leaking aircon pipe

[mbev51]

hi
just got over replacing a very expensve pair of pipes carrying water to a heater in the rear of my vehicle (2002 transit euroline). Today found a leak from a metal pipe coming out of the aircon compressor. I've ordered the part, at any rate I think I have (I live in France) and will fit it myself. Do I have to do anything other than go to a garage to regas the system?

[rover]

Assuming you fit it correctly then all you need is a regass although I'm not sure if it puts on the 'fault' light, if it does then that will need the fault clearing and resetting.

Rover.

[MrMPuk]

The system will need to pressure tested by the garage and then vacuumed out and then gassed up. Probably better off letting them do the whole job.

[rover]

The system will need to pressure tested by the garage and then vacuumed out and then gassed up. Probably better off letting them do the whole job.

Is that not an all in one proccess on the Transit? The place I use in Notts just has one machine that does it al

Rover.

[MrMPuk]

The system will need to pressure tested by the garage and then vacuumed out and then gassed up. Probably better off letting them do the whole job.

Is that not an all in one proccess on the Transit? The place I use in Notts just has one machine that does it al

Rover.

How long do they normally spend gassing up a system for you?

[rover]

On average about 25mins, its like a three barrelled machine (all in a cupboard type thing), they set it up and it makes a series of bleeps and away it goes, I dont stand and watch and have never really asked them exactly what it does, I'm usually outside with the manager having a cuppa n a smoke

Rover.

[motorwise]

at the place I use one machine does it all and then bleeps when it's finished

[OxtonyxO]

big aircon systems you use the way described by mpuk
but for car systems they are so small it can be done quicker
however you should pressure test for 24hours with oxygen free nitrogen (ofn) then vac out again, then charge with the correct weight and type of gas (normally r134a for cars)

[rover]

big aircon systems you use the way described by mpuk
but for car systems they are so small it can be done quicker
however you should pressure test for 24hours with oxygen free nitrogen (ofn) then vac out again, then charge with the correct weight and type of gas (normally r134a for cars)

The problem with a lengthy pressure test is that the customer always wants the car back same day, I'm not like a garrage where they just take the car and leave it then pick it up when its done, I pick the car up, sort it out and deliver it back, so as you can see...the quicker the better for me

Rover.

[cupidstunt79]

which pipe was it on the compressor? was it the big pipe or small pipe? if it was the small pipe this is the discharge pipe and chancs are if the gas has escaped then it has pushed out the compressor oil, i would drain down the oil and refill with the correct amount of oil, as for how long it needs to be evacuated there is no set amount of time, its all to do with the external temperature, the size of the system and how many microns you want to vac down to. when you evacuate you are removing any air from the system and putting the system into a state where any moisture will boil off (Pressure differences change boiling points)

[mbev51]

its the thinner pipe but it comes with the other one as one part.

[mbev51]

got pipe looks like the correct one and should be ok for me to fit if thats what I decide to do. Will go to a place I've been told about to discus regassing and pipe fitting and compressor oil loss.

Will my compressor need to come off to be topped up with oil? if yes what grade and how do you do it? Can anyone confirm the position with regard to the oil in the compressor.

If I was in the uk I would just take thet transit to a guy who I have used before and trust who speialises in aircon and get him to do everything. My french is improving but I don't understand everything that I am told. I dislike not being able to sort out all my vehicle problems.

[MarkM]

My french is improving but I don't understand everything that I am told. I dislike not being able to sort out all my vehicle problems.

Nothing as such to do with the language barrier, you lost the ability to fix most of your van yourself as soon as you bought a MK6. Eventually I will be in the same situation as yourself but for now I don't have that hassle.

[mbev51]

I've fixed and serviced my transit so far without a manual. Its just aircon, it has to be sorted by a professional. I'm fitting the aircon pipe myself and the french tyre place is regassing the airon and changing the filtre/dryer.

[cupidstunt79]

no the compressor will not need to be removed to drain down the oil, there is a small drain bung, the oil can then be refilled into the suction side of the compressor when the pipes are off, i just measure the right amount of oil into a small oil can and squirt it into the suction port, the oil will need to be poly ester oil as your charging it with r134a