Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: holey head on 02 April 2008, 09:00:41

Title: aircon not working
Post by: holey head on 02 April 2008, 09:00:41
hi all after all the work i have done to the miggy recently i've now noticed that the aircon isn't working but it was before! anybody got any ideas? mechanic said he was nowhere near aircon.
Title: Re: aircon not working
Post by: TheBoy on 02 April 2008, 09:07:14
Most likely is low pressure, but really needs an aircon specialist to measure it, and check for leaks etc.  Not really DIY, as special equipment needed :(
Title: Re: aircon not working
Post by: Entwood on 02 April 2008, 17:32:12
Little saga just to upset you .....  :(

Monday had the system re-gassed as it wasn't working at all well ... no difference noted so took it back this morning - they rechecked it said it was OK  .. on the advice of the forum - I asked questions .....

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1206977755

I asked them to check the low and high pressures, low was 2.4 bar .. high was 4.3 bar .. should be around 8-12 bar  :(  They had no idea so sent me to a specialist........

They were very helpful, checked the system and said it was full and the compressor was working, problem would be either :

1) blocked drier/filter ( supposed to be changed every 2 years .. this looked original)

2) faulty expansion valve (whatever that is !)

3) faulty pressure control switch

To do any of these the system needs de-gassing, fixing then regassing which I agreed to, I also said to replace the filter/drier whilst the system was empty anyway as a precaution.... so off they went into dismantle mode ...

Then comes the bad news...  The expansion valve is stuck fully open - explains the lack of pressure it seems, and the guy bought the filter/drier in to me ... now it should be empty as the refrigerant has all gone .. he proceeded to pour out a horrible thick black fluid, almost of thin grease consistency, stank as well :(, and showed me lots of small metal particles in this gunge ... if you rubbed it between fingers you could feel  it like fine grit .....  not good  :(

So it looks like the compressor is disintegrating and has contaminated the whole system with metal particles, including the expansion valve.

Result is it needs :

new compressor - £200
new expansion valve - £47
New drier/filter - £17
Full flush/clean - £ 80
6 hours labour - £300
Re-gas - £40
VAT - £120

total £803.70  .. not including the £100 for todays work or the £70 for the first re-gas

so all in all  .... just under £1000 to fix the damned air con .. :(
Title: Re: aircon not working
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 April 2008, 18:27:04
I have a horrible feeling something like this has happened to mine too. :(

Expansion valve is buried in the dash at a guess too.

Kevin
Title: Re: aircon not working
Post by: Tony H on 02 April 2008, 18:29:41
Quote
Little saga just to upset you .....  :(

Monday had the system re-gassed as it wasn't working at all well ... no difference noted so took it back this morning - they rechecked it said it was OK  .. on the advice of the forum - I asked questions .....

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1206977755

I asked them to check the low and high pressures, low was 2. .. high was 4.3 bar .. should be around 8-12 bar  :(  They had no idea so sent me to a specialist........

They were very helpful, checked the system and said it was full and the compressor was working, problem would be either :

1) blocked drier/filter ( supposed to be changed every 2 years .. this looked original)

2) faulty expansion valve (whatever that is !)

3) faulty pressure control switch

To do any of these the system needs de-gassing, fixing then regassing which I agreed to, I also said to replace the filter/drier whilst the system was empty anyway as a precaution.... so off they went into dismantle mode ...

Then comes the bad news...  The expansion valve is stuck fully open - explains the lack of pressure it seems, and the guy bought the filter/drier in to me ... now it should be empty as the refrigerant has all gone .. he proceeded to pour out a horrible thick black fluid, almost of thin grease consistency, stank as well :(, and showed me lots of small metal particles in this gunge ... if you rubbed it between fingers you could feel  it like fine grit .....  not good  :(

So it looks like the compressor is disintegrating and has contaminated the whole system with metal particles, including the expansion valve.

Result is it needs :

new compressor - £200
new expansion valve - £47
New drier/filter - £17
Full flush/clean - £ 80
6 hours labour - £300
Re-gas - £40
VAT - £120

total £803.70  .. not including the £100 for todays work or the £70 for the first re-gas

so all in all  .... just under £1000 to fix the damned air con .. :(
Fook I think I would rather open the windows!! :o
Title: Re: aircon not working
Post by: TheBoy on 02 April 2008, 19:57:49
Quote
I have a horrible feeling something like this has happened to mine too. :(

Expansion valve is buried in the dash at a guess too.

Kevin
I think thats the bit I tried (and failed) to get for Mr DTM out of one of Timbuk's wrecks. A right barstard.
Title: Re: aircon not working
Post by: Entwood on 02 April 2008, 20:24:11
I believe thats why the labour is so high - lots of bits have to be taken off to get access to the bits that need replacing, or removing to clean. :(
Title: Re: aircon not working
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 April 2008, 23:46:02
Quote
Quote
I have a horrible feeling something like this has happened to mine too. :(

Expansion valve is buried in the dash at a guess too.

Kevin
I think thats the bit I tried (and failed) to get for Mr DTM out of one of Timbuk's wrecks. A right barstard.

Ahh. I remember. :(

Then again my climate fan is squealing too, so 2 birds with one stone? Need to find someone half competent at diagnosing aircon faults first I guess. :-/

Kevin
Title: Re: aircon not working
Post by: amba on 03 April 2008, 07:48:12
Guy I have been using for years on several v6 vauxhalls.He is very/very good and prices are cheap,but not sure if he would come down your area,though worth a chat with him.
John(dad) and Mark(son)  www.ac4cars.co.uk   tell him Andrew passed details on for you...well worth the call as he is also very knowlegable just for correct info.
pm me and will get you his phone numbers if they are not on his website.