Mobile Air con repair ****...

[sg66]

Had aircon re gassed in wife's car couple year ago, was never really as cold as it should have been.

Start of warm weather last week and now no air con, thought for a change I would go to a proper car Aircon repair service place presuming we had a leak.

Most local ones have folded or given up, googled a firm about 5 miles away, cars are all they do few bad Google reviews but mostly good

Arranged a date over a week away when wife was working from home, the day came and NADA, not a call or a msg or bugger all, eventually gets a call at 4pm to say he be there by 5, that came and went, we went out to pub at 6.30, just as we're walking up the street phone goes, on my way, errr good luck we are out and you've not been twice already today when you were supposed to be, ohh ok will come tomorrow morning first job be there by 11am, ok.

So we gave up at dinner time and went out, sent a msg to say we were going out, basically saying forget it we've given it up as a bad job.

Ring doorbell goes at 3pm and he left a note, gimme a call to re arrange, christ we can't get you to come out in the first place can you imagine trying to get the **** to come back if there was a problem.

How the hell do you run a business like that.

So went to Halfords, bought leak sealer, gas a filling valve and we now have aircon.

I could here the leak in the condenser untill the leak sealer went in, when it goes again I will remove the bumper and change the condenser rad myself...

 

[Craig-SM]

I replaced all the seals on mine, had it leak tested before refilling and a few mi the later no air con again. Did the same as you and bought the leak sealer and gas and still have ice cold air con a few years later

 

[Wozzaaah]

Mine loses pressure over a few months so I tried a diy leak sealer/gas recharge kit but it didn’t last. Spoke to a technician I know who said they hook them up to a vacuum machine for about an hour before putting the leak sealer then gas in and he’s never had one come back. If it won’t hold the vacuum it’s more of a leak than the sealer will seal. I’ll be booking it in with him.

 

[steveo3002]

found it hard work having ours looked at , several chancers later i change the pipe and condenser myself and have it gassed and its working

 

[steveo3002]

Mine loses pressure over a few months so I tried a diy leak sealer/gas recharge kit but it didn’t last. Spoke to a technician I know who said they hook them up to a vacuum machine for about an hour before putting the leak sealer then gas in and he’s never had one come back. If it won’t hold the vacuum it’s more of a leak than the sealer will seal. I’ll be booking it in with him.

vac positions the seals in a different place to how they will be under pressure , had mine vac'd 3 times and they couldnt diag a leaking condenser , admittedly the gauge didnt drop

decent outfit will have a sniffer and put uv dye in it too

 

[Wozzaaah]

vac positions the seals in a different place to how they will be under pressure , had mine vac'd 3 times and they couldnt diag a leaking condenser , admittedly the gauge didnt drop

decent outfit will have a sniffer and put uv dye in it too

He said the leak sealer can “turn to mush” if you don’t pull the vacuum and get any moisture out.
The problem is finding such tiny leaks, it’s not like it’s hissing out.

 

[Ubique]

If it leaks under pressure, it needs testing under pressure. Oxygen-free Nitrogen should be used, sometimes it takes hours to find the leak, even with UV dye, a decent sniffer and the customer prepared to pay for the time it takes.

 

[bourbon]

Just open a window?

 

[sg66]

Just open a window?

Tried that it was still hot, im fairly confident our leak is in the rad, I'm surprised the leak sealer worked considering I could here the leak so that's a bonus for now.....

 

[sg66]

Mine loses pressure over a few months so I tried a diy leak sealer/gas recharge kit but it didn’t last. Spoke to a technician I know who said they hook them up to a vacuum machine for about an hour before putting the leak sealer then gas in and he’s never had one come back. If it won’t hold the vacuum it’s more of a leak than the sealer will seal. I’ll be booking it in with him.

The gas I bought had a mix of leak sealer in it but I bought a separate can of STP leak sealer, you mix with air con gas then shake can upside down till it empties, the leak sealed within seconds before the can was even partially used, no idea how long it will last, time will tell, the leak sealer in the recharge gas made no difference.

 

[Trevorleach]

Have seen it a few times where system passes vac test, then still leaks.
As said above nitrogen to find the leak.

 

[sg66]

Have seen it a few times where system passes vac test, then still leaks.
As said above nitrogen to find the leak.

Could I use LPG and my gas sniffer or maybe a match......

