Has anyone used the self-gassing canisters for air-con?

no1beemerfan

I have a 1998 Jap import micra with air con. I haven't used the car much in the last 6 years - was actually off the road for over two years - and as such the air con doesn't work.

When I hit the switch the motor/pump works and the engine revs increase and also I opened one of the blue caps on the air-con pipes in the engine bay and gas hissed out so I'm guessing its just low on gas?

I'm not too pushed on it working or not so I'm not gonna pay a garage €100+ to look at it but my local motor factors has the refill canisters for around €30 with a tester etc.

Has anyone used these and is it worth a try on mine?

Anan1

It'll do the job as long as the system has no leaks. Personally i'd pay €60 for the likes of John Kenealy - he'll come to you, and will advise you as necessary.

no1beemerfan

Anan1 wrote: »

It'll do the job as long as the system has no leaks. Personally i'd pay €60 for the likes of John Kenealy - he'll come to you, and will advise you as necessary.

If there is gas hissing out when I open the cap am I right in saying there are no leaks though?

Anan1

no1beemerfan wrote: »

If there is gas hissing out when I open the cap am I right in saying there are no leaks though?

I'm no expert, but it could be that the seals are just good enough to hold whatever residual pressure is left in the system. AFAIK the seals are lubricated by the r134, so lack of use dries them out and allows them to leak.

mikewest

I've used them. Read the instructions, follow them and be careful. They have worked a dream for me in the past when I've known that the car was just low on gas due to being laid up etc.

Voodoomelon

Here's a short tutorial on for various BMWs, principle is the same:

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/AC/Index.htm

Mc Love

Mine was very low on gas and it seems to have worked out

no1beemerfan

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Here's a short tutorial on for various BMWs, principle is the same:

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/AC/Index.htm

Cheers for that Voodoo! I think I'll give it a go....sounds like fun!

Matt Simis

Ive used them and always worked fine. I know someone that have brought their car to an AC specialists who recharged it but it lasted about 9mths then empty again.

I used the Sealant plus Recharge kit on the same car (E34 BMW) and its still working, 2 years later.

Sleepy

Anyone ever tried one of these on a Rover 600?

no1beemerfan

Anan1 wrote: »

I'm no expert, but it could be that the seals are just good enough to hold whatever residual pressure is left in the system. AFAIK the seals are lubricated by the r134, so lack of use dries them out and allows them to leak.

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Here's a short tutorial on for various BMWs, principle is the same:

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/AC/Index.htm

Got a refill canister in my local motor factors (€50 sound ok?) yesterday and followed the instructions given (and from Voodoomelon) and it worked a treat.

It was low on pressure when I tested it first so filled it up and the cut-off switch clicked in and pressure was saying filled so took the canister off and it worked away for the half hour I let the car run.

Went out this morning and the pressure is still up (its actually a bit in the yellow so small bit overfilled but should I be worried??!!) so I take it its not leaking? (Hopefully!)

Will try pressure testing it in a week or so but to anyone needing their's refilled once you follow the instructions its simple really.

Voodoomelon

Not sure about the pressure, maybe someone else can chime in.
Any info on the kit you used, did it include a gauge? Is the aircon any colder?

Saab Ed

Anan1 wrote: »

It'll do the job as long as the system has no leaks. Personally i'd pay €60 for the likes of John Kenealy - he'll come to you, and will advise you as necessary.

I'd just try out a €25 can from the motor factors first. It will cool the car anyway if it works, plus if there is a leak then you're only out 25 quid rather than 60 notes.

voxpop

Saab Ed wrote: »

I'd just try out a €25 can from the motor factors first. It will cool the car anyway if it works, plus if there is a leak then you're only out 25 quid rather than 60 notes.

The cans arent 25 quid though - most are near 50. So you might as well get the guy for 60 - if he is only 60 quid.

no1beemerfan

voxpop wrote: »

The cans arent 25 quid though - most are near 50. So you might as well get the guy for 60 - if he is only 60 quid.

