i own a 3 year old vauhall astra 33000 miles and feel the air conditioner
is not working as well has it has been. is it due to the very hot weather
weve had lately or does it need a service or repair? can anyone help? i
would like to be fore warned b4 i take the car to a specialist and fork
out ss.
thanks.

"stew1664"  wrote in message
news:969bbbe2b5bc153b0ee214b858e2eb34@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...

> i own a 3 year old vauhall astra 33000 miles and feel the air conditioner
> is not working as well has it has been. is it due to the very hot weather
> weve had lately or does it need a service or repair? can anyone help? i
> would like to be fore warned b4 i take the car to a specialist and fork
> out ss.


As it is still working, just not so well, it needs gas. around 50UKP for a
vacuum and re-charge.

Remmeber to exercise the system once a week *all* year around, and natural
gas loss is reduced.

Tim..

"Tim.."  wrote in message 
news:daujdd$44i$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

>
> "stew1664"  wrote in message
> news:969bbbe2b5bc153b0ee214b858e2eb34@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
>> i own a 3 year old vauhall astra 33000 miles and feel the air conditioner
>> is not working as well has it has been. is it due to the very hot weather
>> weve had lately or does it need a service or repair? can anyone help? i
>> would like to be fore warned b4 i take the car to a specialist and fork
>> out ss.
>
> As it is still working, just not so well, it needs gas. around 50UKP for a
> vacuum and re-charge.
>
> Remmeber to exercise the system once a week *all* year around, and natural
> gas loss is reduced.
>
> Tim..
>
>


But if the gas level is low it's leaking gas slowly - and the leak needs to 
be found and repaired otherwise you'll be in thae same position in a few 
weeks or months.

Alan.

"Alan"  wrote in message
news:h2LAe.22792$bh1.6082@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...

>
> "Tim.."  wrote in message
> news:daujdd$44i$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...
> >
> > "stew1664"  wrote in message
> > news:969bbbe2b5bc153b0ee214b858e2eb34@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
> >> i own a 3 year old vauhall astra 33000 miles and feel the air
conditioner
> >> is not working as well has it has been. is it due to the very hot
weather
> >> weve had lately or does it need a service or repair? can anyone help? i
> >> would like to be fore warned b4 i take the car to a specialist and fork
> >> out ss.
> >
> > As it is still working, just not so well, it needs gas. around 50UKP for
a
> > vacuum and re-charge.
> >
> > Remmeber to exercise the system once a week *all* year around, and
natural
> > gas loss is reduced.
> >
> > Tim..
> >
> >
>
> But if the gas level is low it's leaking gas slowly - and the leak needs
to
> be found and repaired otherwise you'll be in thae same position in a few
> weeks or months.



Depends on how quickly its gone from working well to working poorly. Gas is
lost nautrally over a period of time- the molecules are that small they can
perculate through the rubber pipes in time.

A leak free system would require a recharge about every 2-3 years ; one with
a leak would be completely dead within acouple of months.

Tim..

Tim.. wrote:


> 
> "Alan"  wrote in message
> news:h2LAe.22792$bh1.6082@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
>>
>> "Tim.."  wrote in message
>> news:daujdd$44i$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...
>> >
>> > "stew1664"  wrote in message
>> > news:969bbbe2b5bc153b0ee214b858e2eb34@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
>> >> i own a 3 year old vauhall astra 33000 miles and feel the air
> conditioner
>> >> is not working as well has it has been. is it due to the very hot
> weather
>> >> weve had lately or does it need a service or repair? can anyone help?
>> >> i would like to be fore warned b4 i take the car to a specialist and
>> >> fork out ss.
>> >
>> > As it is still working, just not so well, it needs gas. around 50UKP
>> > for
> a
>> > vacuum and re-charge.
>> >
>> > Remmeber to exercise the system once a week *all* year around, and
> natural
>> > gas loss is reduced.
>> >
>> > Tim..
>> >
>> >
>>
>> But if the gas level is low it's leaking gas slowly - and the leak needs
> to
>> be found and repaired otherwise you'll be in thae same position in a few
>> weeks or months.
> 
> 
> Depends on how quickly its gone from working well to working poorly. Gas
> is lost nautrally over a period of time- the molecules are that small they
> can perculate through the rubber pipes in time.
> 
> A leak free system would require a recharge about every 2-3 years ; one
> with a leak would be completely dead within acouple of months.
> 
> Tim..


