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Aircon...

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:03 pm
by dante231
Hello,

So taken the bongo to France and back. Was great, such a pleasure. We had a great holiday.

I am still trying to get the aircon fixed.

I had it regassed, I repaired the resistor for the fan and everything is blowing nicely. However, it is still not getting cold. Is there anything I can do to rectify this? Should I take it to an aircon specialist? I would like to know what the problem is before I pay for someone to fix it!!

Thanks in advance.

C

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:15 pm
by Ian
This is what was happening on mine. It required new O rings on the condensor. Tricky job, but an aircon expert will do it for you.

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:59 pm
by Bob
Sounds like ours, now to find an expert. [-o<

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 6:27 am
by dave_aber
dante231 wrote:I had it regassed...................Should I take it to an aircon specialist?
Does this imply you had it regassed by someone who isn't an aircon specialist. or you did a DIY re-gas?

I had mine serviced by a really good aircon specialist last year - working fine for a while. Then I had to remove & refit the rear heater unit, which obviously meant dropping the gas (and coolant). Since it had recently been serviced, I reckoned that it would be OK to re-gas it 'on the cheap' with a Halfords kit. All seemed OK once I'd done it.

However, warm weather comes around again, and it's apparent that my aircon isn't really cooling. I still had the pressure gauge bit from the halfords kit, so I checked the gas - right up in the green. Checked all the obvious things I can - compressor getting 12v on demand, revs drop indicating compressor clutch is cutting in OK, air flaps all moving correctly. Booked it into the specialist, and sure enough he found it was about only 40% full of gas. 130g or so recovered. Re gassed (properly) and checked thoroughly for leaks.

For me - aircon specialist every time now (and he's a mate of mine)

DA

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 7:46 am
by wonkanoby

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:31 am
by dante231
Hi all, thanks.

I took it to a regasser, kwik fit kinda place. They knew what they were doing, and showed me it was gassed...

I got a quote from a proper air con guy, was about 200 quid...

Will willchillanycar do a full diagnostic etc. I dont wanna pay another 50 quid for gas which will then escape...

C

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:47 am
by wonkanoby
the first thing they do is put a vacum in it to see if its leaking

they will not fill it with a leak

which by law the other mod should have done

ask them

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:51 am
by Simon Jones
For about £50, a decent garage will evacuate the old gas & oil, do a leak test (sometimes vac, but usually fill with a gas like nitrogen to at least 180 psi) & then refill to correct level with fresh refrigerant and PAG oil. Most I've paid for A/C service was £90 & that was expensive in my opinion.

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 12:21 pm
by dante231
It was gassed with a proper machine etc, so I assume they wouldnt have gassed it if there was a leak, as against the law.

I am thinking more of condenser o ring prob;e, issue with the control linkage heather by drivers seat, or vents...

I am out of my depth.

How can I check that the condenser is working as it should?

C

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 12:39 pm
by dante231
Done some more research.

1. Will check the condenser belt working etc.

2. Will get it regassed again, by someone hopefully more competent!

C

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 2:10 pm
by TheStinkyHippy
My aircon doesn't seem to engage the clutch... any idea what to check?

Aircon unit 'fan' belt is driving the aircon unit..
turn heater fan control on, press aircon button... green light on button lights up..
but no 'clunk' or change in engine tickover that you normally hear from aircon coming on.

Tried to read this: http://www.g8dhe.net/bwm/bwmanualp.htm?1995/Page_80
to see if there are some wires/fuses to check.. but got confused.

Fuse 16 is the only one I can find.. and it i pull it then the whole fan system doesn't work..

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 3:11 pm
by wonkanoby
if its got no gas i understand it does not engage

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 8:42 pm
by Northern Bongolow
you can test the mechanical /electrical sides with out the gas, to see if its all working by removing the plug that is on top of the unit mounted to the front of the radiator behind the grill, then short with a link wire THE PLUG END, then switch on. if it kicks the fans on and engages the compressor then it should need just the leak fixing or a re-gas.

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:48 pm
by dante231
Had a check and it all seems to be fine, all belts present and turning freely albeit a bit dirty! But not engaging.

Gonna have to get an aircon guy out! or girl...

Re: Aircon...

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:49 pm
by dante231
I reckon the kiwk fit style guy was an amateur.