in need of aircon!

[timmy_tam]

heyt all
with summer fast approaching and temps above 30 degres C in melb, i've considered using my air con again

bought it without aircon - the tank was empty or something and never worked

what am i looking at to get it working?

i called up one place and they gave me the run around saying

"you need to convert the AC unit coz it's old blah blah"

is this true?
or is it just a straight regas?

p.s VN calais 91 model, with stock aircon AFAIK

[AlpineRaven]

nah waste of money to convert it!
All you would need to do, since the seals might have 'dried' up, go to an air con place and ask to buy the seals (Rubber O ring seals) and you replace them yourself, I've forgotten how many seals there are and replace them all, then go to an servo to put compressed air in the air con system until has "enough" air in it, don't put too much in then start the engine and press AC button for the compressor to turn over and ensure it doesn't leak, if its working then its a good sign - then go to an air con place to get it re-gassed.
At the air con place should have a gas leak meter and they should check for any type of leaks over the engine.
To re-gas your air con, the cheapest I can tell you is $75 in Geelong to re-gas your air con.. If you can fight them with that price then you can do it!.

Another thing, an advice - worth doing at long run, you should run your Air Con for 5 mins once a week or 10 mins once a fortnight that way your A/C system is well lubed inside and the seals will stay wet hence it'll last much longer!
Cheers
AP

[Shortstuff]

It depends if it's been regassed with R134A gas before. See this thread for a bit more info! I got quoted $80 for a re-gas and check over on mine.

[Full Spectrum]

Check to see if the compressor is toast also this has happen to mine.

[xcop5l]

ok we do aircon at work and ive come across this a bit comming up to a hot summer.
first of all you will need to have the system retro fitted to run R134a a/c gas. they changed the type of gas from R12 about 10yrs ago coz it was ozone depleating.
if you get it retro fitted (converted to R134a) you will need to have all the o-rings replaced because the new type of a/c gas eats away the old ones.
when thats done you could have it re gased but if it has a leak it wont work for long.
so imo its best to get it converted and checked for leaks and if it has any get them fixed. and it will last for about 10 yrs

90% of the time its out of gas due to a leak not the compressor. also if it is the compressor it will cost about $600-$1000 for a new one

[Full Spectrum]

2nd hand much cheaper

[CSL]

so how much for this reco system

[J_D]

Correct me if im wrong but the only difference with an R134A system is the seals the receiver/dryer and the regas valves, so if you did the seals yourself you would save money. It would be best to get them to do the receiver/dryer as it is destroyed by exposure to air.

[xcop5l]

yeah basicly thats it but i would recomend having some one who is qulaified (licenced) to work on a/c so if some thing goes wrong/or you stuff up a seal you have some thing to fall bac on
yes you will need to have the reciver/dryer relpaced because its designd to take the moisture out of the system and when exposed to the atmosphere they fill up with moisture and are no good

[timmy_tam]

so yoiu guys reckon it's better to get somone licensed to look at it?
even though i'm tempted to try it myself wit hthe o rings, everyone does make a good point about getting a pro

how many people have had to recharge/convert their systems??

[Full Spectrum]

Where ever they gas em get them too check it, I'm having my whole ssytem looked at just incase it's not what i think.

[xcop5l]

i have but i did it my self at work,and its all sweet now nice and cold. freeze the nipples off an eskimo.lol
forgot to mention i have a probatonary licence to work on a/c systems and my boss is fully licenced

[Full Spectrum]

Nipples of a Eskimo hahahaha