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

[shueardm]

I tend to agree Lex
Thanks oska, these go directly under the 2 bolts where the pipes come in and out of the comp?

 

[oska]

yes and it's a 15 mm nut and holden does not recommend you apply any oil

using oil may promote a path for the gas to slowly leak out

the new seals are of a new design and you will notice a small gap between the comp and the manifold this is normal and properly seated

 

[shueardm]

thanks - 14mm?
Mine is 15mm.

 

[shueardm]

I have a sticker on the car that it takes minus 30
https://hychill.com.au/products/minus-30

No idea if this is good or bad. Not R134A?
What was the original gas used in VT series II?
The only time anyone has ever touched the A\C ( I bought her brand new ) was when it failed a year or so ago and I had it regassed, then that lasted only 2 days, then I am at this point. So I presume the last person ( and only person ever ) to do the gas on my car put the minus 30 in
Having no idea about A/C at all, I see that you can DIY sort of, no ARCTick license req. Has anyone filled A/C themselves with the cans of minus 30?

 

[vt_II_senator_sig]

My VT II has 2 stickers, one says that it has r134a refrigerant in it, the other says that its a flourescent to assist in finding leaks... the r134a sticker looks like an original as its under the radiator shroud.

I had my car lose all its gas ages ago so i got a quote from my original mechanic to have it compressor etc replaced to the tune of about $1000, so i went for a second quote at an aircon place down near port adelaide and they said that the compressor etc was stuffed and replace it all for around $1200...
at the time i couldnt justify spending that money, so i waited until winter was over, then we bought a house at warradale and moved... there was a mechanic behind my work that specialised in air con work, so i got it checked over by them and said that there was a heap of gum stuck in the gas filling nozzle, so he re-gassed it for $80 and its run perfectly for the last 8 years... happy ending

 

[shueardm]

Nice. Long may that luck continue.
I have had it looked at and the compressor is stuffed. Unless someone else was also trying to rip me off.
On the gas, while I know zilch, I just found this really interesting read
http://www.airchill.net.au/auto-motive-air-conditioning-gases.html

 

[oska]

The hychill stuff is just LPG 70% propane 30% isobutane which has a lower boiling point than regular butane

you can get this from any camping store for around $15 or 100% propane from bunnings for under $10

only problem is, if you over fill the system the evaporator will ice up

 

[shueardm]

Or I can buy hychill from Bursons apparently, Id rather get the real stuff than go to Bunnings, even if it is just this or just that
Now, I see on their website the usage rates for my car is 240 g
https://hychill.com.au/content/3-info/charge-weight-guide-full-doc-120201.pdf

Can buy a 450g can . How the heck it's attached and measured is another thing and you have to vacuum it first or something to remove moisture.

 

[shueardm]

https://hychill.com.au/info/chargeweights/Holden/Commodore-VT-1997-2000

 

[shueardm]

I had a spare hour today so got a quote from an air and rad place at Edwardstown.
winter only price $770, includes Delphi V5 , orings, dryer, Tx Valve, R134a , all labour.
This is pretty good I reakon but it can blow out he said if removing the dryer goes bad ( as often does ) with the nut breaking and is part of the condenser whole.