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[PaulW]

Wooo where to start...

Air-con hasnt worked since day 1 of Omega ownership...  When its on & the engine is running, the clutch isnt spinning...

Bought a gassing kit, tried charging it, but still the compressor wouldnt run, and once it charges up (well, it kinda hangs on 65psi) it then goes to 0 again...

Read on 'the other place' about bridging the low pressure valve to enable the clutch to run?  Only switch wire thing I found was on the high-pressure line coming from the compressor (thinner line) is this the right one?  if so, bridging that did jack...

Is there a relay anywhere which may also be causing this?  And as for the wire to the compressor, I've not checked it yet as I cant get to it!

Worst case - new compressor?  o-rings?  How much would I be looking at roughly??

Cheers

Paul

[Taxi_Driver]

Ive not used one of those air con kits....but from from the sound of it.....if it pressurises then drops back to 0.....you have leak somewhere.

Maybe worth getting a mobile air con guy to look at it.......he can put dye in to see where its leaking....most likely candidit is condensor (rad at front of engine)....but worth getting it checked out professionally

HTH

Cheers

[x25xe]

Agree with Taxi Driver has said.  My condensor was shot but this was (I am somewhat ashamed to admit) replaced at Vaux along with a new reciever dryer which I would recommend that you do (have the receiver dryer replaced that is) when you get the condensor done.

Please DO NOT try and short the compressor clutch as this will damage it as there will not be enough gas in it (this is why there is a pressure switch to protect the compressor if the gas in the system is too low) NOR will there be enough of the essential oil for the compressor or seals.  Also, these "top up cans" that are sold are not that good IMO.  I have never used one, but you are supposed to charge the system from the high pressure side and add the correct amount and type of oil at the same time.  How can these cans contain suitable oil for all systems???

Get a pro to look at it - you will save money in the long run and the system will work better.

[PaulW]

to be honest tho i dont even think its charging it at all... i can hear it going swoooosh as its 'supposed' to be filling, but the only time it goes to 0 is when i remove and then re-attach the filler pipe to the valve on the low comp hose...

although the low pressure hose seems to be loose at the union near the rear of the engine when it goes from the metal pipe to the rubber...  it wobbles but doesnt come out??

[Nickbat]

I have used one of those air con kits, and they are not of much use if you are having the sort of problems you describe.

First of all, the compressor will NOT operate at all if there is insufficient gas in the system - it has a pressure sensor switch which prevents the clutch engaging. So, don't bother trying to bridging low pressure valves etc.

You have no alternative other than to go to a garage (or mobile chappie) with an aircon machine. A gas charge will cost between £50 and £75, depending on where you live. (Down South here, it's towards the upper end of that price scale). The machine will  first discharge the system and create a vacuum. I understand that some machines give a warning if they cannot achieve this due to a system leak. My personal experience is that the warning comes when the machine puts in the gas and the system pressure cannot be maintained. Before you request the charge, make sure that they add dye (should be standard if they know what they're doing). This will show up leaks quite clearly undera UV light source.

You can probably rule out a compressor fault - they normally suffer failed bearings and then with a lot of noise. Discarding that, then, the first and foremost source of your problems is probably a gas leakage. It could be anywhere: the condensor, the receiver/dryer or even, as I have had, a leaking service valve (which does not show up when the machine is charging the system).

You should be aware, though, that AC systems contain both gas and oil (for lubrication). The aircon should be activated at least once a month but ideally should be used pretty much all the time. If it is not used (as yours hasn't) the seals in the system tend to "dry out", causing further leakage faults.

Fingers crossed it's just a minor leak that can be fixed with a 60p "O" ring. For sure, though, you'll never find out until you get it properly gassed.

Let us know how you get on.


    

[x25xe]

I have used one of those air con kits, and they are not of much use if you are having the sort of problems you describe.

First of all, the compressor will NOT operate at all if there is insufficient gas in the system - it has a pressure sensor switch which prevents the clutch engaging. So, don't bother trying to bridging low pressure valves etc.

You have no alternative other than to go to a garage (or mobile chappie) with an aircon machine. A gas charge will cost between £50 and £75, depending on where you live. (Down South here, it's towards the upper end of that price scale). The machine will  first discharge the system and create a vacuum. I understand that some machines give a warning if they cannot achieve this due to a system leak. My personal experience is that the warning comes when the machine puts in the gas and the system pressure cannot be maintained. Before you request the charge, make sure that they add dye (should be standard if they know what they're doing). This will show up leaks quite clearly undera UV light source.

You can probably rule out a compressor fault - they normally suffer failed bearings and then with a lot of noise. Discarding that, then, the first and foremost source of your problems is probably a gas leakage. It could be anywhere: the condensor, the receiver/dryer or even, as I have had, a leaking service valve (which does not show up when the machine is charging the system).

You should be aware, though, that AC systems contain both gas and oil (for lubrication). The aircon should be activated at least once a month but ideally should be used pretty much all the time. If it is not used (as yours hasn't) the seals in the system tend to "dry out", causing further leakage faults.

Fingers crossed it's just a minor leak that can be fixed with a 60p "O" ring. For sure, though, you'll never find out until you get it properly gassed.

Let us know how you get on.


    

Exactly as I said but wirth a bit more meat!  Fully agree with everything said here!

[The Barge Captain]

My aircon doesn't work, however, when i press the auto button the clutch on the compressor engages.  I had assumed that it needed gassing.  Am I wrong?