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Can low refrigerant cause compressor not start up (aircon)

Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 5:53 pm
by BongoBongo123
Had it regassed last year. Seems a bit quick for a discharge. cheers

At the moment I put aircon on and hear a little extra swirling with the on switch engaged
but I am feeling the compressor kick in (revs normally drop ever so slightly)

Re: Can low refrigerant cause compressor not start up (airco

Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 9:10 pm
by Northern Bongolow
BongoBongo123 wrote:Had it regassed last year. Seems a bit quick for a discharge. cheers

At the moment I put aircon on and hear a little extra swirling with the on switch engaged
but I am feeling the compressor kick in (revs normally drop ever so slightly)

should the above read ----- but i am NOT feeling the compressor kick in

Re: Can low refrigerant cause compressor not start up (airco

Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 8:20 am
by BongoBongo123
It should indeed Northern. Just wondering if compressors don't fire up if the refrigerant is very low.

If it is broke completely then I might as well save £50.00

Re: Can low refrigerant cause compressor not start up (airco

Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 9:58 am
by jimmo62
Most aircon places round here do a free check before refilling - and some e.g. Halfords have a guarantee that they will make it 5 degrees colder - where they measure the pressure and then check for leaks before putting new coolant in. Took a Clio to Halfords, they could not make it blow cold air even after testing and refilling so I did not have to pay anything.

Re: Can low refrigerant cause compressor not start up (airco

Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 10:19 am
by Simon Jones
There is a safety sensor to prevent the compressor clutch engaging if the pressure is low. You can bypass it to test the compressor but it does sound like you have a leak which a competent AC service centre will be able to diagnose.

Re: Can low refrigerant cause compressor not start up (airco

Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 3:17 pm
by BongoBongo123
Thanks for good replies, yes seems there might be a slow leak possibly. But an obvious one, not (tested out ok on the re-gas machine as no leaks, chap dsaid it is a vacuum test which is not quite as good as a pressure test apparently). Got it re-gassed and all is well with it, working nicely. But given it leaked within 1 year seems there is a very slow leak a bit annoying but hey ho, got to keep cool this summer lots of Bongoing. Just glad the compressor lives on !

I got it done by a place called STS Tyres pro as I was in there getting something done on the other motor. I was happy with QuikFit last year to be honest and apparently STS Tyres pro is now been bought by the same Japanese company as Qwik Fit. STS guys seemed to know my Freda as being a Mazda Bongo as well so they see to be reasonably au fait with the Bongo.

Gone are the days of bad service form Qwik Fit since they were taken over as the Japanese are having none of it. Customer service has gone through the roof. Probably about time so I heard. Anyway STS Tyres Pro friendly knowlegable guys and very helpful, hats off to them.

Re: Can low refrigerant cause compressor not start up (airco

Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 3:31 pm
by teenmal
BongoBongo123 wrote:Thanks for good replies, yes seems there might be a slow leak possibly. But an obvious one, not (tested out ok on the re-gas machine as no leaks, chap dsaid it is a vacuum test which is not quite as good as a pressure test apparently). Got it re-gassed and all is well with it, working nicely. But given it leaked within 1 year seems there is a very slow leak a bit annoying but hey ho, got to keep cool this summer lots of Bongoing. Just glad the compressor lives on !

I got it done by a place called STS Tyres pro as I was in there getting something done on the other motor. I was happy with QuikFit last year to be honest and apparently STS Tyres pro is now been bought by the same Japanese company as Qwik Fit. STS guys seemed to know my Freda as being a Mazda Bongo as well so they see to be reasonably au fait with the Bongo.

Gone are the days of bad service form Qwik Fit since they were taken over as the Japanese are having none of it. Customer service has gone through the roof. Probably about time so I heard. Anyway STS Tyres Pro friendly knowlegable guys and very helpful, hats off to them.


I can remember the first Quickfit opening , good Scottish firm (was)

Re: Can low refrigerant cause compressor not start up (airco

Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 3:56 pm
by mikeWalsall
Interesting .. never new the History of Kwikfit (but who did .. who cared ..??)

http://www.kwik-fit.com/history.asp