Cost for Air con flushing out?

[alexst]

I have an original Air con compressor (65k old) which was removed off my Seat due to an unknown electrical fault, this was then resolved by replacing the wiring loom and then a 2nd hand compressor was fitted. This stopped working with a rattling noise possibly, just before I bought the car with the original compressor supplied to go back on so all is fine.

I had a quote for £200 (2 hours labour + re-gas) to fit the old compressor and re-gas but they are now saying that I need to flush the system to remove any metal particles that could have got into the system from the 2nd hand dead one.

Anyone got any idea of how much my £200 quote is about to rise to, just so I know im not being ripped off, the garage are fine as I have had work done on my previous ford focus there, and they are getting a mobile guy to come and flush it out as they only have the equipment to re-gas the system and not flush it out as well.

Thanks in advance.

 

[paul26982]

doesnt the machine take out the gas put it through the machine and back into the car (fresh) re-gassing is around £80-£90 i think, we have a machine at college, i re gassed mine the other month

 

[alexst]

Apparently not, I googled it and the garage seem to be right about the flushing of the system and it can take up to 4 hours too apparently!!

 

[paul26982]

flipping hell, dont know the make of the machine' was £3.5k but as said, that was the process it did and an excellent job it has done, have some print outs off the machine some where, the Leon supposed to have 800k in, when the machine checked it only had 50k in, was shocked

 

[alexst]

Ok cheers, ill do a bit more research tonight.

 

[MJ]

never heard anything like it!

 

[Slimy]

When I had mine regassed, the whole process included a flush. I think it took about ninety minutes to drain it, flush it, pressure test it, then recharge it. Only cost me about £30. They just attached the machine, and left me listening to the radio in the car.

 

[MJ]

the whole system is "recovered" and completely emptied as a matter of course when carrying out any work on the system, to "flush" the pipes would require complete removal as the ports are tiny!

 

[The gaffer09]

I had mine done a few weeks ago, NO gas in the system at all!! Guy was gob smacked as there was no leaks at all?? regassed filled with dye for 35 quid, now its ice cooooooooold..bargain lol

 

[leontdi130]

Yours will be different it will need a pressure testing on nitrogen. Then vacing down which can take hours but they don't have to do anything just leave it vacing so they can't charge you all that time in labour. Then they will charge it with r134a. About 0.75kgs and a bit of oil. That'll take 10 mins to charge it on such a small system

I don't know how they "flush a system" because it is a mixture of vapour and liquid. and to flush something through that would need to put liquid through the hole system and that would kill the copressor. I've just done my cat 1 f gases course and flushing a refrigerant system was never mentioned in the whole weeks course. No bits of swarf from the old pump could ever get to the compressor agian because it would not get through the drier core which is a filter just like your oil filter but it takes any moisture out of the gas.

Sounds like a bit of a blag. I'd be asking how they flush the system.

 

[rk696]

If you are worried about metal swarf in the system, replace the drier - It's basically a silica gel filter.

 

[alexst]

Leontdi130 and everyone else thanks for your help with this I'll ask them about it in more detail when they call me back. Nice one.


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[S3 AKR]

Also - the gas is still in there as there are no leaks, but the compressor isn't circulating the gas. I checked for low/high pressure on vag-com and the sensors were not reporting anything. I've done some reading up and there are some recommendations to replace the drier if there have been compressor issues.

According to the ELSAWIN workshop guide :-

Replacing the compressor due to leaking or internal damage
For example due to a sound from the compressor or insufficient power
– Empty the refrigerant circuit.
– Remove the compressor.
Note:- If there is internal damage (in the compressor), check the refrigerant hoses and the condenser for metal shavings and impurities and, if necessary, clean the condenser and the refrigerant hoses (rinse using R134a refrigerant or sweep using compressed air or nitrogen); replace the refrigerant hoses if necessary.
For vehicles fitted with two evaporators the quantity of refrigerant machine oil required may be greater than that contained in the replacement compressor; add the required amount of refrigerant machine oil to the circuit for these vehicles.
– Replace the dehydrator (drier) cartridge, liquid tank or collector tank and hose clip.
– Check the expansion valve and replace it if it is soiled or corroded.
– Assemble, evacuate and fill the refrigerant circuit.

 

[alexst]

Thanks for that need to get this sorted still waiting for he garage to get back to me been a pain gonna try and sort on Monday. Ps plates in the post on Monday.

 

[S3 AKR]

Ps plates in the post on Monday.

Cheers fella!!

 

[alexst]

System has no leaks and is full so definitely the compressor. Looks like I just need to replace the compressor and the receiver dryer filter hopefully all will be well then and nice and cool.


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[S3 AKR]

That should do it chap!