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[Malcolm_D]

Long story so far  Took it to Kwik Fit for regas, leaking so no joy, found leak, fixed leak by replacing pipe (pig of a job), back to Kwiik Fit for regas.
The pipe I replaced appeared to be fine , I am just paying for the regas when the mechanic comes back into the office and announces that it is leaking out of the fill valve "coming out like a volcano" no charge but still no working aircon.
I checked both screw caps and when I released the one between the radiator and the aux belt there was the hissing sound of gas escaping - I think that this is the low pressure service connector :-/
I asked the guy if he knew of any good aircon specialists, he suggested I take it to the VX dealer 
Advice please - do I take it to the dealer, try to get a replacement pipe off a breaker, find a non VX aircon specialist?
On the up side Kwik Fit did not charge me for the second time as it did not hold the regas 

[Dishevelled Den]

I would go for the air/con specialist.

The sensible course of action is to establish just where the leak is situated before fitting any parts and take it from there.

I'm sure someone will have details of a specialist within striking distance of you.

[Malcolm_D]

Anyone know of a good aircon specialist in the York area? Last one recommended to me (not by an OOF) told me that the leak was most likely coming from the drier and that the condenser needed to be replaced, quoted £260 for the job and was talking BS 

[Malcolm_D]

From the lack of replies I guess that air con issues are either not that common or best left to specialists?  Anyway I found a 'specialist' on the web and called in this morning - very small outfit but seemed ok. He was not happy when I told him about Kwik Fit, he was most annoyed that they had told me that it was leaking and had not de-gassed it, reckoned they should be reported - oops  With regards to my leak he said that the pipe need replacing, quite happy for me to source the pipe and gave me a rough quote of £70 to de-gas, fit the pipe and re-gas, doesn't sound too bad.
My only issue is that I am paranoid about letting garages work on my pride n joy, so many of them are experts in FUBAR technology and the prices they charge 

[Malcolm_D]

An interesting development - I received a call from Kwik Fit at about 7 tonight, the lady spoke to SWMBO as I was busy. Informed SWMBO that it was a "courtesy call" and could she phone back at 8 o'clock! When told that this was no good she said that she would call tomorrow night at around 7 o'clock.  :-?
I can only assume that the indy garage contacted someone about Kwik Fit contravening the 'rules', don't know what they want from me, all I want is for my air con to work 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

From the lack of replies I guess that air con issues are either not that common or best left to specialists?  Anyway I found a 'specialist' on the web and called in this morning - very small outfit but seemed ok. He was not happy when I told him about Kwik Fit, he was most annoyed that they had told me that it was leaking and had not de-gassed it, reckoned they should be reported - oops  With regards to my leak he said that the pipe need replacing, quite happy for me to source the pipe and gave me a rough quote of £70 to de-gas, fit the pipe and re-gas, doesn't sound too bad.
My only issue is that I am paranoid about letting garages work on my pride n joy, so many of them are experts in FUBAR technology and the prices they charge 

Sorry, but why then go to Kwik Fittup in the first place? :-/ :-/

For aircon use a specialist, and certainly never let Kwik-Fittup touch anything!! 

They certainly broke the rules in letting gas escape into the atmosphere.  Very big fines are involved

[Malcolm_D]

Went to Kwik Fit because there appears to be a significant lack of air con specialists in the York area, the one recommended told me that the system was leaking and he reckoned it was because the metal of the dryer bracket and the dryer itself had reacted and caused corrision, he also wanted to change the condenser.  Quoted £260 for something which it didn't need  >:(I changed some seals as they were suspect and then took it, just for a regas, to Kwik Fit. It leaked so I found out where and replaced the offending pipe myself, back to Kwick Fit for a regas.
I was not taking it to them for anything other than a regas, now i wish I hadn't bothered 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Went to Kwik Fit because there appears to be a significant lack of air con specialists in the York area, the one recommended told me that the system was leaking and he reckoned it was because the metal of the dryer bracket and the dryer itself had reacted and caused corrision, he also wanted to change the condenser.  Quoted £260 for something which it didn't need  >:(I changed some seals as they were suspect and then took it, just for a regas, to Kwik Fit. It leaked so I found out where and replaced the offending pipe myself, back to Kwick Fit for a regas.
I was not taking it to them for anything other than a regas, now i wish I hadn't bothered 

Yep, we all have learnt by our mistakes, especially when it comes to KF!!

[Malcolm_D]

To be fair it is not just the KF monkeys, took my old miggy to an indy VX specialist for an air con repair a few years ago, after several large wads of cash changing hands and the car spending a lot of time in their care it was still not working as it should. Have recently removed a pipe that they replaced as part of the job and 'what do I find' the nuts on one of the high pressure joints are only finger tight  John Wayne would be proud of them!  And yes they are still a thriving business!

[Kneepad]

don't know what they want from me, all I want is for my air con to work

 

Maybe so, but you did grass them up. Time to get the passport out I think.   

[Malcolm_D]

That's harsh  To be accurate all I did was explain what had taken place so that I could get my air con fixed  At least it is not somewhere that I will want to be going back to! 

[Kevin Wood]

I believe the air con fill valves can be replaced without replacing the whole pipe. Never done it myself but that's my recollection.

And Kwik Fitup are about as much use as a chocolate kettle when it comes to air con cars.

Kevin

[Malcolm_D]

I believe the air con fill valves can be replaced without replacing the whole pipe. Never done it myself but that's my recollection.And Kwik Fitup are about as much use as a chocolate kettle when it comes to air con cars.

Kevin

Sounds like a sensible thing to include in the design of the car, especially as I have now found out that the fill valve which is leaking is attached to a pipe which not only goes under the compressor but is also permanently connected to the the larger pipe which comes back from under the compressor up and over the right hand bank and disappears into the bulkhead  To replace VX quoted around £180 for the part and at least 5 hours labour 
If anyone knows if the fill valve can be replaced separately please let me know. 

[Big_Roger]

Hi,
When I first bought my Mig (nearly 4 years now) although air con was working I wanted it checked out.

Went to air con firm in Southampton, now sadly gone, and they did full works and replaced both the Schraeder type valve inserts before refilling.

I can't find the receipt now to give you the part number, but I am sure they were only about £1.25 each. in fact the new screw on valve caps were dearer than the inserts.

For info, the valve nearer the front of the engine is the HP valve, and the one closer to the bulkhead is the LP valve normally used for filling.

I do remember the fella telling me that not many air con "experts" have the tools to replace the valve inserts, especially the smaller HP one.

Roger

[Big_Roger]

Hi,
Further to my previous reply. Now have receipt.

LP (filler valve) insert 3041827  Cap filler protection 52458768

HP (test valve) insert 3041827  Cap test protection 90381755

I believe they had to get these parts from Vx and I think these are Vx part numbers.

I think the tool to fit them may be the problem

HTH

Roger