Air conditioning diy recharge kit.

stratos

I got a new car to me and I knew the a/c wasn't working. Later inspection showed the belt missing. I fitted a new compressor belt and checked the operation of the magnetic clutch and it all seems to be working.

However there was still no cold air, Depressing the pipe valves with a nail produced no hissing so I guess the system has no gas. Finally my question, I see diy gas refill kits for sale in the U.S. and the U.K. but has anyone seen them for sale in Ireland or specificaly Dublin?

10-10-20

I'm looking for similar for my car.
Halfords have the following:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_201507_langId_-1_categoryId_35126

Also, here's the complete range:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchCmd?text=air+conditioning&action=search&storeId=10001&catalogId=10151&langId=-1&x=0&y=0

stratos

I will try Halfords tomorrow and see if they have it.

junkyard

Any air-conditioning engineer will gas it up for you for around 100 euros.

JHMEG

I've used the Halford's one, worked fine. The system was empty because there was a hole in a lower pipe, and all the gas leaked out again within a few days.:(

Anan1

stratos - I'd be surprised if the seals didn't need replacement if the system was empty. You could call John Kenealy in Tallaght, 087 2559706 - he's a nice guy and pretty reasonable.

stratos

It's an old car, Being a tight git, I just wanted to try cheap solutions. The diy kits seem to be about 40 Euros. I don't really mind if it doesn't work.

Years ago I used to fix appliances and using an r12 kit was part of the work. I lost count of the amount of lunch boxes of colleagues we froze to a solid block. Ah the good old days.

Anan1

I know what you mean, but no pressure whatsoever has to mean either that the system's been unused for a long, long time, or a leak.

stratos

Jhmeg.

Which halford did you get it in and was it recently ? Thanks. It would be fine if it leaked and helped find the leak.

Anan1

I got one in Halfords in Carrickmines a few months ago. Give them a call first, 01-2149550

JHMEG

stratos wrote: »

Jhmeg.

Which halford did you get it in and was it recently ? Thanks. It would be fine if it leaked and helped find the leak.

Liffey Valley, late last summer. A long can of R134a.

stratos

Well I just want to use the diy kit as a pointer in some ways. If it's a major leak and new seals are required or new parts, I will put it on the back burner for a while. it's not really just about saving money, I just like to fix the things myself. I see diy compressor overhaul kits available too.

I guess if someone went to the trouble to remove the belt the system was pretty terminal.

Anan1

I like your thinking, maybe i'm just getting old! Keep us posted.

stratos

Thanks everyone for the helpfull replies, I'm gonna try and get a can of gas in the next few days so and see what happens.

JHMEG

Unless the leak is fairly serious you won't be able to spot the gas leaking. Have a good look at all the hoses before you spend any money.

Good luck with it.

Tropheus

I've used the Halfords cans on my father-in-law's Passat and they work fine. It's hard to get an AC specialist, especially during the summer so the Halfords cans are a cheap and effective solution.

I'm amazed that car dealers here don't have facilities to re-gas AC considering that it's becomming standard on many cars. Left my car into an Audi dealer in Dublin and they charged me €220 for a re-gas - had to call in a specialist as they don't have the equipment.

Left my wife's car into an Audi dealer in Belfast and they charged €100 as they have the equipment on site.

AC isn't rocket science, but car dealers are cashing in as usual.

jetfiremuck

A leak may be detected by an oily film where dirt etc sticks to the oil. Usually where the rubber hoses are crimped to the rigid pipe and check all connections and joints as well. Dont forget the condenser in the front. check that the fan turns on when the ac is selected as an inoperable fan has been known to blow the freon out from over pressure,

*Kol*

Be careful with main dealers as I went to get my aircon recharged in a main dealer and they told me it would be €120 for the recharge. If there was a leak then they would fix it and charge me another €120 to recharge it again!!!! Needless to say that was the end of that conversation.

Make sure wherever you bring your car has the equipment to test for leaks without gassing up the system. A decent place will have vacumn type leak test equipment that doesn't need the system to be charged.

In the end I just bought the aerosol can in Halfords out of curiousity and it worked fine. I think there a lubricant and leak stopper mixed in with the gas to close any small leaks and lubricate the seals in the system.

stratos

Well here's an update if anyone is interested.

I got a recharge kit today 55 Euros, When I hooked it up to the low pressure fitting it indicated the system was almost full. I tried pressing the fitting with a nail again. I got a hiss this time. I wasn't pressing hard enough it seems. I checked the pressure a few times it seem okay. So I don't have a leak.

I took the car for a drive with the ac on, Once I got over about 2000 rpm a nasty whirring noise could be heard, Turning off the a/c the noise stopped. At Idle it makes no noises. It seems to be the compressor making the noise. I can rule out the belt tension pulley as I have no cold air it's hardly that.

It would seem to be a faulty compressor (ouch). Though it may be something else. I need a book. Book ordered.

If you just need to top up the gas though these kits seem okay and are easy to use. A bit expensive maybe.
I have seen reports of theses cans exploding when attached to the high pressure port, but as the fittings are a different size i don't see how this could happen, still it pays to be carefull.

JHMEG

What make/model is the car? You might be able to get another compressor from a breaker?

martinr5232

Anan1 wrote: »

stratos - I'd be surprised if the seals didn't need replacement if the system was empty. You could call John Kenealy in Tallaght,

Hope the tax man is not looking at this.

Anan1

martinr5232 wrote: »

Anan1 wrote: »

stratos - I'd be surprised if the seals didn't need replacement if the system was empty. You could call John Kenealy in Tallaght,

Hope the tax man is not looking at this.

Edited.:)

martinr5232

Im sure John Kenealy will be very glad to hear that.:D

Anan1

martinr5232 wrote: »

Im sure John Kenealy will be very glad to hear that.:D

Hear what?;)