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Car Forum / UK Car Forums / General Car Topics (UK group) / September 2003Dormant A/C unit - advice needed
I've got a faulty air-con unit in my Micra. It's been diagnosed as a leaky condenser, which will require a new unit. As this will be about £500 and autumn is upon us, I thought I would leave this until April. Since it's almost empty of gas, I haven't used it at all and don't intend to. My question is what effect will this lack of use have on other areas of the air-con. I know it should be used on a regular basis, but is this a wise idea when it is empty of gas? Thanks Douglas > I've got a faulty air-con unit in my Micra. It's been diagnosed as a > leaky condenser, which will require a new unit. As this will be about > ?500 and autumn is upon us, I thought I would leave this until April. > Since it's almost empty of gas, I haven't used it at all and don't > intend to. My question is what effect will this lack of use have on > other areas of the air-con. I know it should be used on a regular > basis, but is this a wise idea when it is empty of gas? AFAIK the a/c won't work if the gas pressure falls too low. Personally I'd get it fixed ASAP, as if left idle for any length of time, the seals could go in the compressor. Compressors are not cheap either. Maybe the condenser can be repaired. I had the same problem some years ago. Condenser had a cracked where one of the pipes joined. I rebrazed the joint. Added a couple of brackets, so it wouldn't go again, and it's been fine ever since. Mike > I've got a faulty air-con unit in my Micra. It's been diagnosed as a > leaky condenser, which will require a new unit. As this will be about [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > other areas of the air-con. I know it should be used on a regular > basis, but is this a wise idea when it is empty of gas? Sounds very steep for a condensor. The Condensor for a Ford Ka is ?105 +VAT at the dealers. You should be able to find someone who can bung gas in it for ?50 - ?80, and they should be able to put the condensor on as well. I wouldn't take it to a main dealer, better off with an aircon specialist. Better to get it done sooner IMO - the gas contains the lubricants for the compressor, seals etc. If left without any gas for a long while, or not run for a long while, the seals can dry up and shrink. >> I've got a faulty air-con unit in my Micra. It's been diagnosed as a >> leaky condenser, which will require a new unit. As this will be about [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >compressor, seals etc. If left without any gas for a long while, or not run >for a long while, the seals can dry up and shrink. Use yellow pages or www.yell.com to find a vehicle air con specialist. Get him to finish de-gassing it. Remove the condenser and fix it using an aluminum brazing kit - uses a propane torch and you need some stainless steel agitator rods and wire brush. Re-fit condenser and get the man back to refill system. If you don't know the precise location of the leak the air con man will be able to sniff it out with a detector or put some dye in and gas it up to show the leaks location. Aluminum brazing rod from here - last item on page. http://www.prestwich.ndirect.co.uk/materials.htm or (UK? or not UK?) http://www.tubenet.org.uk/prod/aac.html or http://www.techno-weld.co.uk/home.html -- Peter Hill Spamtrap reply domain as per NNTP-Posting-Host in header Can of worms - what every fisherman wants. Can of worms - what every PC owner gets! > Use yellow pages or www.yell.com to find a vehicle air con specialist. > Get him to finish de-gassing it. Remove the condenser and fix it [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > or > http://www.techno-weld.co.uk/home.html Do they need brazing on? I've no idea about Nissans, but the Haynes gives the impression that it's just a few connectors that need undoing with a special tool, Ford Part No... or you can make one like this... (stifled laughter from Mr Haynes). >> Use yellow pages or www.yell.com to find a vehicle air con specialist. >> Get him to finish de-gassing it. Remove the condenser and fix it [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >special tool, Ford Part No... or you can make one like this... (stifled >laughter from Mr Haynes). No, they bolt on. Don't know about new Nissans but 1991 ones don't use any special tools on air-con fittings. Just need two spanners, one for each nut on the unions. He needs the aluminum braze to seal the leak - somewhat cheaper than buying a new Nissan condenser. The stainless steel is used to scratch the oxide film off while under a film of 'braze' so the 'braze' will take. -- Peter Hill Spamtrap reply domain as per NNTP-Posting-Host in header Can of worms - what every fisherman wants. Can of worms - what every PC owner gets! > No, they bolt on. Don't know about new Nissans but 1991 ones don't > use any special tools on air-con fittings. Just need two spanners, > one for each nut on the unions. He needs the aluminum braze to seal > the leak - somewhat cheaper than buying a new Nissan condenser. The > stainless steel is used to scratch the oxide film off while under a > film of 'braze' so the 'braze' will take. Sorry, only read through your post quickly, and got the impression that they needed welding on on the Nissan. Something makes me think my Condensor is beyond brazing :P. It's been looked at by a mechanic from a Rover garage belonging to a frind of my in-laws. They re-gasses it at the start of the year, so when It started to act up again I took it back. He diagnosed a leak in the condensor, and got a figure of £350+vat for a new one. He did say however that he wasn't an expert on A/C and that it might be worth taking to an expert to see if it could be repaired. thanks for the gelp Douglas |
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