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[Omegadoha, Desert Member]

I had the aircon pipes replaced in June. Yesterday morning it was fine and a few hours later it stopped blowing cold.

I thought it might be another leak. However, I had it regassed last night but it was no better. When I press the a/c button the revs dip slightly and you can hear a load on the engine, therefore I presume the compressor is kicking in. I also notcied that the filling pipe isn't very cold though. Any ideas?

[Kevin Wood]

You can double check the compressor is starting by looking at the 3 round weights on the face of the pulley. These should be spinning when it engages.

The upper most of the 2 air con pipes which runs past the top of the 2,4,6 bank of the engine should get cool with the air con running. The lower pipe just behind the radiator from compressor to condenser (with the second fill valve on it) should get warm.

If the compressor is running but not cooling it probably needs to go to a specialist for diagnosis. Could be the coolant charge is low, but high enough or the compressor to run, the compressor is faulty or the cooling circuit is contaminated with damp and icing up. Could also be the expansion valve by the evaporator is faulty.

Kevin

[Omegadoha, Desert Member]

The cold pipe is nowhere nearly as cold as it should be, despite a recharge. It could be the expansion valve then. Obviously something happend within the space of 5 hours.

[Ziad]

Am following this thread with great interest, as i got the same problem with my a/c ... am now considering putting a new dryer and a toyota camry a/c compressor (depending on the feasibility). I got friends with Mercedes / Beemers and Opels who got the same modification and it apparently works very well.  :-/

[Omegadoha, Desert Member]

Ziad - I'm booked in with Mannai's now (dealer / agent) tomorrow morning to try and get it sorted. I paid QR 2,600 in June to have the pipes replaced last month, due to leakage. So I'll let you know what happens.

But regarding your other point about substituting the a/c components, I've heard of this also. Apparently there are people specialised enough to substitute the parts or the entire system. Trouble is finding them.

Well regarding the Camry, funny that because I was looking at some this morning. I am tempted to buy a new one because you know it's trouble free motoring for as long as you have it. Plus Toyota are doing additional discounts during the month of Ramadan to clear the last of the 2009 range.

[Ziad]

Ziad - I'm booked in with Mannai's now (dealer / agent) tomorrow morning to try and get it sorted. I paid QR 2,600 in June to have the pipes replaced last month, due to leakage. So I'll let you know what happens.

But regarding your other point about substituting the a/c components, I've heard of this also. Apparently there are people specialised enough to substitute the parts or the entire system. Trouble is finding them.

Well regarding the Camry, funny that because I was looking at some this morning. I am tempted to buy a new one because you know it's trouble free motoring for as long as you have it. Plus Toyota are doing additional discounts during the month of Ramadan to clear the last of the 2009 range.

QR 2600?? man, that' expensive!!! Mannai's the Opel dealer in Qatar? They are the ones representing Opel in Bahrain too! They are rather expensive and their service is not that great  I actually have found 2 professional garages here in Bahrain who can replace the a/c compressor with the camry one for me. They are asking for BD 75 for doing that. Not a bad deal considering they are giving me 1 year warranty on their job. 

Yep. as you said, with the Camry, you'd have trouble free motoring as long as you got them. Ramadan's the time to treat yourself with a new vehicle here in the Gulf ... always having these Ramadan Discounts to clear old stock.

Anyway, let me know how your visit at Mannai's went 

[MarkG]

Slow leaks mean you can gas it up and it seems OK but within a day or two it is no longer cold. Last year I changed the condensor first but same problem. After a few re-gasses with green dye, the AC man eventually found the evaporator was leaking. Spotted by green dye dripping onto exhaust. Very difficult to see. Bad nes is that changing the evaporator is a big most of dashboard out job!

[Omegadoha, Desert Member]

Turned out to be a 3 way valve wherever that is. Could be the expansion valve as Kevin Wood suggested?
Anyway cost me about 250 QR which is around 40 quid including labour.  :-/

[Ziad]

Umm ... that looks promising then ... i'll definitely need to get mine have a look at soon, but for some reason, the a/c is now colder than usual. I guess that'll wait coz summer is almost over 

[Omegadoha, Desert Member]

Umm ... that looks promising then ... i'll definitely need to get mine have a look at soon, but for some reason, the a/c is now colder than usual. I guess that'll wait coz summer is almost over 

Yeah, there was definately a dip in the temperature this morning. But don't leave sorting out the a/c too long because if it fails by the summer you'll be in for a longer wait to get it fixed and sweating like a pig without a/c ( a bit like I was ).

Probably best to get it sorted by Feb / March?

[Ziad]

 

Agreed mate. Another good reason to sort it in winter s that the prices go way down 

So Feb / March latest, I'll do a full revision of the a/c system