So the weathers getting hotter....

**cherry1809** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 10:06

Air con hasn't worked in 18 months and it's time I addressed it.
It had a complete new system not long before I bought it, but it wasn't cold when I bought the car. I didn't want to spend £60+ getting it gassed to find out it's FUBAR anyway. Are the Halfrauds little canistors any good as a quick test to see if everythings A1?

**Tomcat** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 11:03

I heard that one of the tyre places (kwik fit etc) was offering a re gas for about £30...ish, I wouldn't bother with the stuff at halfrauds, the system needs to be properly drained first before you put new stuff in, best to get it done properly.

**AlanG** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 13:17

Had mine re-gassed last year by a mobile chap. Drained,pressure tested and replenished for £50. Think the fast-fit places are just that. Would definitely avoid the diy. It's worth paying the extra to know it's properly done and have some comeback if it goes wrong...

**cherry1809** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 14:50

Cheers chaps, there's a Kwik fit on the way home from work so I'll ty them first. Got a funny feeling someone said if they try re gassing it and it doesn't work, they don't charge you. Have to check it out I think.

**MrMopp** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 14:55

Originally Posted by cherry1809

Got a funny feeling someone said if they try re gassing it and it doesn't work, they don't charge you. Have to check it out I think.

Let us know cherry if thats the case because the jag needs a regas

**850 2.5 10v** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 15:11

KwikFit say:

"If we cannot improve the coolest vent temperature from your car by more than 10% when measured in degrees Celsius – then you pay nothing at all."

They do a before and after reading...

**MrMopp** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 15:14

Originally Posted by 850 2.5 10v

KwikFit say:

"If we cannot improve the coolest vent temperature from your car by more than 10% when measured in degrees Celsius – then you pay nothing at all."

They do a before and after reading...

To be fair thats not a great improvement that they have to gain is it

**850 2.5 10v** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 15:16

They are however the cheapest at around £30 IIRC

http://www.kwik-fit.com/about-air-conditioning.asp

**Big Pete** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 15:37

Is there anyway you can specifically tell if it is out of gas? Only owned my 850R for 6 months and when I turn it on it doesn't seem any colder, so guess it is out, but a friend of mine a few years ago was out of gas on his car and when the A/C was on it made a wracket?

**Big Pete** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 15:42

Just phoned my local Kwik Fit and £45 all in, I am down in Plymouth.

**PaulZX** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 17:22

"... and Leon's getting larrrrger"

Quote from a famous old movie... can you name it..?

**MrMopp** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 17:24

Originally Posted by TheFlyingFridgeMover

"... and Leon's getting larrrrger"

Quote from a famous old movie... can you name it..?

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo_dnfOaEX0[/ame]

Quality and dont call me shirley

**cherry1809** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 19:18

Originally Posted by Big Pete

Is there anyway you can specifically tell if it is out of gas? Only owned my 850R for 6 months and when I turn it on it doesn't seem any colder, so guess it is out, but a friend of mine a few years ago was out of gas on his car and when the A/C was on it made a wracket?

Pretty sure if the whole system's empty, the pump won't even engage.

Originally Posted by MrMopp

To be fair thats not a great improvement that they have to gain is it

LOL, I can blow colder air than the fan in mine

In all fairness though, if it is knackered, they won't be getting anything out of it.

**AlanG** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 19:26

If the system is below a specific level the compressor will not operate. Compressor operation can be checked by disconnecting the multi-plug on the a/c pipe at the bulkhead centre and bridging the contacts. HTH.

**Porcine_Aviator** · Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 22:56

I know mine isn't working, I had it pressure tested and there is none. The aircon rad was holed. The replacement is sitting in the hall waiting to go in, when I get the gearbox sorted on Christine, I can get the 850 in and have the job done.
The worst part was, when i went down to the garage with the V70 "Christine" he said "right you've come about getting the aircon done on the 850 have you?" Sob if only the cow had lasted a week longer

**Murphy** · Wednesday 3rd June 2009, 11:33

Make sure you have it lubricated as well. I had my wife's Honda Odyssey re-gassed at kwikfit - it worked fine for 24hr's but then disaster struck:

The compressor started smoking a lot! As it had auto climate you couldn’t override it, the breakdown service said it needed to be lubricated anually, I ended up chopping the wire to it. Needless to say, a proper aircon ‘service’ is worth the extra cash!

**roryscott30** · Wednesday 8th July 2009, 22:23

Alan,

i been trying to find out if my compressor is working do you have a photo of the multi plug so i can try it or a part it is close to

thanks

**stan lee** · Thursday 9th July 2009, 13:01

Dont bother with the halfords kits, your better off taking it to a qualified air con tech to be sorted. I am a ATA qualified air con technician and volvo technician working at a volvo dealer.. I have personaly tried the after market cheap kits and all you can do with them is top up the refrigerant, you have to fully reclaim all the gas to be able to tell how much was in the system before you fill it up with the correct amount( using a automated air con machine).
Hope this helps...

**AlanG** · Thursday 9th July 2009, 13:38

Originally Posted by roryscott30

Alan,

i been trying to find out if my compressor is working do you have a photo of the multi plug so i can try it or a part it is close to

thanks

Not very computer-literate so don't have a pic,sorry. Easy to describe though. On raising the bonnet and facing the car,you'll see a metal pipe between the brake servo and the alarm horn at the bulkhead with a multi-plug sitting on the top of a sensor. With the engine running and ECC/Air-con switched on,dis-connect the plug and bridge terminals 1 & 3 (I think......there are only 3) and if all is well with the pump,it'll kick in and all you can rule it out as cooked.It's basically a safety cut-out switch HTH

**roryscott30** · Thursday 9th July 2009, 15:18

Alan,

thanks for that i'll give it a lash tomight, i tried going through the diagnostic procedure last and it shows up 1-2-2 but the clutch never engages and is quite stiff to turn so i'll see if it is ok with your trick

thanks again