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Car Forum / Peugeot Cars / July 2005

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306 Air Con, saga continues

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mike. buckley - 28 Jun 2005 10:55 GMT
After a discussion on urcm recently, I decided to book my 306 TD in to
have the known leaky front air con pipe replaced. They checked the
system, no other leaks, and they fitted the new pipe and a replacement
drier as well.
No problems, apart from the bill. So I hop in the car and have a lovely
2 mile drive before it all goes warm, and then hot. Bugger.

No leaks anywhere, except some clear liquid around the new front pipe,
no drips onto the ground at all. After a couple more miles the
compressor stops cutting in, so presumably I have a leak somewhere. It's
booked in again on Thursday afternoon, and when I spoke to them they
said they do put dye in all re-gasses, so not really sure what the clear
liquid is around the pipe, it was a little more viscous than water.

So, where could the refrigerant go? I also had a kind of gas noise from
the dash as it was getting warm, googling leads me to believe this is
just part of the system running out of refrigerant.

Baffled, hope this isn't a major failure like a compressor :-(

Signature

Mike Buckley
RD350LC2
GSF600S
http://www.toastyhamster.org
BONY#38

daddyfreddy@gmail.com - 28 Jun 2005 13:12 GMT
> After a discussion on urcm recently, I decided to book my 306 TD in to
> have the known leaky front air con pipe replaced. They checked the
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Baffled, hope this isn't a major failure like a compressor :-(

The compressor is more than likely fine, looks like the new pipe they
fitted hasn't been done properly. There are rubber washers each end of
the pipe, one at the compressor end and where the pipe continues. Both
of these should be new  when refitting. I know from my experience that
the washer at the compressor end certainly doesn't come supplied with
the pipe and must be bought separately. They've either not replaced
that or damaged one or the other of these seals.

Your refrigerant won't leak out - it's a gas. The leakage will normally
come from the oil used to lubricate the compressor. I had a garage
refil my A/C. they also assured me they used dye. When mine leaked I
didn't see it either.
mrcheerful                                                                          . - 28 Jun 2005 13:28 GMT
>> After a discussion on urcm recently, I decided to book my 306 TD in to
>> have the known leaky front air con pipe replaced. They checked the
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> refil my A/C. they also assured me they used dye. When mine leaked I
> didn't see it either.

Usually the dye can only be seen by ultra violet light.

mrcheerful
Tim.. - 28 Jun 2005 16:30 GMT
> >> After a discussion on urcm recently, I decided to book my 306 TD in to
> >> have the known leaky front air con pipe replaced. They checked the
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>
> Usually the dye can only be seen by ultra violet light.

Yes, and no- it can be seen on the skin as a yellowish tint, which wont wash
out- rather like getting iodine on your skin.

Tim..
mike. buckley - 28 Jun 2005 13:33 GMT
>> After a discussion on urcm recently, I decided to book my 306 TD in to
>> Baffled, hope this isn't a major failure like a compressor :-(
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>refil my A/C. they also assured me they used dye. When mine leaked I
>didn't see it either.

Yeah sorry, bad description on my part. When it leaked before I had a
few pools of green dye oil on the drive, but this time it's dry, and
apart from a bit around the new pipe it's dry in the engine bay too.

I hope it is the pipe, as it means I won't have to shell out again.

Signature

Mike Buckley
RD350LC2
GSF600S
http://www.toastyhamster.org
BONY#38

mike. buckley - 30 Jun 2005 14:59 GMT
>The compressor is more than likely fine, looks like the new pipe they
>fitted hasn't been done properly. There are rubber washers each end of
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>refil my A/C. they also assured me they used dye. When mine leaked I
>didn't see it either.

Bugger - again.

One new condenser and a recommendation to replace the other pipe. Booked
in for next Friday, but it's a 4 hour job as the bumper etc etc has to
come off for the condenser change.

Well it'd better bloody work after that....

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Mike Buckley
RD350LC2
GSF600S
http://www.toastyhamster.org
BONY#38

daddyfreddy@gmail.com - 01 Jul 2005 11:10 GMT
> Bugger - again.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Well it'd better bloody work after that....

Sorry, hit the wrong button last time.

I can't see how there is anything wrong with your compressor when it
was working fine before the gas escaped. How did they evaluate your
compressor needed changing?

Remember, this is the garage that didn't even fix it properly in the
first place. Do you trust their analysis?
mike. buckley - 01 Jul 2005 11:55 GMT
>> Bugger - again.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>Remember, this is the garage that didn't even fix it properly in the
>first place. Do you trust their analysis?

Did anybody mention a compressor?

Signature

Mike Buckley
RD350LC2
GSF600S
http://www.toastyhamster.org
BONY#38

daddyfreddy@gmail.com - 01 Jul 2005 14:18 GMT
> Did anybody mention a compressor?
>
> --

Sorry, condenser. That's what happens when you spend too much time in
front of a computer, you end up going word blind!
mike. buckley - 01 Jul 2005 15:00 GMT
>> Did anybody mention a compressor?
>>
>> --
>
>Sorry, condenser. That's what happens when you spend too much time in
>front of a computer, you end up going word blind!