I know I'm really going to regret saying this but....

My '99 Focus has never had the aircon regassed and it blows as cold as the
day I got it six years ago. I know of others that don't make it to two
years. I'm not convinced that the refrigerant will pass through the pipes.
I think it far more likely that it is lost through the compressor seals.

Chris

-- 
Remove prejudice to reply

Chris Whelan (cawhelan@prejudicentlworld.com) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying : 


> My '99 Focus has never had the aircon regassed and it blows as cold as
> the day I got it six years ago. I know of others that don't make it to
> two years. I'm not convinced that the refrigerant will pass through
> the pipes. I think it far more likely that it is lost through the
> compressor seals. 


Especially if the a/c isn't used regularly. I suspect yours is?

Chris Whelan wrote:

>
> I know I'm really going to regret saying this but....
>
> My '99 Focus has never had the aircon regassed and it blows as cold as the
> day I got it six years ago. I know of others that don't make it to two
> years. I'm not convinced that the refrigerant will pass through the pipes.
> I think it far more likely that it is lost through the compressor seals.
>
> Chris
>


I'll join you in the wish I hadn't said that club ;)

Anyway my 2001 Astra's aircon still blows nice and cold (put it this
way enough to chill a can nicely) and hasn't be recharged. Then again
I've usually got it on even in the winter either to defrost the
windscreen or being lazy and not turning it off...

> My '99 Focus has never had the aircon regassed and it blows as cold as the
> day I got it six years ago. I know of others that don't make it to two
> years. I'm not convinced that the refrigerant will pass through the pipes.
> I think it far more likely that it is lost through the compressor seals.


Similar situation, My wife's '98 Volvo S40 aircon has never been re-gassed 
and is still running as well as the day we bought it.

"Alan"  wrote in message 
news:q4RAe.149$l25.146@newsfe6-win.ntli.net...


> Similar situation, My wife's '98 Volvo S40 aircon has never been re-gassed 
> and is still running as well as the day we bought it.


As is mine in my 98 Escort

"G-Man"  wrote in message 
news:ilRAe.68209$G8.19860@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...

>
> "Alan"  wrote in message 
> news:q4RAe.149$l25.146@newsfe6-win.ntli.net...
>
>> Similar situation, My wife's '98 Volvo S40 aircon has never been 
>> re-gassed and is still running as well as the day we bought it.
>
> As is mine in my 98 Escort


My 92 Mazda isn't at all :-(

It's had a full dealer service history - is regassing on the schedule or 
could it have been empty for years and years?

"Chris Whelan"  wrote in message
news:4MOAe.104$vz5.84@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...

