Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: RossPhim on 31 May 2007, 17:42:32

Title: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: RossPhim on 31 May 2007, 17:42:32
Right, as a stop gap measrure I am going to use on of these new fangled DIY air con refil cans (you know, the sort you get from Halfrauds).  :-[  :-/

My question is this : having a quick look under bonnet there appears to be 2 schrader valves : a high level one and a low level one ( i presume one is to and other is from the unit). Which one do I use to refill.

I am giving myself another couple of months to decide if the barge is staying with me or not, and as I am pretty sure that it's never had a A/C refill in it's 8 year life, this should give me some time to make my decision.

Cheers boys & girls
Ross
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: hotel21 on 31 May 2007, 18:39:26
Dunno about the where or how of these kits Ross, but a regass of mine last year from the local industrial aircon firm cost me £40 cash in hand for a job done in a lunchtime in the works yard.  Icy cold and a treat to use.

For the potential guddle factor, thats the road I would recommend....

HtH

B
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: STMO123 on 31 May 2007, 18:47:46
I would imagine full instructions would be supplied Ross. Air con is not something to mess about with, that refrigerant is dangerous stuff.
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: Paul M on 31 May 2007, 18:49:44
Quote
Dunno about the where or how of these kits Ross, but a regass of mine last year from the local industrial aircon firm cost me £40 cash in hand for a job done in a lunchtime in the works yard.  Icy cold and a treat to use.
 
For the potential guddle factor, thats the road I would recommend....
 
HtH
 
B


Where was that? Mine cost £80 last year and it needs doing again :( I got a valve replaced last year too which was supposed to leave it without any leaks but the gas has obviously gone somewhere :-/
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: Auto Addict on 31 May 2007, 19:42:58
See here :-http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1161091674

and click on the Air Con supplies and service, they will put you in touch with your nearest air con techie.
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: Admin on 31 May 2007, 19:54:17
Or hope that matchless can advise... he is our resident knowledgeable one on many many things, including air con (about which I know little beyond what it does!  :-[)
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: cdx25 on 31 May 2007, 19:58:51
Quote
Right, as a stop gap measrure I am going to use on of these new fangled DIY air con refil cans (you know, the sort you get from Halfrauds).  :-[  :-/

My question is this : having a quick look under bonnet there appears to be 2 schrader valves : a high level one and a low level one ( i presume one is to and other is from the unit). Which one do I use to refill.

I am giving myself another couple of months to decide if the barge is staying with me or not, and as I am pretty sure that it's never had a A/C refill in it's 8 year life, this should give me some time to make my decision.

Cheers boys & girls
Ross

One of the snags when using the Halfordskit is that you dont know how much is in there already - and you coul overfill it.  Unlikely, perhaps, if the refrigerant charge is low, but no way of knowing for sure.  The proper way is to pull it all out and then recharge with 950g (from memory) of refrigerant - then you have the known correct amount.    
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: hobbes on 31 May 2007, 22:06:29
I'd recommend just doing it properly. Most car dealerships will do aircon servicing for about £50. I had one done at a Mazda dealer. Full vaccum of old refrigerant & oil, pressure/leak test & a recharge.

Using Halfords kits are just begging for problems - and they are not all that cheap.
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: sassanach on 31 May 2007, 22:40:27
cdx25 has it bang on,in the states these are known as death kits simply because once you install this crap in your ac thats the beginning of the end.the problem is these kits contain sealers and "conditioners" which when exposed to air harden and plug the leak .trouble is if you have to open the system for any reason ie to replace the filter dryer,well  you can guess the rest.ps if you take your car to a ac specialist after having used this stuff chances are you,ll be told to take a hike.(if you tell them that is)
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: Matchless on 01 June 2007, 00:04:01
Whats the history of your a/c?
Was it working until recently or not worked for years?
Look at the bottom of the condensor (peep through slots below rad grill) is the bottom row of fins loose or hanging down?
If it was working was it properly cold or just a bit cooler than outside?

How much are halfords charging for the top-up cans and does it have any sort of gauge on it?
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: Kevin Wood on 01 June 2007, 13:52:03
Cans plus connector with gauge are about 30 quid with a TC at Halfrauds so not really much of a saving over getting it properly vac'ed out and charged. The cans do contain additional additivers such as lubricant, leak sealer and the like too.

Kevin
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: Ronald_McBurger on 02 June 2007, 07:46:43
I have one of these top up can/trigger things. They are wonderful! You get this pretty can with a nice blue trigger and a wibbly wobbly needle gauge thingy that tells you something about Air pressure in Argentina. Best of all is that cost a tiny bit less than a proper recharge and they don't work.

Naaah. Crap, avoid them like the plague. They are designed to empty your pockets and nothing else.

As for your original pouint, the low pressure valve is a different size to the high pressure one. The can thing will not fit on the high pressure. Which is just as well!

WASTE OF MONEY. get it checked and done properly for about £45 - but not at kwik f**k
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: RossPhim on 02 June 2007, 10:13:09
Cheers guys,
I think thats the decision made then. ;)
Now all I have to do is find someone local to me to have a go at it properly.  :y
Only if that fails will I try the can with the lovely blue trigger.  ::)
Ross
Title: Re: Air Con - A quick question
Post by: hotel21 on 02 June 2007, 12:13:55
Have a keek in the yellow pages or local info book for the indudtrial aircon or refirgeration engineers.  Even up your way, the pen pushing brigade likes their aircon!  There will be someone who can assist and, if you get the guys on the ground who do the work, can probably sort you out at a good rate.

HtH

B