OriginalCharlie
New member
Hello all,
I'm hoping someone can offer some advice as we've been going around in circles on this.
My wife has a 2014 Twinair. Around 2 years ago the AC stopped blowing cold. Assuming it needed a re-gas we booked it in with our local ATS as they had a promotion. Within 10 minutes of dropping the car off they rang to say it had a leak so they couldn't re-gas the system.
We booked the car in with a mechanic to get it sorted. He sent the leaking pipe off to be repaired, rather than replacing. When it came back he reported the repair was in an awkward spot, but hopefully it worked. He didn't re-gas it himself as ATS said they would honour the original booking and try again. Firstly, it looks like he didn't pressure test the system as the repair hadn't work. Secondly, my wife then waited about 5 months to return to ATS who immediately reported the same issue. I don't use this mechanic any more and my wife shouldn't have waited so long as we had very little comeback to get this rectified. Lesson learned.
Fast forward a year, the MOT was coming around. We're using a different (very good) mechanic who we tasked with sorting the AC issue while performing the MOT. He reported that not only was the repaired pipe leaking, there was a second leak in the system. He ordered a replacement part for the repaired pipe - it has been there ready to fit for the last 12 months. The other part seems impossible to find. He's advised the part number is 51935281. Fiat don't seem to have one, he ordered one from Italy that never showed up, I found one on eBay (in Holland) and the seller cancelled the order the following day.
The AC pipes are seemingly a series of jumbled metal and rubber pipes - almost indistinguishable from one another. Spotting which one you need by eye is borderline impossible, unless you're familiar with this sort of thing.
As far as I can tell, there are at least 3 or 4 different pipes. I thought it would make sense to buy a full set of AC pipes on eBay and the mechanic can use whichever he needs and toss the rest. I can't find a full set, nor can I find the quoted part number. I'm not even entirely sure if the part number is right either - this was the part number given to him from Fiat parts.
The MOT is now due again in 3 weeks and it just needs sorting once and for all. I either need to get the parts together and get them fitted, or deal with a specialist. Can anyone offer any insight on what I need, where to get it, or any clever suggestions otherwise? I live in Newbury, Berkshire and work in Oxfordshire. If there are any good specialists for either Fiat or AC repairs, I'm keen to hear them.
Thanks in advance!
I'm hoping someone can offer some advice as we've been going around in circles on this.
My wife has a 2014 Twinair. Around 2 years ago the AC stopped blowing cold. Assuming it needed a re-gas we booked it in with our local ATS as they had a promotion. Within 10 minutes of dropping the car off they rang to say it had a leak so they couldn't re-gas the system.
We booked the car in with a mechanic to get it sorted. He sent the leaking pipe off to be repaired, rather than replacing. When it came back he reported the repair was in an awkward spot, but hopefully it worked. He didn't re-gas it himself as ATS said they would honour the original booking and try again. Firstly, it looks like he didn't pressure test the system as the repair hadn't work. Secondly, my wife then waited about 5 months to return to ATS who immediately reported the same issue. I don't use this mechanic any more and my wife shouldn't have waited so long as we had very little comeback to get this rectified. Lesson learned.
Fast forward a year, the MOT was coming around. We're using a different (very good) mechanic who we tasked with sorting the AC issue while performing the MOT. He reported that not only was the repaired pipe leaking, there was a second leak in the system. He ordered a replacement part for the repaired pipe - it has been there ready to fit for the last 12 months. The other part seems impossible to find. He's advised the part number is 51935281. Fiat don't seem to have one, he ordered one from Italy that never showed up, I found one on eBay (in Holland) and the seller cancelled the order the following day.
The AC pipes are seemingly a series of jumbled metal and rubber pipes - almost indistinguishable from one another. Spotting which one you need by eye is borderline impossible, unless you're familiar with this sort of thing.
As far as I can tell, there are at least 3 or 4 different pipes. I thought it would make sense to buy a full set of AC pipes on eBay and the mechanic can use whichever he needs and toss the rest. I can't find a full set, nor can I find the quoted part number. I'm not even entirely sure if the part number is right either - this was the part number given to him from Fiat parts.
The MOT is now due again in 3 weeks and it just needs sorting once and for all. I either need to get the parts together and get them fitted, or deal with a specialist. Can anyone offer any insight on what I need, where to get it, or any clever suggestions otherwise? I live in Newbury, Berkshire and work in Oxfordshire. If there are any good specialists for either Fiat or AC repairs, I'm keen to hear them.
Thanks in advance!