> Tim.. wrote:
>
> >
> > "Alan"  wrote in message
> > news:h2LAe.22792$bh1.6082@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
> >>
> >> "Tim.."  wrote in message
> >> news:daujdd$44i$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...
> >> >
> >> > "stew1664"  wrote in message
> >> > news:969bbbe2b5bc153b0ee214b858e2eb34@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
> >> >> i own a 3 year old vauhall astra 33000 miles and feel the air
> > conditioner
> >> >> is not working as well has it has been. is it due to the very hot
> > weather
> >> >> weve had lately or does it need a service or repair? can anyone
help?
> >> >> i would like to be fore warned b4 i take the car to a specialist and
> >> >> fork out ss.
> >> >
> >> > As it is still working, just not so well, it needs gas. around 50UKP
> >> > for
> > a
> >> > vacuum and re-charge.
> >> >
> >> > Remmeber to exercise the system once a week *all* year around, and
> > natural
> >> > gas loss is reduced.
> >> >
> >> > Tim..
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >> But if the gas level is low it's leaking gas slowly - and the leak
needs
> > to
> >> be found and repaired otherwise you'll be in thae same position in a
few
> >> weeks or months.
> >
> >
> > Depends on how quickly its gone from working well to working poorly. Gas
> > is lost nautrally over a period of time- the molecules are that small
they
> > can perculate through the rubber pipes in time.
> >
> > A leak free system would require a recharge about every 2-3 years ; one
> > with a leak would be completely dead within acouple of months.
> >
> > Tim..
>
> I know I'm really going to regret saying this but....
>
> My '99 Focus has never had the aircon regassed and it blows as cold as the
> day I got it six years ago. I know of others that don't make it to two
> years. I'm not convinced that the refrigerant will pass through the pipes.
> I think it far more likely that it is lost through the compressor seals.


My 2000 Focus Zetec has never had any gas either and blows ice cold too.
Perhaps the a/c sytem on a Focus is particually well designed!

Tim..

"G-Man"  wrote in
news:ilRAe.68209$G8.19860@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk: 


> 
> "Alan"  wrote in message 
> news:q4RAe.149$l25.146@newsfe6-win.ntli.net...
> 
>> Similar situation, My wife's '98 Volvo S40 aircon has never been
>> re-gassed and is still running as well as the day we bought it.
> 
> As is mine in my 98 Escort 
> 
> 

Yup. My 98 Primera has never had a re-gas. A/C still works great.


-- 
Stuart Sharp

> My 2000 Focus Zetec has never had any gas either and blows ice cold too.
> Perhaps the a/c sytem on a Focus is particually well designed!
>
> Tim..
>
>


Hang on a minute... 'Ford, well designed' you don't often hear those three
words together often.

Chris

Tim.. wrote:

>
> Remmeber to exercise the system once a week *all* year around, and natural
> gas loss is reduced.


On my Ka, the system only works above 5 deg. C, so how can you exercise
it in winter? In fact, it's only in actual hot weather that it seems to
work at all, and then rather feebly.

Russell

Chris Dugan wrote:


>> My 2000 Focus Zetec has never had any gas either and blows ice cold too.
>> Perhaps the a/c sytem on a Focus is particually well designed!
>>
>> Tim..
>>
>>
> 
> Hang on a minute... 'Ford, well designed' you don't often hear those three
> words together often.
> 
> Chris


....and you didn't in the paragraph above! 

;-)

Chris also
-- 
Remove prejudice to reply

"Russell"  wrote in message
news:1121239582.265821.230390@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

>
>
> Tim.. wrote:
> >
> > Remmeber to exercise the system once a week *all* year around, and
natural
> > gas loss is reduced.
>
> On my Ka, the system only works above 5 deg. C, so how can you exercise
> it in winter? In fact, it's only in actual hot weather that it seems to
> work at all, and then rather feebly.
>


You need some gas too then.

99% of a/c's only work above 5 deg c or so also- and you can exercise them
in the winter- warm the interior with the heater as you'd normally do, and
then switch to recirc and a/c. Most thermal cut outs are in the heater
plenum.

Tim..

"Russell"  wrote in message 
news:1121239582.265821.230390@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

>
> On my Ka, the system only works above 5 deg. C, so how can you exercise
> it in winter? In fact, it's only in actual hot weather that it seems to
> work at all, and then rather feebly.


My Fiesta is the same. However it's the temperature in the engine bay, not 
outside which is important. Even when it's below freezing outside the 
temperature in the engine bay gets above 5C and the a/c starts working. Not 
that I need cooling in the winter but the demisting properties are very 
important, in fact I'd say I use a/c more for that than I do for cooling!