Air Con-fusion

[Doggy]

Finally getting round to doing summat about my air con - hasn't worked since I got the car. I know there's no gas in it and that it's got a big leak somewhere, but try as I may, I can't find it. I've had the grille out & checked the condenser and all the pipes - no sign of anything amiss. The only bit that doesn't look right is some oil staining on the compressor, suggesting it might be the culprit. It turns quietly enough and the clutch sounds OK if you work it directly, but it won't come on itself. I assume the L/P switch is telling it not to try....

I've armed myself with a condenser and compressor known to be OK as those seem to be the prime suspects based on searching this forum and observations above.

I've booked it into an auto electrical outfit near where I work, who have a good reputation, on Friday. I'm asking them to locate the leak, but will probably swap the offending bit(s) myself then get it re-gassed.

Does anyone know if the compressor needs the gas for lubrication purposes? Or does it need oil / what kind? In other words, if I change the compressor, then drive it before it's gassed up, will that roger the new one?

Any help appreciated - I know fog-all about air con, never having owned a car it works on

[jasper5]

I like to take my aircon problems to a specialist, I don't claim to know much about the subject, but I know the compressor has its own oil, i've seen many a sticker on all sorts of cars with the correct grade of oil written on it, also, I've seen it written on the compressor itself.

[teamster1975]

There is PAG oil in the refrigerant that lubes the seals in the compressor.
You might be lucky doggy, my aircon stopped working last august and I got it fixed a couple of weeks ago; there was no gas in the system and when they pressure tested the only leak was from the filling valve which they replaced.

[puggy]

Dont forget to check the connectors in the pressure switch doggy mine leaked
from there !!



also check the curly wire resistor things on the front of the fan shroud for breaks,
and as teamy says you may be lucky with the seals, they fook up after having no lubricant
for a long time , and yes the compressor when new comes filled with oil

[Doggy]

Thanks for all your replies, folks.
I have tried most of your suggestions and read the majority of related posts. Spent several hours going over it looking for any clues, (probably means it's blindingly obvious but I haven't tripped over it yet).
I tried to get at the pressure switch, but reckoned even if I got it unplugged, I'd never be able to see inside - did you have the condenser out to get at it, Puggy?
Not that familiar with other layouts, but I suspect there's a bit more plumbing to obstruct visibilty on a 2.2.

[puggy]

If you can get your hand on the pressure switch feel towards the bottom
of you will feel where the spanner goes or remove plastic wheel arch for
access .

[Welly]

My money's on the condenser - once they've blown all the gas and any green oil out they pretty much return to normal 'looking' and you'd never really know.

Oil staining on the compressor can be engine oil where (less careful) oil filter changes see oil dripping all over it the compressors are pretty hardy but do like full gas (with it's oil mix) for happy service. Once it's low on gas (and oil) then it starts 'scavenging' and wearing. I think there must be some sealed for life bearing type set up on the compressor shaft but the oil which is added to the refrigerant lubricates the gas side of the compressor (like the piston of an air compressor). A non-working compressor is happy to free-wheel on it's clutch pulley for as long as you like.

The specialist will use UV light and some groovy glasses to show luminous oil staining where it leaked.

Keep us posted Dog.

Here was my condenser, it all happened over about 3 days .........

[Doggy]

Well here goes - off to the aircon place in a few mins......

I feel a wallet-lightening experience coming on

[teamster1975]

Fingers crossed doggy!

[Welly]

Been a long time eh? hope the shock wasn't too much for the poor fella

[Doggy]

I have some good news, and some of the more usual kind.....

First the good
They found the leak
Condenser's, "'Ad it, guvnor - like a Michael Jackson video it was...."
(Now I know everyone told me it would be the condenser)

Now the not so good

Doggy had shrewdly invested in a spare condenser first, aiming to avoid multiple labour and re-gassing charges

Went to get it out the garage last night, (which has turned into a storeroom during my house conversion), only to find some bozzo has parked a kitchen unit and built in oven on it It's a wreck

In summary, I know I need (another) condenser, so far its cost me £36 + VAT to find the leak and rather more than that for a condenser I can't use. On Monday, the place it was at today will let me know how much they can get one for. If I can get it cheaper I will and possibly let them fit it.

I've seen them for £75-£85 on FleaBay, will check Servicebox too. (maybe not - condenser £186.43, drier kit £76.96 )

Anybody want to recommend another potential source?

If I let them change the condenser, do they have to drain the cooling system to do it? - if this is the case, I'd be tempted to change it myself, renew the coolant while I'm at it and avoid any corners being cut when it comes to re-filling / bleeding etc. as I will freely admit to being paranoid about never letting the engine overheat.

Being paranoid has stood me in good stead over more years than I care to admit to

[puggy]

hey up doggy, have you got a radiator specialist near to you they are worth a try
for condensor otherwise fleabay . Your car being a D9 should be the same as mine
at the front so no need to empty coolant , remove slam panel lay it on the engine
release fan shroud lean it forward that exposes condensor , remove 2 pipes going
into condensor these just have single nuts holding them in , you will probably have
to wriggle the pipes to get them out as they are sealed with an o ring, lift condensor
hey presto reverse procedure to replace. When i did mine condensor and the 2 o rings
cost something around the £130 mark then toddle off to your nearest " i'm going to have
your pants down" air con service center for re-gas

[Doggy]

Thanks for the info puggy.
Didn't find anyone local, but this is the best deal I could track down and as a price guide, this fella does a condenser & re-gas for £160
I'll see what they quote me on Monday, it it's comparable, I'll just get it done.

[TehAgent]

Doggy i see your in northants, how close to Northampton town are you, there is a really good breakers yard there, got my new compressor for my xantia (when i had it) and as the XUD engines are shared between the two, you may as well see if you can source a part from one, having been recently to acquire a turbo control valve, i can say they have a nice selection of xantias and even a 2lt turbo exec there, that someone else a brand new radiator on (sold for just a tenner too)

Im not going to put the location up, unless im allowed to do so, but id be more than happy to explain where it is via PM if you need me too, ill also come give you a hand taking the thing off the car as its a bit of a fiddly job at best.

[teamster1975]

even a 2lt turbo exec there

Really? I'm after a replacement top air hose, you know the one that goes from the air box to the metal pipe. Mine has split on the concertina section & it's bound with duck tape for the moment