Ya mine was €50. The air is now freezing so its working and the compressor keeps cutting on and off like it should....before it was staying on all the time and no cold air/water drops under the car which there is now.

Voodoomelon.....I'm pretty sure this is the one I used and yes it had a pressure gauge on it like this...

SouperComputer

Holy crap, how much R134 is in €50 can? Enough to fill 4 cars I hope. I never had to top up the A\C in a car in ireland Ideally you want to top off the system using a pressure gauge. The target pressure varies with ambient temp, typically the gauge will have a guide on it regarding this.

If €60 included the guy tracking down the leak, I'd go that way and I very rarely avoid doing work myself, but in this case it makes sense. Cans or R134 start around $5 over here so needless to say, its worth giving it a try with a can, but at €50 I'm not so sure.

no1beemerfan

SouperComputer wrote: »

Holy crap, how much R134 is in €50 can? Enough to fill 4 cars I hope. I never had to top up the A\C in a car in ireland Ideally you want to top off the system using a pressure gauge. The target pressure varies with ambient temp, typically the gauge will have a guide on it regarding this.

If €60 included the guy tracking down the leak, I'd go that way and I very rarely avoid doing work myself, but in this case it makes sense. Cans or R134 start around $5 over here so needless to say, its worth giving it a try with a can, but at €50 I'm not so sure.

I practually used a full can. I think it said 16oz or something like that on the side!


Edit....just to say the car is 12 years old and I hadn't used the air-con is 6 years so mabey thats why it took so much. Hopefully the gas stays in!

SouperComputer

no1beemerfan wrote: »

I practually used a full can. I think it said 16oz or something like that on the side!


Edit....just to say the car is 12 years old and I hadn't used the air-con is 6 years so mabey thats why it took so much. Hopefully the gas stays in!

16oz is a fair bit, but not too bad. Was it 50e for 16oz though? Did you use a pressure gauge? Also for the benefit of others, the pressure is purposely low in the R134 cans, often you will need so submerge it in warm water to get the pressure to where you need it to be in the system.

no1beemerfan

SouperComputer wrote: »

16oz is a fair bit, but not too bad. Was it 50e for 16oz though? Did you use a pressure gauge? Also for the benefit of others, the pressure is purposely low in the R134 cans, often you will need so submerge it in warm water to get the pressure to where you need it to be in the system.

Yes it was €50 for the 16oz. It had a pressure gauge built in which said the system was low so kept filling till it said full pressure and the compressor clicked off. I shock the can a good bit before I used it and kept shaking it every 20 seconds or so. It was 23 degres celsius outside when I did it.

It would have been 13 hours or so from when I filled it to testing it again and the pressure was still reading full.

SouperComputer

no1beemerfan wrote: »

Yes it was €50 for the 16oz.

Ouch! I promise never to complain about the price of R134 again. I paid $5 for 12oz, no gauge mind you but that came with the $20 24oz (or thereabouts) can.

Sleepy

John Kenealy charges €80 + VAT for a recharge now so the can @ €50 might be worth a punt. A/C isn't worth the guts of €100 to me but it's worth the €50 or so.

Voodoomelon

134a is cheap, its just the gauge and tube you're paying for.

You can get it from any airsoft shop: http://www.airsofteire.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=424&category_id=49&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

Problem is getting it out of the can and into the car!

no1beemerfan

Used the car yesterday and had air con on all the time and working fine and checked the pressure this morning and still at full pressure so happy out as it means no leaks! (hopefully!)

Raiser

750Mls for €75 Euro at Limerick Brakes Cathedral Place - Kit incl. pressure gauge.... Not too keen on the price will search on :eek:

no1beemerfan

I've worked out that mine was about a half litre canister. €50 seems to be the norm for them from what I've been able to gather. (the ones with pressure gauge)