Hdi DIY aircon re-gassing

[Malc]

Have just attempted an aircon diy re-gas using an Easyklima kit (on ebay for euros 35 + p.p) on my Hdi.
Hope this might be of interest.
EasyKlima's English instructions are excellent http://stores.ebay.de/EasyKlima-AC-Tool ... TIONS.html
excepting one thing that comes with experience!
If there is absolutely no gas pressure on EasyKlima's initial test then there is a strong possibility that the system is empty thru
a leak.
If you want to go for a re-gas do not go for the entire amount initially but just a small amount at a time closing the kit
connecting valve each time and listening for a hiss from leaks.
Wish I had done the same as I heard the hiss after a full charge and the found the gas leak at the rubber to metal junction
of the compressor inlet pipe.
Next question has anyone changed the inlet tube to the compressor??

[Welly]

It is illegal in the UK to add refrigerant gas to a system known to have a leak. It's fairly obvious that if the a/c doesn't work then it is low on gas or has an electrical fault.

Proper service agents pay thousands of pounds getting trained and certified and buying the equipment to do this work properly. These 'gas in a can' things should be banned.

[Malc]

Not going to get involved in a political issue Welly.
You have your point of view and there are others though it does sound rather a contradiction to say that anyone is going to
re-charge their air-con if there is a known leak..
The choice is open to one and all either professionally or diy as long as it is legal and my posting with what I experienced
was to save anyone who goes down the diy road a bit of expense.

[Welly]

My point was you can not 'charge' refrigerant until you carry out a leak test so that kinda stops you in your tracks really (unless you own some recovery kit, Nitrogen bottle, hoses, gauges etc...)

The other problem is that you cannot remove the moisture in the system, you don't know how much oil is in there and it is very easy to over/under gas the system with these Cans; all of which will knacker the compressor.

I'm not having a go at you fella but it's a pet hate of mine and something which, in my opinion, gets abused out there on the streets.

[gumby6371]

Side stepping the legallity of attempting a diy re-gas but 35 euro isn't far off what a garage would charge to do it so can't see much point myself.

Garages by me advertise £30 for a re-gas including some of the nationals.

Repairing an empty system yourself then getting it filled by a certified garage is the cheapest and safest option.

[Malc]

Welly, I appreciate where you're coming from but this forum if I may be so bold as to suggest seems
to be in the main for those diy orientated. If you read my original post I did give a suggestion towards
a leak test using the diy kit.
gumby6371, I wasn't talking UK. My 200,000 km plus pug is lhd and min price here for a recharge is
approx E75 upwards.

[Welly]

Welly, I appreciate where you're coming from but this forum if I may be so bold as to suggest seems
to be in the main for those diy orientated. If you read my original post I did give a suggestion towards
a leak test using the diy kit.

This forum is for DIY enthusiasts but we would be wrong to suggest it's ok to fill refrigerant systems without proper equipment and training.

For starters there is an immediate danger of someone connecting their re-gas can to the HP side of the system and the can exploding in their face.

Some information found at http://www.car-aircon-basingstoke.co.uk ... op-up-kits

SOME "ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY" CANS OF R134a REPLACEMENT, CONTAIN HFO-1234YF, THIS IS EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. IT BURNS AT 600 DEGREES C, WHEN IT BURNS IT FORMS HYDROGEN FLOURIDE WHICH WHEN MIXED WITH WATER DECOMPOSES INTO HYDROFLOURIC ACID, A HIGHLY TOXIC ACID. IN A FRONT END COLLISION THE AIR CON CONDENSER IS POSITIONED AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR THE RISK OF FIRE IS SIGNIFICANTLY INCERASED WITH HFO-1234YF.

FINALLY IF YOUR A/C HAS A LEAK THE REFRIGERANT WILL SIMPLY VENT OFF INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, THIS DOES HAVE A SERIOUS ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT. ALL AIR CONDITIONING ENGINEERS NOW HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM QUALIFICATION IN THE SAFE HANDLING AND RECOVERY OF REFRIGERANTS. TO ALLOW REFRIGERANT TO VENT INTO THE ATMOSPHERE NOW CARRIES A £2000 FINE OR 2 YEARS IN JAIL.

If the laws are different where you are then do as you please but we are UK based and have to follow our laws.

I hope this helps.

[Malc]

For your info the low and high pressure valves on my 406 aircon are completely different sizes and impossible to get wrong.
On the h&s front anyone with a modicum of savvy attempting the diy recharge will I'm sure be fully aware of the hazards involved.
Though I think a tad vested interest within, your Basingstoke url I'm sure will be of interest to other site members..
For the moment I'd be interested in anyone who has attempted a compressor change and how they managed the connecting pipes.

[MJBD8]

I just got hurt for 400~ British beer tokens.

Air con died Overnight and I found a green sneeze blowing back into the engine bay on my 03 HDi. Took it to Forza Chepstow...

145 for a condenser.
80 for changing it and finding the HP pipe was fubar'd.
75 for a HP pipe from lookers Newport.
80 to fit new pipe.
35 for purge and regas.

Forza had a few TVR's in for work so I parked right in the middle to make them look good ;-)

It's really worth letting the pro's tackle this one for a change. the level of service was second to none and would recommend them to anyone local.

Malc- it isn't uncommon for the alloy pipes to corrode together and fuse with the condenser if it's your HP line you're looking around 75 quid from a stealership and don't over torque the studs they are alloy and will shear easily if not careful.

[Malc]

Thanks MJBD8....The sequel to this saga?
On charging the a/c heard and discovered a leak at the low pressure pipe junction.
On my 406 any low or high pressure pipe failure meant replacing both as they are welded to the compressor input/output plate.
The job was now beyond my remit so took it to local Peugeot dealer. Total cost almost euros 600!!!
I disagree with any doubting thomas on the use of diy ac charging kits and had it not been for this pipe failure I would have had a perfect recharge at very minImal cost.