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[tgm147]

Hi guys.

I have sorted pretty much everything on the car (apart from a random screw that appeared on the drivers floor mat the other day  ) apart from the air conditioning. Or lack of. I took the car to Kwik Fit a few weeks ago to get it gassed. The machine I believe sucked everything out then decided there was a leak in the system and wouldn't fill it again. Spoke with the previous owner who also knew the A/C wasn't working. He had it gassed and a day later it was empty. Took it back, did it again and it lasted 2 or 3 days before emptying itself. He believes it's a leaky valve however the only A/C specialist round here I could find wanted £75 just to look at it.

Can these valves be fitted on your own? The one we suspect is leaking is the one near the top of the engine, passenger side. I'll get a picture if I can. It's a 2.2 petrol if that makes any difference to the layout. I have the chance to pick up a scrap Omega for not much money (although it's a 2.6) and if the A/C in that works, is there anything to stop me getting the system drained and swapping the valves over?

Cheers.

[Michael2.6]

I think you still have a gas leak.

Did kwik fit use a gas sniffer to find the leek

[tgm147]

They didn't. I'd highly doubt they knew what a gas sniffer was. I asked them if they could force fill the system with the dye too to see where it leaks from and he just gave me a blank look. Think it's going to be bite the bullet and use the A/C specialist or start swapping bits at random.

[feeutfo]

Dye would be present in the valve, no?

There is info on here re changing the valve. Which you could do as gas removed. Fairly easy and cheap as I recall.

[TheBoy]

Front valve is about a fiver.  Dont wreck the pipe it screws into (easy to do if heavy handed), as that is a whole world of pain.

But unless you know where it leaks, leave to specialist.

Valve leaks are not that dramatic, the ones causing it to leak that bad are condenser and compressor.

[tgm147]

Cheers guys. I'll have a look for info on changing the valves. Off to Vauxhall Monday. If that doesn't fix it, A/C specialist time.

[Andy H]

Front valve is about a fiver.  Dont wreck the pipe it screws into (easy to do if heavy handed), as that is a whole world of pain.

But unless you know where it leaks, leave to specialist.

Valve leaks are not that dramatic, the ones causing it to leak that bad are condenser and compressor.

I got a specialist to 'do' mine. He did say that it was proving difficult to unscrew and did I want him to leave it. 'Carry on' I said, so he did and the valve snapped off at the pipe  . He had to fit a new filter drier assembly IIRC.

[lee4206]

If kwikfit said it had a leak then it won't be the valves. The machine they use  apply the vacuum with the valves connected so it doesn't pick up if they are leaking.  A specialist is probably the only option.

[Andy B]

the two valves are high pressure & low pressure (can never remember which is which despite being told umpteen times & too many years since I've needed to know about fridge systems) The top valve is removed like your tyre schrader but the valve at the front that seems to be the root of many problems is easily removed too. 17 mm spanner on the boss welded to the ally pipe to support it & a 15 mm socket on the valve - it might need a slight tap to push it all the way down the valve itself. then just unscrew, normal right hand thread. 

[robmac]

in my experience its more likely to be the condenser radiator that's leaking..the aluminium fins break up and they leak through tiny pin holes.

[Andy B]

in my experience its more likely to be the condenser radiator that's leaking..the aluminium fins break up and they leak through tiny pin holes.

Agreed, but it doesn't need much in the way of crap under the valve seat to cause a leak. I replaced the valve at the front of the car because it wouldn't play & seat properly. 

[TheBoy]

in my experience its more likely to be the condenser radiator that's leaking..the aluminium fins break up and they leak through tiny pin holes.

Agreed, but it doesn't need much in the way of crap under the valve seat to cause a leak. I replaced the valve at the front of the car because it wouldn't play & seat properly. 

But with the secondary seal (ie, the cap) in place, it would take weeks to leak out...

[Andy B]

in my experience its more likely to be the condenser radiator that's leaking..the aluminium fins break up and they leak through tiny pin holes.

Agreed, but it doesn't need much in the way of crap under the valve seat to cause a leak. I replaced the valve at the front of the car because it wouldn't play & seat properly. 

But with the secondary seal (ie, the cap) in place, it would take weeks to leak out...

yes ....... but if you had an empty system & you knew there was a problem with a valve, common sense says to replace it before you fill the system again. 

[robmac]

the fact that it lasted around 3 days after quickfit had filled it suggests its not the valve to me....had the exact same thing...the only way is to get a mobile ac mechanic to sniff test the valves and condensor otherwise its money wasted.