The pain of no A/C or the pain of the repair cost

[wisha]

you still had a leak

when the gas gets low it blows colder as it's losing pressure(i don't want to go into a big explanation) until there is is no gas and it stops working

Hmmm interesting. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe an O-ring held in the pressure test, but let go once the car was moving. Reading above, the compressor is the most likely site of a leak?

 

[shueardm]

hing the air tech told me was to always run the aircon never switch it off

You don't notice the big drop in performance? I do

 

[losh1971]

You don't notice the big drop in performance? I do

Minor drop in power, hardly noticeable. I can turn the air off if I overtake and it really makes no difference. I have a Buick engine though so not a great deal of power anyway. Although my VR ute could be lighter than your vehicle.

 

[shueardm]

To be honest, it's been so long without having air, I am being guided by the feeling I get when turning on the air in my VZ 190. Maybe the affect is greater in this engine ?

 

[shueardm]

So if I was to use my own labor and remove /install compressors, TX Valve and drier, am I allowed to actually do it, considering you need an ARCTick person to recover gas.?
Keep in mind though that there is probably no gas in there since it went from cold to ( not cold )within 2 days of the last regas.

 

[losh1971]

I removed and replaced air parts before when I installed a new heater core and the tech was happy to regas it. Over here they run the sniffer over it anyway and they fill it with nitrogen first to see that it holds pressure. They used to use dye but in Tas the suppliers won't warranty the parts if dye is used now. I know Perkins Auto Repairs in McLaren Vale have no issue with you replacing parts as does a place in Aldinga.

 

[shueardm]

That's not exactly what I mean. If I were to remove the old compressor, that is illegal is it or not? If there is no gas in it then it might be legal but how can I prove it? I am sure no refrigeration mech is going to dob you in but it's still possibly illegal and dangerous.

 

[losh1971]

No it's not legal but who cares, just don't tell anyone. Having said that vaccing the gas is not expensive.

 

[shueardm]

Let you know how it works out.

Please do if you get this notification

 

[shueardm]

Well my options just went down considerably.
I rang two local AC mechanics and both said they would NOT do gas on a second hand compressor.

WTF. Now I cant even get a bargain $49 from a wrecker and get lucky