My A/c has lost gas. I haven't had it tested for a leak yet, so I'm hoping it's just a seal. If it's the condenser, could anyone tell me how to go about removing it please?
Technical A/C Problem
- Thread starter Moonroof
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Technical A/C Problem
realistically you need to establish if the gas has all escaped or if its just too low on gas for the system to work.
It can be pretty dangerous to go taking things apart with still potentially very high pressure in the system even though there is not enough pressure for it to work.
Also it is illegal to knowingly release aircon gas into the atmosphere, therefore you should really be taking to someone to tell you what is wrong and have the gas sucked out of the system before anything is taken apart.
Once someone has looked at it, it may be it just needs a re-gas and there is no leak, all systems lose the gas over time.
It can be pretty dangerous to go taking things apart with still potentially very high pressure in the system even though there is not enough pressure for it to work.
Also it is illegal to knowingly release aircon gas into the atmosphere, therefore you should really be taking to someone to tell you what is wrong and have the gas sucked out of the system before anything is taken apart.
Once someone has looked at it, it may be it just needs a re-gas and there is no leak, all systems lose the gas over time.
Thanks for the reply Andy.
I had it topped up a few weeks ago, so I think there’s a leak. I’ll have my A/C man do a sniff test and see where the problem lies.
Michael
Add some UV dye
The source of the leak will glow
I am surprised the AC shop didn't spot any problem if they held a vaccum before refilling the system
The source of the leak will glow
I am surprised the AC shop didn't spot any problem if they held a vaccum before refilling the system
All was good then. Sprung a leak since
Potential for damage then.. at least if you know it worked a month ago major mechanicals are obviously still sound
Easy to spend £600/£800 if you need major work
Is yours the cheaper gas ?
If it's a MK3, it'll be at least ten years old.
On a car of that age, I don't think I could justify spending that sort of money on something that wasn't needed for the car to perform its basic function.
If the repair was going to involve more than a new condenser/dryer & a regas, I'd just be opening the window in future.
At least a condenser (if needed) isn’t expensive @£100.
Last time I looked they were in the £30-40 bracket including shipping
Memory a bit foggy but I think two different type were fitted, I think maybe the 4x4 was different, but until we know which part is needed it could be a wast of time finding part numbers
Agreed
To be fair there are many many times you’ll do a vacuum and hold and it will all look fine as it’s only for a half hour or hour, so you regas it and off you go.
New machines fill the pressure test the system with nitrogen as this puts all the seals under pressure pushing things apart rather than the vacuum which pulls all the pipework together at the seals making things tighter.
Even then a minor leak can still take a few weeks before the gas gets out again.
Another common issue with these sorts of things is a tiny bit of grit or dirt in the full valve so every time it’s gasses everything looks fine you’d expect to see residue of dye around the fill port. And as soon as the fill pipes are disconnected the valve starts leaking a tiny amount, again taking a few weeks before the system stops working again
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Under ultra violet light?
I had our condenser changed by the main dealer it was c 300. The gas was more than the condenser, Once the bumper is off I think its relatively plain sailing. I would remove the bumper and then let a mobile air con specialist test and sort it out unless qualified to deal with the gas.. The removal part of the job is relatively small. Post 2012 cars have a differnet type of gas and thats cheaper.....
Any help on how to remove the front bumper on the Cross would be appreciated.
Yes with special glasses and UV light
Once it's in the system is constantly there
Some places add it as a matter of course
So if you have say a joint fail that's only happens as you go over a sleeping policema it will still find it a week or month later
Dead easy
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£60 vs £120 ;-)
ultraviolet dye is the heaviest thing in an aircon system and therefore often the last thing to leak out, this can mean that unless the system is completely empty you may not see any dye outside of the system. Also depending on the design of the system and the pipework you may still never find the leak with uv dye because the design of the pipes or connections may let lighter gas out but not the heavy dye. Then it is especially hard to spot if the leak is in the fins of the condenser or worse the evaporator.
I am a bit confused about the comments on gas being cheaper after 2012?
Old cars used R12 this was a CFC and phased out in the mid nineties though some earlier cars used it.
The vast majority of cars use R134a which was still in use up until 2017/18
The “new” gas R1234yf was supposed to come into use in 2010 except no one was manufacturing it so no one could get supplies to put it into cars. Some early adopters had it in 2012 but really most cars and manufacturers didn’t use it till 2017. One of the major issues that manufacturers don’t like about the new gas is that is is highly flammable, well the manufacturer of the gas claimed it was almost impossible to light, except various car manufacturers pointed out once mixed with air con oil it’s incredibly easy to ignite and one of the German manufacturers ?mercedes found there cars would usually catch fire in accidents because of the gas (fortunately a short lived burn) but ultimately it was better for the planet so it has stayed. (We’ll not mention the highly toxic chemicals it creates when it burns)
Anyway the lates gas is considerably more expensive, usually twice the price of a refill and most places still don’t have the kit for it even now some 5 years since it became mandatory
I am a bit confused about the comments on gas being cheaper after 2012?
Old cars used R12 this was a CFC and phased out in the mid nineties though some earlier cars used it.
The vast majority of cars use R134a which was still in use up until 2017/18
The “new” gas R1234yf was supposed to come into use in 2010 except no one was manufacturing it so no one could get supplies to put it into cars. Some early adopters had it in 2012 but really most cars and manufacturers didn’t use it till 2017. One of the major issues that manufacturers don’t like about the new gas is that is is highly flammable, well the manufacturer of the gas claimed it was almost impossible to light, except various car manufacturers pointed out once mixed with air con oil it’s incredibly easy to ignite and one of the German manufacturers ?mercedes found there cars would usually catch fire in accidents because of the gas (fortunately a short lived burn) but ultimately it was better for the planet so it has stayed. (We’ll not mention the highly toxic chemicals it creates when it burns)
Anyway the lates gas is considerably more expensive, usually twice the price of a refill and most places still don’t have the kit for it even now some 5 years since it became mandatory
Looking recently for prices of aircon fills our 2013 panda was showing as BOTH modern Gas options £60 vs £120....
I dont necesdarily trust that site..I was just glad ..from previous experience.. that it was the £60 variety ( discounted to £38)
My search was brought about by a trip to Halfords and seeing a staff member just wandering out with an aerosol and regassing a car..no VacTests there
Their website suggests they sell the aerosol kit for @£90
Or you can have a squirt for £60
Personally I would use ATS as they DO vacout and refill
vexorg
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Our 500 is 2015 and still has the cheap gas in it.
Though signs of a small leak on ours at the bottom corner of the condenser, hard to say if the pipe connections have leaked over the condenser or the condensor has leaked over the pipes. It's still working a few months after refill.
Groupon do deals for ATS aircon, used to be £25, now up to £40.
Though signs of a small leak on ours at the bottom corner of the condenser, hard to say if the pipe connections have leaked over the condenser or the condensor has leaked over the pipes. It's still working a few months after refill.
Groupon do deals for ATS aircon, used to be £25, now up to £40.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Pictures of the new cross bumpers suggest that there are a few more fixings round the headlamps under the bonnet to be removed and I suspect the Mk3 will be very similar. Its basically a top row of fixings various and a bottom row, along the edges and a few round the wheel arches. Lower the bumper onto a blanket or quilt on the ground and remove the wires from fog lamps. Bumper will have to be pulled straight forwards once the bolts and screws removed to slide out of the slots on the car. Best to have two people so it doesnt sag on one side and then get stuck which risks breaking things.
