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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> A/C top-up & retro fits
        
(Message started by: Scorpio_Mike on May 9^th, 2008, 1:54pm)

Title: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by Scorpio_Mike on May 9^th, 2008, 1:54pm

Just wondering where the top-up point for A/C gas is ?

Is it easy to retro fit headlamp washers and adjustable headlights ?
Think I have all the bits - is it just a case of plugging the connectors into the loom pick-ups and adding a relay or 2 ?
Or am I being too hopeful ?

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by Kjetil S on May 9^th, 2008, 2:07pm

For adjustable headlamps, look here (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Advice;action=display;num=1206193376)

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by Snoopy on May 9^th, 2008, 4:33pm

A/C is a specialist job NOT a DIY one a top up usually costs between 50/60£ , AFAIK

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by workshopboy on May 9^th, 2008, 9:39pm

I am in the Flintshire area and can re-gas with Bosch equipment for £50 all in if anyone is interested. Can also leak test with Nitrogen if you need a leak test

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by peteHull on May 10^th, 2008, 2:07pm

on 05/09/08 at 21:39:28, workshopboy wrote:

I am in the Flintshire area and can re-gas with Bosch equipment for £50 all in if anyone is interested. Can also leak test with Nitrogen if you need a leak test

Can you move to Hull? ;D ;D

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by sector-9 on May 10^th, 2008, 8:13pm

I've succesfully used the regas canisters sold in Halfords to top up a system which had run low. These work fine if you have no problems with the system, but obviously if you've got a leak they may only offer a temporary fix in which case you'll need to have it looked at professionally. As the Halfords canister (which includes a pressure gauge) costs around £40 you'd be better off paying the extra tenner and having a pro do it all 'cos they'll evacuate it first then put the right weight of refrigerant in*

If you do decide to go down the Halfords route, I've found best results when the clip-on coupling is pressed down onto the valve, and the canister is inverted, otherwise you just get propellant in the system (if anything) rather than refrigerant - you'll be able to tell because the pipework around the valve will get cold as you start filling it. If it's not getting cold then the liquid ain't getting in! Don't forget to release the button at regular intervals to check the system pressure, and you'll need the engine running and A/C engaged at maximum cooling. If you're really brave you can save a few extra quid by getting the top up without the pressure gauge - you'll then need to fill the system until the compressor clutch cuts in - this is the minimum working pressure so you should add more, but without a gauge you won't know how much more and if you overfill the system you'll find the compressor cycles on and off too rapidly, or even doesn't cut it at all and cooling fans run constantly. Needless to say, this method is not recommended and is only viable if you've already got access to a gauge...

Darren

*Ford changed the A/C details label under the bonnet as the original stated an incorrect weight of refrigerant. You can buy the corrected label for about a quid from FMD; without this the A/C person may not fill the system enough.

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by Scorpio_Mike on May 10^th, 2008, 9:49pm

Thanks sector-9 - a neighbour gave me a can of top-up which came from Halfords which has the gauge on it as he didn't need it anymore.
I was wondering where the top-up point is - there seems to be one near the passenger side suspension strut and another under the plastic cover next to the passenger side headlight - which one is correct ?

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by scorpio_man on May 11^th, 2008, 7:18am

hi there

it's the one near the strut.

hth

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by harry.m1byt on May 17^th, 2008, 12:22pm

I'm just curious about the change of label, I don't have any problems (yet).

Is the top up label a matter of the a/c specialist having some formal/legal duty to fill it as per the label, or is it a matter of their discretion as to the amount they can put in?

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by scorpio_man on May 17^th, 2008, 12:36pm

on 05/17/08 at 12:22:55, harry.m1byt wrote:

hi there

the spec was changed by ford to 1kg weight of gas/oil. i was told that it was a error in printing rather in the fill at the factory as all cars left with 1kg of gas.

remember that most a/c systems lose about 25% gas per year and that ford recommend a regas every 2 years. pollen filter are to be changed every 6 months (i do mine yearly) and use an a/c cleaner at the same time (see website for details of me 'cleaning' system).

hth

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by harry.m1byt on May 17^th, 2008, 12:54pm

So, what is to prevent me just crossing the 750 out and changing it to 1Kg?

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by sector-9 on May 21^st, 2008, 8:01pm

I don't think there's any law as to how much they put into the system, but I imagine many would rather put in the amount stated on the manufacturer's label than the amount requested by the owner, especially if the vehicle was fairly new - saves any come back...

Darren

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by harry.m1byt on May 21^st, 2008, 8:27pm

Thanks for the reply, I just wondered about the suggestion to change the label.

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by jonnycab on May 22^nd, 2008, 3:06am

My aircon was becoming a little ineffective of late, so rather than get it topped up by an expert (they've never managed to get it very cold ::)), I thought I'd do it myself with one of those DIY cans of R-134a.

So bought one these 510 gram (18oz) cans off Ebay.....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/INTERDYNAMICS-R134A-AIR-CONDITIONING-MEASURE-AND-CHARGE_W0QQitemZ150250032182QQihZ005QQcategoryZ108798QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

At £22.00 + £3.50 postage, it's alot cheaper than the cans Halfords sell & more than half the price of a top up from an aircon expert....& it arrived within 48 hours :)

.....It's great stuff........the aircon has never been so cold :D.......& it gets really cold, really quick..... 8)

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by sector-9 on May 22^nd, 2008, 9:44pm

That's the one I bought from Halfords for forty quid - looks like you got a bargain there.

Darren

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by SnowyScorpio on Mar 4^th, 2009, 8:54pm

How do one see if there is a lack of coolant in the A/C system?

//Snowy

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by scorpio_man on Mar 4^th, 2009, 9:34pm

on 03/04/09 at 20:54:38, SnowyScorpio wrote:

How do one see if there is a lack of coolant in the A/C system?

//Snowy

hi there

you need something like this.....
ebay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/R134A-CAR-AIR-CONDITIONING-MAXI-CHARGE-CAN-GAUGE-HOSE_W0QQitemZ400029005552QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_3?hash=item400029005552&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)

as there is no sight glass
hth

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by SnowyScorpio on Mar 5^th, 2009, 4:30pm

Asked my local A/C refiller guy about what he wanted for at top up....

Checking level : 200Sek = 12,5 £
Top upp: ~1500Sek = 116,5 £
Complete fill: Didnt wanna ask... :)

Looks like im gonna go by there and check the level only...

//Snowy

Title: Re: A/C top-up & retro fits
Post by scorpio_man on Mar 5^th, 2009, 4:44pm

hi there

how will he do it? will he take your old gas/oil out and weight it?

if so, you can then figure out how much to add to get it back up to 1kg.

if you're doing it the diy way, remember to get a top up pack with oil already in it.

you can do this way once. i wouldn't recommend doing this more than that as you're not doing any of the checks (vac, etc).

hth
btw, i've used that ebay seller. :)