Air Con: 850: Compressor or something else

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

Cold A/C, I wish. Must get down to it. This shows the wire fix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOjqjR8Mz64

When the compressor kept turning itself on and off and not cooling my P2, rather than use cable ties I used E clips which came in a variety of thicknesses/sizes - the bag closure method does work, used on an earlier 850, but bread bag closures seem to be few and far between these days.

[Derek UK]

Yes rare indeed. I saw a YT video where a guy brought a bagful back for his wife from Australia. She, like me, not happy with sticky strips.

Me... also Walderslade.

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

Yes rare indeed. I saw a YT video where a guy brought a bagful back for his wife from Australia. She, like me, not happy with sticky strips.

Me... also Walderslade.

World gets smaller day by day

nb I've got a copy of Vida and a Dice supplied by Cheshired5 running on my old laptop if you ever need to read codes & etc.

Cheers
Alan

[stevepcar]

Well I changed the low pressure switch & the compressor still did not kick in. So I disconnected the switch & jumped across the connections again it started up. I began to wonder if there was still gas in the system, so I removed the gas filler cap & pressed the schrader valve, no gas escaped that I could hear or see. So I guess I must have a leak somewhere, even though Halfords told me I didnt. Would a lack of gas prevent the compressor from kicking in because it thinks there is low pressure. Would that explain why replacing the low pressure switch did nothing? Any body with any ideas please.

[Luxobarge]

Originally Posted by stevepcar

Would a lack of gas prevent the compressor from kicking in because it thinks there is low pressure. Would that explain why replacing the low pressure switch did nothing?

Yes to both questions.

You have a leak. I'd not trust Halfords further than I could throw them, so I'd recommend finding a decent aircon specialist or at least a garage that has some experience and skill, and get them to try to find the leak. This needs to involve filling it with a gas that contains a UV dye, then with the car up on a lift they can trace the leak using a UV light. Then you need that leak fixed and then another refill using the proper gas, although I'd still ask for UV dye to be added so you can be sure there are no more leaks.

Favourites for a leak are the condenser at the front, as it can pick up stones thrown up from the road. Also worth changing the dryer as this can become corroded and cruddy, and does have a limited lifespan, so on mine I changed it as a matter of course even though it wasn't specifically leaking. None of the parts are fantastically expensive, but the whole process can still consume a bit of cash due to multiple re-fills required and garage time. Hopefully it's not your compressor that's leaking as you've already changed this.

I had to have this procedure done on mine, but it worked and it was well worth it, as it's completely reliable now.

[stevepcar]

Originally Posted by Luxobarge

Yes to both questions.

You have a leak. I'd not trust Halfords further than I could throw them, so I'd recommend finding a decent aircon specialist or at least a garage that has some experience and skill, and get them to try to find the leak. This needs to involve filling it with a gas that contains a UV dye, then with the car up on a lift they can trace the leak using a UV light. Then you need that leak fixed and then another refill using the proper gas, although I'd still ask for UV dye to be added so you can be sure there are no more leaks.

Favourites for a leak are the condenser at the front, as it can pick up stones thrown up from the road. Also worth changing the dryer as this can become corroded and cruddy, and does have a limited lifespan, so on mine I changed it as a matter of course even though it wasn't specifically leaking. None of the parts are fantastically expensive, but the whole process can still consume a bit of cash due to multiple re-fills required and garage time. Hopefully it's not your compressor that's leaking as you've already changed this.

I had to have this procedure done on mine, but it worked and it was well worth it, as it's completely reliable now.

Thanks I know better than to trust them in future. I did not change the compressor just the LPC. I realise it looks like I did from the way I wrote my post. I will take it to a reputable air con company & see if they can locate the leak(s) before I start changing components. The canister in the aircon circuit just in front of the compressor, which I think is the drier? its very corroded, so since there isn't any gas in the system, I could change that and any other components that are easy to get at, at the same time.

[4x4]

Surely if the low pressure switch was changed after a re-gas then the system would now be empty again

[Derek UK]

Originally Posted by 4x4

Surely if the low pressure switch was changed after a re-gas then the system would now be empty again

No, there is no gas loss when you remove the LP switch.

[V70Zig]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

No, there is no gas loss when you remove the LP switch.

I agree with Derek UK as I'm sure they all have Schrader Valves, so no or very little loss.

[Luxobarge]

Originally Posted by stevepcar

Thanks I know better than to trust them in future. I did not change the compressor just the LPC. I realise it looks like I did from the way I wrote my post. I will take it to a reputable air con company & see if they can locate the leak(s) before I start changing components. The canister in the aircon circuit just in front of the compressor, which I think is the drier? its very corroded, so since there isn't any gas in the system, I could change that and any other components that are easy to get at, at the same time.

Understood, good call. Yes, a very good idea to change the dryer, especially if it's looking shonky, plus any other bits that don't look good. Just keep everything immaculately clean when you do it though, if you get dirt into the system you'll be in a world of trouble. I got my aircon parts from a local motor factor (used to be Camberley Auto Factors, then became Andrew Page, now it's been taken over by Euro Car Parts) and all the bits were correct and of good quality, so something similar should see you right.