 

[qwakers]

The gas I bought had a mix of leak sealer in it but I bought a separate can of STP leak sealer, you mix with air con gas then shake can upside down till it empties, the leak sealed within seconds before the can was even partially used, no idea how long it will last, time will tell, the leak sealer in the recharge gas made no difference.

you got a link to the leak sealer you used? ive gotten so ****** of with ac places that just vac it and fill it despite me telling them it has a very slow leak and it will be gone in a month that i bought all the kit to vac it and fill it myself, but even after changing every oring and recharging it and dye testing everything i can get to, it still leaks...

 

[Trevorleach]

Could I use LPG and my gas sniffer or maybe a match......

I have heard of people using compressed air.

 

[sg66]

you got a link to the leak sealer you used? ive gotten so ****** of with ac places that just vac it and fill it despite me telling them it has a very slow leak and it will be gone in a month that i bought all the kit to vac it and fill it myself, but even after changing every oring and recharging it and dye testing everything i can get to, it still leaks...

It was stp available at Halfords, the Aircon today was much colder than it was when the garage did it last time, the system was completely devoid of pressure, the main can of gas they said I would get three goes with but I may get 1 top up out of it.

The leak sealer is in a vacuum can, you have to charge the system enough so compressor will kick in, then swap to leak sealer, pierce can, open valve, hold upside down and shake it,I thought how is that going to go in but it did.

Was an audible leak on mine but still managed to swap cans and get it in, then put main gas can on and topped up to top of normal range.

Cost just under a £100 with the discount card but still cheaper no doubt that what the imbecile was going to charge if he ever turned up.and was willing to work.

You get £10 back on the return of the empty gas can and I now have a gauge and filling pipe so it's cost about 60 for what I've used

 

[angellonewolf]

the car ive got now ive had for 4 years ish when i first had it took it to a local place charged £40 to do cheaks and enned up with sorry mate after testing you got 3 visable holes in your condencer prob from stone chips flying before we fill that needs swaping out and if thats been like that for a few years a lot of the seals are lighty to be gone as well i dumped the idea and open the window i dont think ive ever had a car with working air con

 

[Ubique]

As above, most aircon leaks are due to a damaged or corroded condenser. The damage is usually from road grit, the corrosion is usually caused by leaves etc. getting stuck around the bottom edge and holding moisture (and road salt) which causes the aluminium to decay and weaken. Unless you have a really big leak, a mobile guy is unlikely to find it due to having to work outside, even a gentle breeze will dissipate the escaping refrigerant enough that either the sniffer will take him in the wrong direction or not pick it up at all, leaving looking for UV dye or chancing on the leak with a soap spray. There are of course, many other potential leak points, condensers are the first area to check though.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I've had my Aircon on summer and winter for years as I read it helps stop the seals drying out. OK, it probably costs me a few MPG but....

 

[steveo3002]

I have heard of people using compressed air.

yes they do , okay theres moisture in your compressed air , but as long as once the leak is repaired you have it vac'd out again i dont see its a huge issue ,if its leaked down then its open to the atmosphere anyway, at least you can pressure it for hours /overnight at home and have a good look

these muppets were charging me 70-100 a time to vac it and shrug their shoulders

lesson one , see how much a condenser is , mine had failed and was only 70/80 quid , i spent more than that chasing around for a "pro" to fix it , so any used car stick a condenser on it if cheap , i recon most often its that

 

[Ubique]

I've had my Aircon on summer and winter for years as I read it helps stop the seals drying out. OK, it probably costs me a few MPG but....

Most cars designed and built since the early 90's operate on the 'reheat' principle - that is, all incoming air is chilled and therefore has some if not most of the moisture removed, it is then diverted through the heater matrix to a greater or lesser extent dependent upon the target temperature and the current internal temperature. It might seem 'wasteful' but the heat costs nothing as it's a by-product of combustion and once the evaporator temperature is <5deg. C the compressor will be cycling on & off (or the proportioning valve will be reducing the load). The benefits are less condensation in winter (providing the glass is cleaned of contaminants so there is nothing for the water to be absorbed by) better heat regulation and cleaner cabin air. Most 'smelly' heater vents are due to the aircon being ineffective or being turned off, allowing bacteria to fester in the vent ducts, dry, cold air doesn't transmit bacteria very well, most of it is caught up in the condensate and carried out of the vehicle through the condensate drain.
Seals don't really dry out as such, they will eventually age to the point of leaking but by then, the condenser is likely to have leaked at least once.

The problem with using compressed air for leak finding is that the filter-drier will become saturated with moisture, sometimes to the point of becoming blocked. Fortunately, most filter-driers are included with a replacement condenser, which is usually the cause anyway.