Air Conditioner

[baz]

Does anyone know an easy way of checking the air con to see if it needs gas. mine is cool but I think it could be colder, My Celica used to have a sight glass to look for bubbles but my 2001 cat dosn't seem to have one.
Baz

[thearrow]

Baz....just had mine regassed last week. If it isn't "cold" then it needs re-gassing or alternatively it has a leak in the system somewhere.

[REDDYZ]

Being the owner of your car, you are the best person to judge it. If you think its not getting cold enough as it use to.. then it needs re-gas. There is no other easy way to check. Take it to a/c specialist and they can hook up gauges and check if it is low on gas. If they are genuine, they will tell you the truth otherwise they will book you for air-con service. Irrespective of season, you have to use a/c in the car atleast once a week. Otherwise, the system will lose pressure and gas along with it, just like the tyres losing pressure if you don't drive for a while.

[XARATE]

Originally Posted by REDDYZ

If they are genuine, they will tell you the truth otherwise they will book you for air-con service.

An aircon service isnt a sign of dishonesty.
A proper service includes:
- a change of gas. It does break down similar to the way engine oil does and it can become contaminated with metalic particles from the compressor and rubber from hoses

- a new reciever drier. Vital in keeping moisture out and assists in filtering the gas

- cleaning of the condenser and the space behind it. It is very very common to have a large amout of contaminates between the radiator and condenser which causes low airflow and reduces aircon efficiency

- Cleaning or replacing of the cabin filter/pollen filter

- cleaning, disinfecting and deoderising the air ducts using equipment that reaches places you will never see. Removes possible health hazards too

- inspection of all hoses for possible signs of premature wear, rubbing, abrasions, cutting, kinking, crushing or delamination.

An ac system service is always a great idea to have your system working at its full potential

[REDDYZ]

Originally Posted by XARATE

An aircon service isnt a sign of dishonesty.

I didn't mean that way. if it sounded that way and offend anyone. I was referring only in terms of checkup only, not service exactly. You gave a good summary of service. I think its mandatory to replace the receiver drier. However, not many does all the above. Next time I take mine for service I should demand for last two points you made. cheers mate.

[scout]

Just to clarify the reason you run an AC unit often, is to keep the shaft seal lubricated. A dry seal may leak and may wear out early. Modern AC systems are better designed than the old clunkers.

[XARATE]

Dont stress nate no offence taken. I just thought i'd add the info to help give an idea of what should be done in a service rather than the usual repair and regas

[baz]

Thanks Guy's, I didn't want to start any arguments, I just wanted to know if there was a sight glass for checking air bubbles in system. It is cool but I think it was colder last year

[philfree]

hi
i work for ac place when we do a ac service we replace the reciver drier (whitch should be replaced everytime the system is opened) clean condensor and check the operation wether it's ok a generly a good look around for any obvous look at me faults. on another note if a ac system is low on gas it has a leak and legaly ac places are required to make a concerted effort to find the leak if their is none found a service is done dye is added for those real hard to fund leaks if the leak is found then must be repaired before they can gas it up. if you do get a regas rember that the leak will keep looseing it so it will need gas again at some stage and it will probly leak more as time goes on.

[baz]

Originally Posted by philfree

hi
i work for ac place when we do a ac service we replace the reciver drier (whitch should be replaced everytime the system is opened) clean condensor and check the operation wether it's ok a generly a good look around for any obvous look at me faults. on another note if a ac system is low on gas it has a leak and legaly ac places are required to make a concerted effort to find the leak if their is none found a service is done dye is added for those real hard to fund leaks if the leak is found then must be repaired before they can gas it up. if you do get a regas rember that the leak will keep looseing it so it will need gas again at some stage and it will probly leak more as time goes on.

So what would a service of this kind cost?

[baz]

Hi guy's, just wondering what a service or regas od the A/C should cost, I was quoted $160 just for a regas.

[thearrow]

That sounds about right. When I had mine done of course they found something else wrong with the switch that turns it on and off (apparently it was overheating) so that was extra.