My aircon has died

[Doggy]

Surprise, surprise the aircon has finally died.
Lack of gas again, but no discernible leak.
Bearing in mind last summer's bodge, (or dirty-fix in Weltonese), I think I will replace that there pipe and attempt a leak test / re-gas.

Anybody got a donor vehicle with the section of pipe work that goes from the filling valves back to the compressor, by any chance?

[Welly]

Damnation, mind you that's lasted well since the bod....err....repair.

[Doggy]

Got myself a replacement pipe - the section between the filling valves and the compressor, just trying to find hose to couple the bits together - the ally pipe is about 16mm OD at this point. The search continues......

Edit Gates 17mm heater hose fits perfickly. Had to shell out £6 for 1 metre, but needs must.

I could do with it working, yesterday I had the joyous experience of a round trip from Huntingdon to Gloucester sans climatisation, which was pretty hot and sticky.
On a positive note, I recorded 56.6 mpg over 300 miles at an average of 54 mph.
I was behaving myself - CC set to 70/71 TomTom mph apart from a few stretches of 50 mph average speed cameras, but this is better that I've ever got before.
I'm beginning to wonder if the A/C really does make a noticeable difference.

[Welly]

A/C does hold the engine back, not so noticeable on a diesel but on the volvo you can really feel it. It would make sense for the engine to free up some MPG's without the A/C running.

Doggy you 'd ideally need some of those jubilee clips on the hose that pull up equally all-round. Don't know what they're called but the kinda have a 'bolt' on one side and look beefed-up. 'Normal' jubilees tend to 'pinch' the hose in one spot near the screw thing.

[PeterN]

My £400 406 I bought a couple of years ago had working aircon - the first car that has in years, I thought it had packed up this year but I put it on yesterday when it was extremely hot and indeed it does work although it takes longer to get cold, so I suspect the gas pressure is low. I bought one of these cheap and nasty top up kits which I haven't used yet, I will let you know the results when I have.

Peter

[Welly]

I don't actually use my aircon in the car much, my workplace is fairly cool naturally so when I leave on a hot day I don't mind travelling with the window down and warm air blowing in my hair*.

It is useful if visiting on business or on the motorway though but otherwise I don't bother.

[Doggy]

Doggy you 'd ideally need some of those jubilee clips on the hose that pull up equally all-round. Don't know what they're called but the kinda have a 'bolt' on one side and look beefed-up. 'Normal' jubilees tend to 'pinch' the hose in one spot near the screw thing.

Comme ça?
(Sorry, trying to get my head into French mode for holiday next month).


Unfortunately I'm not finding those in small enough sizes, but a good quality stainless jubilee clip that only just opens up far enough should be fine. Bear in mind the ally pipe isn't strong enough to withstand a whole lot of torque to tighten either kind of clip.

[Doggy]

The saga continues.....

Got it regassed and it worked OK.
Examined last year's dirty fix and it wasn't the problem.

Last weekend the aircon packed in again, finally found the problem last night - it's the condenser.

(You remember, the one I didn't have to change last year)?

Seems it and the radiator have shifted backwards for some reason, causing the lower left mounting peg to get twisted by about 45 degrees eventually making it leak.

New condenser should arrive tomorrow.

Trouble is, I'm on a training course in Notts from Thursday through to next Wednesday, only Sunday off.
Then back at work Thurs/Fri next week
Then on Eurotunnel 8:50 next Saturday en route for the S of France.

Wish me luck.

[Welly]

Unless I'm mistaken you're lacking time there to get that job done, still you have all* day next Saturday so WCPGW?

[Doggy]

I haz a new condenser, (but it's still in the box).
Saturday unfortunately is spoken for, but there's still Fathers Day. Looking like 'Father' is going to be busy.
I actually have a bit of spare time Tuesday afternoon, (re-gas hopefully)......
and Wednesday afternoon, (new front boots, barnet).

Loadsa time really.

[Doggy]

Condenser is in & connected up, oil change and filters done too - 4500 miles early for once.
Re-gas tomorrow or Tuesday, hopefully. New front tyres booked for Wednesday pm.
Then we're off to the Med on Saturday.

[Welly]

Blimey you done well

[Doggy]

And.......
I haz aircon.
Uncle Google directed me to Hardwick Motors in Sutton Ashfield, who supplied 0.64 kg of R134A for the princely sum of £20.
200 yards down the road it started blowing hot.
Didn't have time to faff about yesterday, except for checking the clutch was still pulling in, (which it was), checked for leaks, (nothing visible) and tried the hp pipe from compressor to condenser, which I guess should have been hot and wasn't.
Took it back today, but noticed it was actually working after I spoke to them on the phone.
Anyway their techie came out for a look, satisfied himself all was well and explained it was probably a frozen txv valve, due to yesterdays extreme conditions - it was 34/35 degrees.

Fingers crossed that's it for this year.

[Welly]

I remember once my 406 air con crapped out after being parked for 30 mins on a really hot day. I had to stop and restart the car and all was fine again

[Doggy]

Dead again.

It seemed to be working to some extent on the recent return trip to the Med, but definitely wasn't right.
Finally recovered my laptop / PP2k and checked it out today.
Showing 1 bar residual pressure engine stopped, all interlocks OK, compressor clutch operating, refrigerant pipe from compressor getting hot at the condenser, but no change in pressure with the compressor running and evaporator temperature stays in the high 20's. Definitely has gas, radiator fan not being asked for, (but works when tested with PP2k).

[Unlike earlier cars, full MUX ones don't run the rad fan permanently on slow if the a/c is on, the engine ecu works it when required based I think on refrigerant pressure].

Any ideas?