Air Con re-gassing

Just about to have my V70 air con re-gassed. The a/c works as far as I know, at least the climate control seems to but the air is not as cool as it should be. Thus it will be interesting to see what comes out. If it works well and the guy does a good job I'll post his details here for future reference. He is mobile so comes to you, and reckons it takes about 2 hours, with the full vacuuming of the system before recharging etc.

I look forward to seeing how cold it actually gets...

Andy

[liuleichan]

I've had mine re-gassed before - it was appraised as actually being quite healthy.

It was improved afterwards. But after being around and seeing what they did, wasn't terribly impressed that you are getting good value for money. Unless there's something quite wrong, which is probably going to need further attention, I do wonder if it isn't something of an overplayed thing.

I've also used one of those top-up kits.

Whilst something of a new thing / rarity in the UK, these are quite popular and well-used (and for some time, too) in the US. They think nothing of having their aircon systems topped up at garages over there, rather than always going for a full service.

The top-up kits tend to be only including an amount of gas that's within the general tolerances of the aircon systems gas capcity. They tend to include some oil, too, plus something of a leak sealer / seal rejuvenator. Some people have expressed concerns about the latter part of that.

They are quite easy kits to use, and if you are methodic and plan well, and are careful, are quire possibly an economic means of doing some DIY maintenance of your air-con.

Especially if you're in a situation of being towards the latter part of your ownership of your car, not wanting to invest much in the aircon system, and maybe just looking for a marginal improvement.

Thanks - all good info.

The chap is still working on it having said that the system should have had about 700 mg (or whatever the measurement is) in the system it actually only had about 200 and was just as the point where the compressor would soon start to shut off as it would be working too hard to keep the gas running around. Has checked for leaks and seems there may be a small one somewhere. Anyhow, he's going to use some special sealing compound to try and fix everything, as I've said I do not want a new compressor or evaporator, given both are expensive to buy and replace so I hope this does the job. We'll have to see - but certainly more than the £75 I was going to spend. Fingers crossed...

A

£260 + VAT later and I have a fully working system that seemed to response to this clean up and the sealing of the small hole that was evident in the system. Certainly it works to decent temps now, but although the clutch on the compressor is a bit dodgy, he reckons it should be OK. Not expecting £300, but that's better than the 700+ the other options would have been so I can probably handle that. Next is the cambelt replacement next week...

Joys of owning older cars!

[liuleichan]

Originally Posted by mightyyid

£260 + VAT later and I have a fully working system that seemed to response to this clean up and the sealing of the small hole that was evident in the system. Certainly it works to decent temps now, but although the clutch on the compressor is a bit dodgy, he reckons it should be OK. Not expecting £300, but that's better than the 700+ the other options would have been so I can probably handle that. Next is the cambelt replacement next week...

Joys of owning older cars!

Why so much - £260?

Did he do any more than evacuate, test, and then regas (plus oil and perhaps some leak-seal additive)? Did he do something other than an additive to seal the leak - some kind of repair?

The clutch thing sounds like the shim has worn - I seem to recall that that can be adjusted.

Just sounds like quite a lot, unless something was replaced within the system, too.

[T5JAS]

my aircon has never been that cold in my 4 year old t5, and was thinking bout getting it checked for the up coming heat wave!! (we live in hope) but after reading this post i'm in 2 minds. its a bit like going to the dentist.. you never know if you really need doing what they say you do, you just agree and cough up at the end. ive thought of a cost effective way of keeping kool in the summer.... i'm gonna leave the air con off and open all the windows!
Jason

[liuleichan]

Originally Posted by T5JAS

my aircon has never been that cold in my 4 year old t5, and was thinking bout getting it checked for the up coming heat wave!! (we live in hope) but after reading this post i'm in 2 minds. its a bit like going to the dentist.. you never know if you really need doing what they say you do, you just agree and cough up at the end. ive thought of a cost effective way of keeping kool in the summer.... i'm gonna leave the air con off and open all the windows!
Jason

It's a funny thing, with air-con - people seem divided up into camps: "my fridge never needs topping up or maintenance, so why should my car's air-con"; "best left to the experts"; "regular maintenance is required"; "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

You can buy (over the counter) various things to either help you do DIY stuff, or give you an idea about it's health. True evacuation and maintenance is going to require the specialists, though. But these days, places like Halfords supply pressure gauges, top-up kits and vent thermometers.

At a basic level, if you're air-con is engaging, but not particularly chilly, the gas level may not be as high as it should be. If the compressor is cycling quite frequently, that's also a hint that gas could be low.

Ultimately, they are meant to be sealed systems - if the level has dropped, it's got to have leaked somewhere.

The DIY kits tend to include a leak sealant and seal rejuvenator in them. If that's all the specialist is going to do, and perhaps top-up a bit of gas, then perhaps a DIY kit may be good enough.

If it's going to need more than that, but you're not about to spend hundreds on part replacements, then maybe consider DIY solutions. You can get a pressure gauge which can give you an idea about the current gas level. Gas oil and leak sealant in cans.

Or depending on what you're comfortable with and / or If it's going to involve some part replacement, and a thorough overhaul, and you're prepared to pay that price, then go to a specialist.

But if all a specialist is going to do - ultimately - is top up your gas, and and some leak sealant, I'd be very inclined to get a DIY kit.

[T5JAS]

Well i'll consider myself told!!!
thanks for that advice liuleichan, i guess i never thought of it like that! when my air con is switched on i never get that slight drop in revs or hear anything whirring into life so maybe i should get it investigated. i guess as ive not had the car long enough to go through a summer it didnt bother me so much
thanks again,
Jason

[bigandquick]

Originally Posted by T5JAS

my aircon has never been that cold in my 4 year old t5, and was thinking bout getting it checked for the up coming heat wave!! (we live in hope) but after reading this post i'm in 2 minds. its a bit like going to the dentist.. you never know if you really need doing what they say you do, you just agree and cough up at the end. ive thought of a cost effective way of keeping kool in the summer.... i'm gonna leave the air con off and open all the windows!
Jason

Just noticed that you're in Welwyn. Tony at Independent Volvo Services at Letchworth does a re-gass for £58 plus VAT, which is cheaper than anything I can get round here so I will be paying him a visit soon. I paid about £90 last time to see about 10 minutes labour then 'my' mechanic working on another car whilst the machine did it all. Good business if you have the gear.
Anyway, Tony's ex-Volvo and seems to know his stuff.

[T5JAS]

cheers for that bigandquick, tony does all my servicing/maintainance i will be going back to him for the aircon too! great bloke and yes he defo knows his stuff.
cheers again,
jason