Air Con Leak

[39buss]

Took the car to Kwit fit but their system showed a leak, so they couldn't regas the air con. Any one on here know an A/C repair service in the North East NE37. I do have a number to try tomorrow but there's nowt in the yellow pages. Keep you informed as and when. Thx.

[GEN]

Took the car to Kwit fit but their system showed a leak, so they couldn't regas the air con. Any one on here know an A/C repair service in the North East NE37. I do have a number to try tomorrow but there's nowt in the yellow pages. Keep you informed as and when. Thx.

I'm way down South but just had a a/c service at Lexus - on special(they said) for just under £70. Considering how everything is cheaper up there you might want to ask a Lexus local to you. My experiences with Kwikfit (down here) have not been good. Best of luck.

[SteveLS400]

Took the car to Kwit fit but their system showed a leak, so they couldn't regas the air con. Any one on here know an A/C repair service in the North East NE37. I do have a number to try tomorrow but there's nowt in the yellow pages. Keep you informed as and when. Thx.

Hi

You will need to Google for an auto air-con specialist in your locality. Kwikfit only have the facility to drain your system, mix the contents with the other crap and then re-charge that mix into your car.

I had my car done again last week. Ist job was to test for leaks, then tested the various components before draining out and weighing the contents (only 400g hence poor performance). Next he spent 40 mins evacuating the system before re-charging with brand new refridgerant. £68 inc vat. That type of service will be available to you locally.

Incidentally EVERY air-con system loses content immediately, at about 15% a year, hence the need to re-charge. The use of virgin gas protects your system from the crap associated with regassing with other peoples spent gas (no pun intended).

I met my man after Kwikfit were unable to do mine. This is some years ago now. The problem I had was a blockage in 1 of the components behind the dash. I had the entire system replaced (except the condensor - the rad in front of the rad) because I didnt want to have to have the dash out more than once. Be warned though, this is not cheap nor quick as the parts had to be ordered.

Good luck.

[39buss]

I never use Kwikfit but no one else in the area was coming up on my searches but I have a man coming on Tuesday who gave a reassuring ' we'll get that sorted' message over the phone. I went to K/Fit as they say they'll improve the system or no charge which was the case but it took 2½ hrs to tell me.They said their system showed a leak with no other info forthcoming and they dont repair. I'll keep you posted.

[SteveLS400]

I never use Kwikfit but no one else in the area was coming up on my searches but I have a man coming on Tuesday who gave a reassuring ' we'll get that sorted' message over the phone. I went to K/Fit as they say they'll improve the system or no charge which was the case but it took 2½ hrs to tell me.They said their system showed a leak with no other info forthcoming and they dont repair. I'll keep you posted.

That was exactly my experience except my proved to be a blockage. My was not long after they started doing a/c and by chance the Area Manager was at the depot that day; he took the job and gave up after a couple of hours. Obviously he didnt charge, but nor was he able to identify the location of the blockage.

There are 2 interelated causes for failure of the system. Lack of gas and lack of use. As the system gradually loses gas, the compressor works harder. This is most noticable in queing traffic when the V8 wants to launch the car over the vehicle in front because the compressor is constantly trying to get the a/c to work. Eventually we turn off the a/c. Lack of use causes the rubber seals to perish which not only increases the leakage rate but also foreign matter to enter and lead to a blockage. The gas should be checked every 2 years.

In order to maintain the system in good condition, the a/c should be used every week for at least 20 minutes and not just when its hot or the windows are misting. I may have said elsewhere on this forum, but my friend is a retired senior guy from Walkers Crips (Pepsi Cola) and all company car drivers were regularly emailed that it was a rule of having a company car that they use the a/c every week.

There is another issue which affects the performance of the system even if maintained as I have said, and thats the replacement of the pollen filter from time to time. If it gets clogged, the airflow will be restricted.

Hope it goes well on Tuesday.

[39buss]

MG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/39buss/Ebaysales002.jpg

The black A/C pipe on the right is leaking.I think its the high pressure one. It goes from in front of the rad under the Battery to the bulkhead. I'm waiting for a reply from benfur on a replacement. The mobile A/C fitter didn't charge but it will cost £45 to regas.

[SteveLS400]

MG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/39buss/Ebaysales002.jpg

The black A/C pipe on the right is leaking.I think its the high pressure one. It goes from in front of the rad under the battery to the bulkhead. I'm waiting for a reply from benfur on a replacement. The mobile A/C fitter didn't charge but it will cost £45 to regas.

If I remember correctly that unit is the receiver/dryer and I think there is a cartridge (like a filter) that is inside and will most likely need replacement. Did the mobile guy highlight the leak?

[39buss]

benfur is sending the complete condensor and pipe. When the A/c man connected his machine you could see the gas cloud leaking from the pipe under the Battery box.Hopefully it will be fixed by next week.

[39buss]

This is the HP A/C pipe that is leaking. It really is this shape, designed by a drunkard and must be the 1st pipe fitted on the build as its not going to be easy to thread it through from in front of the rad to the rear bulkhead.Two of the fixing bolts have snapped, one on the dryer but I have a spare but the other holds the short pipe to the rad. There's enough thread left to get one nut on so I've WD 40ed it and left it over night. So fingers crossed it comes out cos if it doesnt the rad will have to come out.

[39buss]

This is the broken bolt on the connector block on the rad. It looks like its part of the rad and I hope its not going to be the most expensive 3mm dia. bolt in the world. This is what you get when steel bolts are screwed into aluminium parts without any lube and electrolytic reaction takes place. Thank you car industry for putting everything together dry.

[39buss]

Yippee. Just about to give up,removed the H/Light to make room to drill it out, tried again and the b..... moved.The chewed up end tells its own story. That snake of a pipe may take some time to thread back in. Will the A/C ever work again?.

[Dale_V]

Hi, on this picture.... between that female circular flange and the male pipework flange (shown on the other pic), is there an o-ring of some sort to seal the two together?

interesting topic, keep us updated

[39buss]

The 'O' rings are on the pipe fittings.

[39buss]

Yippee. The A/C is now fully charged and working. The A/C mobile man did both cars (Saab 9.5 auto)for a total of £60. Vacuumed the system to clear any gas and dry it out and rid it of any moisture, charged it with gas,lube and dye and its freezing cold. The original gas type and quantity is on a sticker under the bonnet just behind the grill. My Saab did have gas in it but only about a quarter of its capacity but now works as it should. Well pleased with the results and price. Why did the pipe leak?. My theory is that when I got this car the Battery tray was loose as the fixings had rotted away allowing the tray to move about and rub the A/C pipe which is under the Battery tray (in a previous ownership) as securing the tray was one of the first jobs I did (loose Battery, MOT failure I think)