Air Con pressure, what should it be?

[the_fbi]

Anybody know what the low pressure side of the air con system should read? The port which is just above the alternator on an ASZ.

Mine's reading around 90psi which, according to the refilling system, is too high.

 

[beezanick]

Mine reads the same, and has just been regased by seat - so should be right

 

[the_fbi]

Thanks Nick.

 

[RUM4MO]

Even the low side standing pressure will be higher at this time of year as the pressure is temperature related and any DIY gauges will be "marked" FOR 18>20C.

 

[cheshire cat]

Anybody know what the low pressure side of the air con system should read? The port which is just above the alternator on an ASZ.

Mine's reading around 90psi which, according to the refilling system, is too high.

25-45psi AFTER running on Max cool for at least three minutes

 

[Aimez]

Mine reads the same, and has just been regased by seat - so should be right

how much out of interest. Getting an air con guy that we use at work to look at mine hopefully just wondering what is standard price.

 

[beezanick]

Cost £50, but another franchise wanted £70 for the same job. I know my local independant does it for £50, but I think places like quick fit will do it for about £35, but they do it by pressure of the gas - not weight.

 

[Aimez]

Excuse my ignorance but what is the difference between doing it by pressure and weight is one better?

 

[beezanick]

Doing it by weight is the only way to do it correctly, as the presure of the system changes with temperature so you wont get the correct amount of gas. There can also be problems with one-way valves affecting the presure reading.

Ive got to change my compresor next week, so have been looking in to all this stuff

 

[cheshire cat]

to do it by weight you would have to empty it first and then refill, am I missing something or is it just more expensive that way, and therefore prefered by most garages

 

[beezanick]

As I understand it, that is the only way to do it correctly. You are guessing otherwise about how much to put in. The system also gets moisture in it overtime, which degrades everything. That is why there is a dryer in the system, but it can only take so much. A topup can be fine, but better to do the job properly for the extra cost.

A full service should include a regas and change of dryer unit (£20), and should put it back to the same condition as it came out the factory.

 

[Aimez]

Does anyone know how often you are meant to have it serviced never had mine done before nothing on the car service manual mentioning air con

 

[beezanick]

Apparently youre supposed to have it regassed, with the pressure regulator changed, the drier changed, whole system flush, new oil put in the system..........................every year!

The warrenty wouldnt cover my compressor going as the car hadnt had that done

Seat said they recomend a regass every 2 years though, which is more like it. Ive used those cans from halfords before now, and theyve worked fine. Bout 20 quid if I remember.

 

[the_fbi]

Ive used those cans from halfords before now, and theyve worked fine. Bout 20 quid if I remember.

Which is what I got at the weekend, which read the 90 psi, so I didn't put any more in.

£40 now btw

 

[Aimez]

Yeh saw them cans on Saturday was not at all convinced thou or air con company's would not be doing well if they worked that well! Every year yeh right who does that! Mine has to be sorted for the 4 hour drive to the national meet as it is not working as it should and I will die if it's as hot as been the last week! May have to pay for all this then great!

 

[beezanick]

Yeh saw them cans on Saturday was not at all convinced thou or air con company's would not be doing well if they worked that well! Every year yeh right who does that! Mine has to be sorted for the 4 hour drive to the national meet as it is not working as it should and I will die if it's as hot as been the last week! May have to pay for all this then great!

If I was you I would take it to your local independent and ask for a regas. It will ensure the compressor lives for a bit longer and should give better results than just a topup.

As for living without aircon - ive spent 3 1/2 hours in the car each day this week......and its been hell. Im not the kind of person that loves the heat anyway, and sitting in a black car in strong sun is not fun! For the first time I will be glad when it clouds over tomorow! This week has perswaded me to pay the £350 to get a new compressor though.

 

[Aimez]

I can live without it used to drive a van 12 hours a day without it and somehow coped! But on a 4 hour drive where I could be stuck in traffic and stressed (I am not good when I am driving somewhere strange!) it really won't help me feel better! Plus my passenger will not be happy either!
Well I will ask the guy that we get in that does the air con on the trucks at work if he can recommend someone as he seem to busy with this weather! Hopefully tomorrow I will know what I am going to so after speaking to him. Sorry to hijack this thread but this was all useful advice thanks beezanick!

 

[RUM4MO]

I "think" that any operation that takes monies for connecting up to a "sealed" fridge system, should be, nowadays, required by law to evaluate the sealed system for leaks, repair, pressure test, vac out and reload with the predetermined design weight of liquid. It gets worse, for systems carrying more than maybe 10Kg (guess), the load has to be removed weighed and reloaded once every 12 months.

Having said all that, the "Mickey Mouse" regulations covering the refrigerant in car systems has been written so that it is "your" fault when the charge is lost - so no one is held accountable for unknown losses. That means that the licensed handlers of this liquid can claim that your system was empty when you submitted the car for repair - because the law can not touch you - so the handlers can cover up nicely any losses - that is why the likes of KwikFit can get off with just "topping up" without anyone being able to prove that it happened. Proper A/C places will have a different way of working and will normally just remove the charge completely. I think that the drier/receiver only actually needs replaced if the system has be open to atmosphere for some time - like a broken metal pipe etc. I still think that its a good idea to replace it after maybe 4 years - but that adds a bit of money to car servicing - so its avoided, I'm shocked to hear that Seat claim that not changing it every year would invalidate the warranty on the system - that means that it and other jobs like timing belts should be mandated in the service book.

 

[Neo]

I had a quote from halfords the other day... £85 for a purge, refill, inspection and leak check. The guy said it takes about an hour and a half.

After what`s been said here it seems reasonable to me.

 

[RUM4MO]

I had a quote from halfords the other day... £85 for a purge, refill, inspection and leak check. The guy said it takes about an hour and a half.

After what`s been said here it seems reasonable to me.

Have you checked any local VAG dealer's websites as they tend to try to be "good" price wise at this time of year.