Aircon

[concentrik]

Just a quick one - if there's no gas at all in the system should the compressor cut in when the a/c button is pressed? Qwikfit told me the compressor should always cut in, gas or no.... 406 HDI

[lozz]

No it won't cut in if its totally empty.
There's a pressure switch on the pipework of which sends a signal back if there's enough refrigerant.
I think kwikfit most probs c.b.a and are just fobbing you off.
Try a different branch if possible,

[davew]

agreed, that is nonsense if there is low or no gas in the system the compressor will not cut in.

[lozz]

Q. Did they plumb in there doomsdays machine/phuck knows what its called

And then try to fill it.
If they did and nothing cut in on the air/con compressor side you may have a electrical fault.
They're supposed to pressure test the system with there dooms day device before doing the above .. iirc

[concentrik]

As you said, mostly a case of c b a but armed with advice from here I asked them how they knew the compressor was faulty, had they checked for totally empty..... errr no they hadn't.

But fair play to them, when I told them that this car had a no-gas cutout they said to bring it in anyway - they did the whole fill-up thing on the understanding that if it didn't work, no charge..... it did work and I was happy to pay the forty quid. Thanks again to you lot with the valuable real-life experience!

[Welly]

it did work and I was happy to pay the forty quid. Thanks again to you lot with the valuable real-life experience!

Well keep an eye on it because I'll be amazed if it lasts any longer than a few days sorry to sound negative but there must be a leak and most likely the condenser up front. The 'empty' system must first be subjected to a high pressure test to look for leaks only I believe sometimes this bit doesn't always get the priority and time it needs. For example; a 5 minute test at 125PSi is not going to 'see' the same leak as 20 minutes at 250PSi

Let us know how it goes.........

[concentrik]

Well keep an eye on it because I'll be amazed if it lasts any longer than a few days :

Let us know how it goes.........

24hrs as it turned out - off for a refund today!

[Welly]

shocking but sadly no surprise yet again

Have a squint at the condenser (radiator) at the front but along the bottom edge - see if you can see a green oily fluid leaking out.

[concentrik]

see if you can see a green oily fluid leaking out.

If I can, is there anything can be done?

[Welly]

see if you can see a green oily fluid leaking out.

If I can, is there anything can be done?

Not really but it gives you a visual of where the problem is, and usually it's the condenser corroding at the bottom edge. They can be bought and fitted yourself and the taken for a gas-up. There's a How-To on here somewhere but you'd need to be fairly confident with the spanners etc.