Air Con

[bridgerippa]

hi, just wondering if anybody knows anything about car air con systems. i think there may be a leak in a friends system.

any classic tell tale signs?

colours of refrigerants?

ps- know i'm not currently a lexus owner anymore... :tsktsk:

[Mike_B]

I think the nature of refrigerating systems is that at atmospheric pressure, the refrigerant is a gas. This means that if it is leaking, there won't be any tell-tale colours to look for except if the leak is so extreme that the physical damage is obvious.

Signs of low gas are simply that the air doesn't get any/much colder when you switch the aircon on, compared to having it switched off. Using a thermometer poked into a face vent is the best way to tell, set the temperature to 'as low as possible' and run it full-blast for a few minutes then switch the aircon off and on every couple of minutes. The temperature of the air should then rise and fall as you switch the A/C button on and off. It should be something like 4C though this varies from car to car. It should be a lot lower than the ambient temperature outside, anyway.

If you take it to Kwik-Fit for an aircon check, I believe they guarantee the result or they don't charge you. All systems will leak a little, over a period of a few years the system will gradually get worse and a recharge of gas should fix it. To prevent problems, make sure you regularly use it, the seals are kept tight by the gas containing a lubricant. An hour or two a month should be enough.

[bridgerippa]

thanks will try this out- just gotta find a thermometer!

also noticed that there is sometimes a puddle of water under the car, a couple of times recently its had a greeny tint to it. is this condensation? the greeny colour is a bit worrying which is why i wondered if theres like a standard colour for the refrigerant. like brake fluid is usually red.

guessing a trip to air con specialist maybe needed after all.

[PCIronmike]

thanks will try this out- just gotta find a thermometer!

also noticed that there is sometimes a puddle of water under the car, a couple of times recently its had a greeny tint to it. is this condensation? the greeny colour is a bit worrying which is why i wondered if theres like a standard colour for the refrigerant. like brake fluid is usually red.

guessing a trip to air con specialist maybe needed after all.

Brake fluid is'nt red mate , its usually power steering fluid thats red , brake fluid is clear / tan like normal oil but very much thinner , if you are using your aircon when the puddle appears then that puddle is normal under the car ,but it shouldn't be green it should be just water its not a leak , my guess is to have your air con recharged and you will get ice cold air again .

Regards

paul.