To be fair the leak is bloody hard to spot (right behind the fan) and
would only have ended up in the same puddle as the bigger leak from the
pipe I knew about. They didn't charge me for the second diagnostic, so
really it's just a bit of inconvenience, car is booked in for next
Friday when I'm not at work anyway, so no big deal, apart from the bill.
arrgh.

Signature

Mike Buckley
RD350LC2
GSF600S
http://www.toastyhamster.org
BONY#38

Keith Willcocks - 01 Jul 2005 18:26 GMT
>>> Did anybody mention a compressor?
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> really it's just a bit of inconvenience, car is booked in for next Friday
> when I'm not at work anyway, so no big deal, apart from the bill. arrgh.

Have they suggested what it might cost?   I ask because the symptoms sound
similar to my wife's 306.
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Keith Willcocks
(If you can't laugh at life, it ain't worth living!)

mike. buckley - 02 Jul 2005 00:17 GMT
>>>> Did anybody mention a compressor?
>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>Have they suggested what it might cost?   I ask because the symptoms sound
>similar to my wife's 306.

Total will be over 500 with the two visits.

Condenser - 100 quid plus 4 hours to fit (all and sundry from front of
car has to be removed)
First pipe (already replaced) 75 quid plus an hour to fit
Second pipe (to be done with condenser) 45 quid

Plus one diagnostic test and two re-gas, and the dreaded VAT.

Hourly rate is 47 quid inc, which is about par for the course in Brum
centre.

Signature

Mike Buckley
RD350LC2
GSF600S
http://www.toastyhamster.org
BONY#38

Lars - 11 Jul 2005 00:00 GMT
Have read your "story" with great interest.
I have a similar problem with my 306.
Leaks sometimes some fluid (water I suppose) under and on passenger
seats mat when hot weather and long drive. Can't find the leak. Have
been to service for this three times. Is ok for a while and then it
comes back again.

Did your last trip to the service cure all problems?

Rgds
Lars

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Lars

Nom - 11 Jul 2005 08:53 GMT
> Have read your "story" with great interest.
> I have a similar problem with my 306.
> Leaks sometimes some fluid (water I suppose) under and on passenger
> seats mat when hot weather and long drive. Can't find the leak. Have
> been to service for this three times. Is ok for a while and then it
> comes back again.

Your aircon drain hole is blocked. Dunno where it is on the 306, but aircon
systems have a drain to let out the condensation. Yours is blocked, so
instead of escaping onto the road, it's escaping into your footwell.

That's assuming it really is just water. If it's got coolant in, then your
heater matrix is shafted. Good luck :)
Keith Willcocks - 11 Jul 2005 09:16 GMT
> Have read your "story" with great interest.
> I have a similar problem with my 306.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Did your last trip to the service cure all problems?

I think I saw an earlier thread where water on the passenger mat was traced
to the heater matrix (or its 'O' rings).
Signature

Keith Willcocks
(If you can't laugh at life, it ain't worth living!)

Keith Willcocks - 11 Jul 2005 09:19 GMT
>>Have they suggested what it might cost?   I ask because the symptoms sound
>>similar to my wife's 306.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Hourly rate is 47 quid inc, which is about par for the course in Brum
> centre.

Thanks for the price.   I think I will buy her one of those little dash
mounted fans instead ;o)
Signature

Keith Willcocks
(If you can't laugh at life, it ain't worth living!)

mike. buckley - 11 Jul 2005 13:19 GMT
Well, double buggery :-(

They tried taking the condenser and pipe out, but all the bolts were
badly corroded and started snapping off. So short of removing the front
valance and drilling out the snapped bolts there's no chance of me
getting my air con working. They were also concerned about the state of
the radiator and didn't want to risk creating a coolant leak. They
thought that car had been sat in the sea for a couple of weeks, in fact
it's just been through some hard motorway winters.

Typical, did 300 miles yesterday in boiling heat :-(

In for full service and cam belt change next week, I'll get them to give
me a second opinion while it's on the ramp.

Signature

Mike Buckley
RD350LC2
GSF600S
http://www.toastyhamster.org
BONY#38

Tim.. - 11 Jul 2005 13:38 GMT
> Well, double buggery :-(
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> thought that car had been sat in the sea for a couple of weeks, in fact
> it's just been through some hard motorway winters.

Its the salty spray driven into the condensor and rad thats caused the
corrosion...

Tim..
mike. buckley - 11 Jul 2005 13:58 GMT
>> Well, double buggery :-(
>>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
>Tim..

Yeah I guessed, 110 miles a day Hull<>Leeds might preserve engine
internals but it's not done a lot for the aluminium at the front!

Signature

Mike Buckley
RD350LC2
GSF600S
http://www.toastyhamster.org
BONY#38

Tim.. - 11 Jul 2005 21:09 GMT
> >> Well, double buggery :-(
> >>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Yeah I guessed, 110 miles a day Hull<>Leeds might preserve engine
> internals but it's not done a lot for the aluminium at the front!

Having the luxury of a power washer, I always try to remember to swill out
the radiator / condensor once or twice a year when its car wash time at
home.

Tim..
 
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