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[Impact Pete]

Hi hope I can get some good advice, I knew my air con leaked as a few years ago a garage topped  up the gas and said that the front fill valve was leaking but they had cured it, well it was not particularly hot that year and so the air-con was not used much, the next year however I found it was empty and realized I had been conned on the leaking valve, the garage by then had gone bust and disappeared so for last two years I didn't bother.
This year however with a wife two kids and a dog it seems essential on a long journey I took it to my local garage where they said they would have to fill up the system with gas and a dye to find the leak despite assuring them I knew where it was after £40 and 24 hours later the gas was all gone and you could see it bubbling at the front valve. They said the valve was not purchasable on it's own and pentagon vauxhall wanted £160+vat for the part, they tried interchangeable valves but

So my question is has anyone else had the issue and what is the quick cheap fix?
I'm taking it the above is correct? If so I guess asking here for the second hand part is worth a go?

much appreciated!

[steve6367]

Hi hope I can get some good advice, I knew my air con leaked as a few years ago a garage topped  up the gas and said that the front fill valve was leaking but they had cured it, well it was not particularly hot that year and so the air-con was not used much, the next year however I found it was empty and realized I had been conned on the leaking valve, the garage by then had gone bust and disappeared so for last two years I didn't bother.
This year however with a wife two kids and a dog it seems essential on a long journey I took it to my local garage where they said they would have to fill up the system with gas and a dye to find the leak despite assuring them I knew where it was after £40 and 24 hours later the gas was all gone and you could see it bubbling at the front valve. They said the valve was not purchasable on it's own and pentagon vauxhall wanted £160+vat for the part, they tried interchangeable valves but

So my question is has anyone else had the issue and what is the quick cheap fix?
I'm taking it the above is correct? If so I guess asking here for the second hand part is worth a go?

much appreciated!

That’s illegal - it should have been filled with something inert if it was known to leak, rather than knowingly dumping refrigerant to atmosphere.

The Valves are available separately - 1 you can change the insert, a bit like a tyre valve and the other the whole think unscrews. When I did mine the parts were less than £10. There have been some recent posts with part numbers on here if you search.

Steve

[Simon270172]

As above, the front valve unscrews as a whole and is replaceable from VX.

Simon.

[Impact Pete]

As above, the front valve unscrews as a whole and is replaceable from VX.

Simon.

Hi but it's not, it's a welded valve on the pipe only the back valve is un screwable and that is ok

[Impact Pete]

Hi hope I can get some good advice, I knew my air con leaked as a few years ago a garage topped  up the gas and said that the front fill valve was leaking but they had cured it, well it was not particularly hot that year and so the air-con was not used much, the next year however I found it was empty and realized I had been conned on the leaking valve, the garage by then had gone bust and disappeared so for last two years I didn't bother.
This year however with a wife two kids and a dog it seems essential on a long journey I took it to my local garage where they said they would have to fill up the system with gas and a dye to find the leak despite assuring them I knew where it was after £40 and 24 hours later the gas was all gone and you could see it bubbling at the front valve. They said the valve was not purchasable on it's own and pentagon vauxhall wanted £160+vat for the part, they tried interchangeable valves but

So my question is has anyone else had the issue and what is the quick cheap fix?
I'm taking it the above is correct? If so I guess asking here for the second hand part is worth a go?

much appreciated!

That’s illegal - it should have been filled with something inert if it was known to leak, rather than knowingly dumping refrigerant to atmosphere.

The Valves are available separately - 1 you can change the insert, a bit like a tyre valve and the other the whole think unscrews. When I did mine the parts were less than £10. There have been some recent posts with part numbers on here if you search.

Steve

The front valve is welded to pipe the back valve is un screwable so it does look like a whole pipe with the valve on is needed

[05omegav6]

Unless that is how the first garage bodged it, the valve definitely, categorically and unequivocally unscrews...

Anyone who tells you different is a robbin bastid. So there

[Simon270172]

No, I promise you, only the bottom of the valve is welded to the pipe. The business end does unscrew. I think if you look in the maintenance guides there's a how-to.

Simon.

[Magwheels]

Unless that is how the first garage bodged it, the valve definitely, categorically and unequivocally unscrews...

Anyone who tells you different is a robbin bastid. So there

  Parts book shows it unscrews from front pipe and is available separately.

Part no 52458177 I believe.

[Impact Pete]

Unless that is how the first garage bodged it, the valve definitely, categorically and unequivocally unscrews...

Anyone who tells you different is a robbin bastid. So there

  Parts book shows it unscrews from front pipe and is available separately.

Part no 52458177 I believe.

Thanks for the part number only £5 it seems! anyway I will have to have a closer look when I get home, I can only assume it has been fiddled with otherwise if the garage can't spot it is replaceable then I have lost all faith in them entirely!

[Entwood]

Unless that is how the first garage bodged it, the valve definitely, categorically and unequivocally unscrews...

Anyone who tells you different is a robbin bastid. So there

  Parts book shows it unscrews from front pipe and is available separately.

Part no 52458177 I believe.

Thanks for the part number only £5 it seems! anyway I will have to have a closer look when I get home, I can only assume it has been fiddled with otherwise if the garage can't spot it is replaceable then I have lost all faith in them entirely!

Given their way of finding the leak ... fill and let it leak ?? ... I'd have lost faith in them a long while back !! Sounds to me like they either don't know what they are doing, or are trying to rip you off.... personally .. I'd be off elsewhere PDQ ..

[05omegav6]

I reckon you could buy the valve, drive down to me in Sussex, let me fit it and drive home again and still be £100+ vat better off than letting the garage do it

[LC0112G]

As above, the front valve unscrews as a whole and is replaceable from VX.

Simon.

Hi but it's not, it's a welded valve on the pipe only the back valve is un screwable and that is ok

I think you've got that arsi-tarsis.

The rear valve is a small screw in tyre valve (p/n 3041827  Schrader Valve £3.81+VAT each) that goes in the hole up the middle of the alluminium fitting. You'll need a tyre valve unscrewer thingy to get the valve out - Halfrauds sell them - about £10 IIC. The Aluminium fitting itself does not unscrew from the pipework.

It's the front port that completely unscrews (13277003 HP VALVE £4.19+VAT each) with the valve in it. Others have said it can be quite tight, but I had no real problems with it. Access is a bit restricted though - easier with the bagpipes out. http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=124008.msg1579544#msg1579544

 

[Magwheels]

Looking at the parts listings I would hazard a guess that you are all correct in that some unscrew and some don't. I appears that there are a few different pipe and pipe fittings for the different engine combinations and even different years.

SOOOO please check with your Vx agent if you are going to buy one and it would be prudent to give them the VIN before parting with any money.

Check twice fit once.

[steve6367]

Have a really close inspection - it can look like it does not come off, but it really does 

[Impact Pete]

Thanks everyone, I finally had a closer look, looks like at some point someone has stripped the hex type head so it was just rounded ie no spanners etc would fit it, I used a small pair of grips and it unscrewed straight away.

Any one know the best place to get the part from so as not to get ripped off I know they should only be a fiver or so

thanks again (why do all garages seem to be useless at repairing Omegas, head gaskets miss diagnosed on many members cars including mine luckily mine was spotted as an oil cooler leak by a mate, then there is the oil cooler gaskets etc etc..)