a refill is worthwhile (no pressure/very low equals big leak). The gas claims to have oil and seal material in the formulation. A system in good order should last about 3 years before pressure drops enough to cut out. As the seal material/oil does not leak like the gas, it just degrades into gunge, I would not recommend refilling more than a couple of times before a Vac down and full refill with new gas. I have recently got a vac/refill done for £40 and have seen £35/offer advertised on ebay.
I understand there are moves afoot to prevent these top up gas packs being sold in the UK.
Regards
XMexc
After a bit of searching I came across some refill cylinders with a hose and pressure gauge on ebay. The pressure gauge can be used independant of the refill cylinder to check the current pressure level. This helps decide whether a refill is worthwhile (no pressure/very low equals big leak). The gas claims to have oil and seal material in the formulation. A system in good order should last about 3 years before pressure drops enough to cut out. As the seal material/oil does not leak like the gas, it just degrades into gunge, I would not recommend refilling more than a couple of times before a Vac down and full refill with new gas. I have recently got a vac/refill done for £40 and have seen £35/offer advertised on ebay.
I understand there are moves afoot to prevent these top up gas packs being sold in the UK.
Regards
XMexc
Just got my 2.5 exclusive air con done yesterday.
Mobile professional guy in Edinburgh with the correct gear charges £30 to "suck" all the old stuff out for 15 mins and charge it up with 0.9kg.
Just away to solve the final problem of an incorrect S/H blower fan replacement which is sucking instead of blowing !?!
Thought at first it was a blocked pollen filter but thankfully my car does not have one.
Getting into the top cap was a bit of a fiddle though.
Mobile professional guy in Edinburgh with the correct gear charges £30 to "suck" all the old stuff out for 15 mins and charge it up with 0.9kg.
Just away to solve the final problem of an incorrect S/H blower fan replacement which is sucking instead of blowing !?!
Thought at first it was a blocked pollen filter but thankfully my car does not have one.
Getting into the top cap was a bit of a fiddle though.
Hi all
Interesting!
I've just finished putting my 1992 V6 SEi all back to gether after an auto box replacement, and at the same time converted my system to R134a..
Its VERY simple to do, all you need to change is the Compressor, pipe work, that one from the compressor round the front to the Condenser, change that too, then the appropiate pipe work from the condenser to the dryer (One pipe) then the dryer itself, and the pipe from the dryer to the dash evaporator, and the pipe from the evaporator to the compressor.
Ive been told that ALL evaporators in the dash are the same!! Its only the pipes and units in the engine bay that need swapping.. Cost of swap £FOC, got all the parts from a scrapped car that I bought the engine for!! Now all I need to do is get it vacced, oilled, re gassed and cross fingers! what I did find thought is R134a pipe work has a larger diamiter then R12 pipe work, but its not a real problem!
Regards
citroenxm
Interesting!
I've just finished putting my 1992 V6 SEi all back to gether after an auto box replacement, and at the same time converted my system to R134a..
Its VERY simple to do, all you need to change is the Compressor, pipe work, that one from the compressor round the front to the Condenser, change that too, then the appropiate pipe work from the condenser to the dryer (One pipe) then the dryer itself, and the pipe from the dryer to the dash evaporator, and the pipe from the evaporator to the compressor.
Ive been told that ALL evaporators in the dash are the same!! Its only the pipes and units in the engine bay that need swapping.. Cost of swap £FOC, got all the parts from a scrapped car that I bought the engine for!! Now all I need to do is get it vacced, oilled, re gassed and cross fingers! what I did find thought is R134a pipe work has a larger diamiter then R12 pipe work, but its not a real problem!
Regards
citroenxm
Hi all,
Now got fully working ice cold air con.
The second hand replacement fan had the inner fan blades facing the wrong way causing the fan to suck instead of blow.
Changed the fan from my working 2.5 estate, no air con, and now the air con and blower works perfect.
Now looking to buy a S/H correct facing fan for my estate.
Noticed in Halfords today that along with air con re-fill cans they sell air con cleaner which works by running air con, closing outside air supply and opening can to let it squirt out contents placed on footwell. This was described as doing the same job as when an air con specialist runs the air con and places covers over the cars vents to collect system dirt on the covers.
I've never heard of this.
Any ideas ?
Now got fully working ice cold air con.
The second hand replacement fan had the inner fan blades facing the wrong way causing the fan to suck instead of blow.
Changed the fan from my working 2.5 estate, no air con, and now the air con and blower works perfect.
Now looking to buy a S/H correct facing fan for my estate.
Noticed in Halfords today that along with air con re-fill cans they sell air con cleaner which works by running air con, closing outside air supply and opening can to let it squirt out contents placed on footwell. This was described as doing the same job as when an air con specialist runs the air con and places covers over the cars vents to collect system dirt on the covers.
I've never heard of this.
Any ideas ?
| QUOTE (mark @ Jul 18 2007, 19:21 PM) |
| Noticed in Halfords today that along with air con re-fill cans they sell air con cleaner which works by running air con, closing outside air supply and opening can to let it squirt out contents placed on footwell. This was described as doing the same job as when an air con specialist runs the air con and places covers over the cars vents to collect system dirt on the covers. I've never heard of this. Any ideas ? |
Have used these in the past with variable results. They're normally about £17 a tin?
If it's the same item they are a sort of aerosol 'bomb' that you click on and leave to empty into the cars interior with the fans runnig on full. They do clean the system of bacteria, etc, but also leave a sticky film all over the interior that takes ages to clean off.
Cheaper option - I've found a misting squirty bottle with Jeyes disinfectant fluid fired into the fan unit intake under the passenger footwell to work brilliantly. If you put an old towel in the passenger footwell all the filthy liquid drains out of the fan unit onto the towel. I do mine once a year to kill bacteria and keep the aircon smelling nice.
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