What's next to check after re-gassing?

[helen&tony]

Hi
You had one seriously blocked matrix, there...and after pulling that lot off, you had very little improvement?....Did you try an airline on the matrix after pulling that lot off?...If it was that blocked on the front, heaven only knows what else there is in there!...Anyway, after that, I expect it's down to the flap controls?....did you de-fluff the sensor by the glove-box?...I heard that makes a difference!
Cheers
Helen

[mikeonb4c]

Here's a picture of the heat exchanger; notice the strip hanging down in the middle, this is a strip of dust I've half pulled off with tweezers.



Another thing, I've realised, there was no gasket between this and the fan housing. Can you just buy sheets of stick-on foam gasket that you can cut to fit?

I had a similar experience when I did mine years back. It looked like there had been a filter layer there but it had become mildewed and rotted. Once cleaned out, the Bongo lost its nasty smell inside and the the blower pushed air through the system like never before. I don't think it improved the aircon mind you and in theory that's how i'd expect things to be ad the same aircon power is trying to cool a greater throughflow of air. The result should be less drop in air temperature.

So Helen are we agreeing Bongo aircon is not 'ice cold' (ad eBay vendors claim) on hot days, or is mine perhaps working under par?

P.s. from memory, I remade the gasket using black self-adhesive foam rubber sealing strip.

[helen&tony]

Hi Mike
Agree on the aircon on a short journey, but on longer journeys...say over 18 / 20 Km ...10 miles...it manages to cool the ducting and trunking enough to blow cold, and it gets cooler the longer the trip.
I have a very slight advantage inasmuch as I've glued some 1" thick fire-proofed sound insulation under the bonnet, which stops it getting quite as hot in the sun.
Compared with the Jeep, it's not that good, as the A/C on the Jeep is good from about 2 minutes...I had an Opel Astra for a while...that was good until the compressor failed...but I never drove it anyway...awful things Vaux/opel...The Bongo was too tempting to drive ...
As regards the Bongo, I find that as I haven't got around to fitting a bug and muck filter in the system yet, it needs a regular matrix clean, and once you've done it once, I'm sure you'll agree, It's a 10 - 15 minute job to blow the airline through it!
Heater works well in the winter, though, and all seasons if you want the best effect pop the rear one on as well.
I don't really have too many gripes about the Bongo in general, as with you, I've owned it for ages, and I tend to keep it as "best"....I hate to tell you how much I've spent on it in the last 2 years, but I plan to keep it as a hobby 'till I stop driving, or can't get to climb in it!
Cheers
Helen

[stuc]

Just thought I would chip in, my a/c is freezing and works quite quickly. I did re gas it myself recently so that probably helps. As Helen says the system does lose refrigerant over time "Vehicle air conditioning systems are not perfectly sealed systems. Refrigerant can escape through the walls of the rubber hoses or at the driving shaft of the compressor. Therefore, refrigerant losses of 40g (Single Evaporator ) to 60g (Dual Evaporator) per year are normal." The Bongo has a dual evaporator system, so will need regassing a bit sooner than a conventional car system.

[Sparticus]

Had a look under the passenger seat.
Seemed to be a compressor thingy with a pulley wheel, but no belt. On further inspection, very nice belt laying on the floor pan.
Reached round to feel tensioner wheel, unscrewed with my fingers, found a total of three ball bearings and some bits of metal that may have been part of a ball bearing race.

Think I've found my problem!

[helen&tony]

Hi
Errr...could be!....You should soon get it going cold when that lot's repaired!
Cheers
Helen

[helen&tony]

Hi
Stuc...
You're right about the rubber hoses...we have aircons in the house, and they just don't lose!...I looked around a few firms product reviews, and data regarding servicing domestic units, and they all say they don't lose gas...different ball-game, though!...I must say that I've never had too much of an issue with the Bongo A/C, but we are a lot hotter over here...I wouldn't want to be without it!...I generally get it re-gassed every 3 years...one time I went 4 years...no idea what the losses were, as they are eco-conscious here and just dump the gas into the air!!!!!....Had mine done last year...still cold!...Tony thinks it's a bit too cold?
Cheers
Helen