Aircon

[Diddler]

Anyone any ideas as to where to start looking for leaks in aircon, most obvious etc.

[Old Peter]

Any drips on Drive, Stan?  That would be a good starter.

 

We were passing through Leicestershire on the way back from RAF Waddington yesterday.  Doris, our Satnav, sent us back along A46, M69 and I chose the A5 rather than the M6.

 

Peter. 

[Diddler]

No drips on drive Peter only me. Went to have re  gas done and would not work. so no gas in there. Never worked since I bought car. Discovered a badly battered condenser, so it is hand in pocket again.  If you came on the M69 yesterday you passed with in a Quarter of a mile from me, we live in Burbage.

Will keep you posted with developments.

Stan.

 

ps Have you seen the work involved in changing a condenser.

[pezzzer]

Not 100% sure but I thought you should get a puddle under the car every now and then as it discharges the condensed water. Have I got that wrong?

[Old Peter]

Not 100% sure but I thought you should get a puddle under the car every now and then as it discharges the condensed water. Have I got that wrong?

No! Quite right.

 

But with some cars it seems to disappear before it lands on the drive,  as does mine.

 

But I was told it could be  because the odd condensation drips could be landing on the engine shields underneath the car.

 

Peter.

[pezzzer]

No! Quite right.

 

But with some cars it seems to disappear before it lands on the drive,  as does mine.

 

But I was told it could be  because the odd condensation drips could be landing on the engine shields underneath the car.

 

Peter.

Yeah, you're probably right in the way that Rolls Royce wont allow a any one to see one broken down, Jaguar don't want anything to be viewed coming from underneath their cars. I'll go with that Peter.

[popeye]

just had mine in for new condenser to be fitted as old one was leaking.

[popeye]

just had mine in for new condenser to be fitted as old one was leaking.

[pezzzer]

just had mine in for new condenser to be fitted as old one was leaking.

Hi Keith, is this the first time you've had to do anything done to the aircon? Just wondering because mines ok at the moment but it is an 03 model.

[Mike_eng]

Beware the three way valve near the radiator, mine went and took the climate control computer with it, £1500 at the stealership. I'll know better next time.

 

Mike

[popeye]

Yes when i bought the car a couple of months ago the ac was not working very well so took it back to the dealer who replaced the damaged condense under warranty.

However a while later it lost its gas again so back it went this week to have a new O ring fitted on the condensor and re gas.

Ok upto now so watch this space!

By the way what condition are your rear sub frame and sills in?

[Mike_eng]

 

By the way what condition are your rear sub frame and sills in? 

 

That's a little personal, don't you think??

[pezzzer]

I am having the underneath inspected as I've asked a local garage near my works to carry out an Oil spray, because about 18 months ago I bought an 03 X Type (the green one in my gallery pics), and was surprised at the MOT when the verdict came that it needed new sills fitting.

 

When I bought it there was nothing at all on the advisory section of the last MOT.

 

On inspection they weren't just slightly corroded or holed, they were non existent in places, so I'm being a bit more careful this time and having it inspected prior to the next MOT.

 

I was quoted £1200 to replace both sills on the X Type!! Needless to say, I didn't take up that offer, I made some sectional ones at work and took them the garage up the road and they cleaned the car up and welded them on, passed MOT £400 total cost, car now sold, job done!

[Diddler]

OK, not a lot of response there, appear to have gone of track a little. from a/c to underseal in one easy post.

 

Well fitted new Condenser. but still have leek and apparently it is a big one. going to check all the O rings.  but there appeard to be nothing obviously leaking. Condenser was in need of changing because the bottom part was rotten.could have done without added expense though. Hope I dont have your three way valve problem Mike.

[popeye]

going out in the motor tomorrow so ill let you know how ac performs with new O ring Diddler.

Thanks for the info on the skills Pez

[Mike_eng]

Hi Stan,

 

you'd know by now, mine pumped air into the car at 45°C with all the fans running at full chat!

 

Regards,

 

Mike

[pezzzer]

sorry guys, got a little carried away, I'll keep my experiences to myself in the future guys, sorry again.

[popeye]

ac worked fine yesterday so far so good

[pezzzer]

Beware the three way valve near the radiator, mine went and took the climate control computer with it, £1500 at the stealership. I'll know better next time.

 

Mike

Hi Mike, the three way valve, how did it fail and why? is it a solenoid type?

[pezzzer]

ac worked fine yesterday so far so good

Glad to hear you have it fixed.

[Mike_eng]

 

Hi Mike, the three way valve, how did it fail and why? is it a solenoid type

 

Hi Kevin,

 

It worked perfectly for the first 4 months of ownership and then one hot day it just started pumping red hot air into the car, I took it to a local aircon specialist who diagnosed the problem as a controller failure and suggested very firmly that I should take it to a dealership to get it sorted.

 

They pointed out that the solenoid valve had failed and that was what had killed the controller. Apparently this is not an unusual mode of failure and is more likely if you have the Satnav fitted as the standard controller without the touchscreen is more robust.

 

Hope that helps,

 

Mike

[pezzzer]

Hi Kevin,

 

It worked perfectly for the first 4 months of ownership and then one hot day it just started pumping red hot air into the car, I took it to a local aircon specialist who diagnosed the problem as a controller failure and suggested very firmly that I should take it to a dealership to get it sorted.

 

They pointed out that the solenoid valve had failed and that was what had killed the controller. Apparently this is not an unusual mode of failure and is more likely if you have the Satnav fitted as the standard controller without the touchscreen is more robust.

 

Hope that helps,

 

Mike

Yes, good info thanks

[Diddler]

Sorry Pezzer, you dont have to be like that.  Just start another post, we love to read about these problems.

Regards

Stan

[Old Peter]

It was very hot yesterday and I had to go on a short journey - around 12 miles.  The aircon switched on to auto, with the setting at 17 degrees C.

 

The aircon switched off from auto and the fan came on full before the air started to get cold.  It got very cool on the way back and I switched aug back on and it was fine.

 

It appears to me that the aircon has its own priorities and wants to recycle the air inside before getting down to business.

 

Peter.

[pezzzer]

Yes Peter, I've noticed that too. It seems to measure the cabin temperature then make its own mind up what its going to do to get to the selected temperature on the climate control.

I've noticed that if its really hot outside and you select a temp of around the 20deg mark or lower, it kicks the auto mode in, the cabin air recycle mode button lights up and the blowers kick in at full chatter for a few minutes.

 

I had a Fiat Stilo Abarth with the 'flappy paddles all singing all dancing model' and you had to set everything manually each time for different conditions, me S Type does it all for you. Marvellous!! :D