Older A/C pre 93

[s2driveruk]

Bit of Info from VAG

Ok just rang my local dealer - that sticker indicates the last service completed on the A/C by an official VAG source. They recommend a regas and leak check every two years and so long as the car is pushing out cool/cold air they normally expect a regas and some lube oil once a leak test is completed. If the car air is warm then either a larger leak or a stone in the radiator is quite likely at big £££££ to replace repair.

£115 for a regas and about 1.5 hours to do.

Hope that helps you all!

Cheers,

David

[S2central.net]

The sticker has all the right marks of a proper VAG job alright. Maybe an A.C specialist can test any recovered gas just to be 100% sure. A properly converted system like this should be rechargeable for £50-£70 I should imagine...

Paul

[Rob W]

Thanks for the info guys i gave up trying this avo when i dropped my car off for a service at my local specialist.
I asked them to do the A/C as well they said no problem they had a contact,so i will find out what they used and report back.
When i was looking into having just the regas the times quoted was around 90 to 105 minutes.
Leigh sounds like he done a regas but said he was doing more?

[JariP]

There are many options to replace the old r12 stuff without changing the seals and the oil. One of the best alternatives is Iceon49, aka r413a (yes r-four-one-three-a). They say it's a full on compatible with the old seals and the oil. And it should be easy to find, that r143a variant mentioned before seems to be much harder to find.

Mine was changed from r12 (MY92 S2) to Iceon49 year 2000 by the previous owner. AC is still running fine after three years without servicing, there seems to be no leaking and the compressor hasn't died yet .

So I think that converting to r134a is bit of a overkill

[ianmt]

My A.C. update

Rob W

As I metioned the other day, I report back after having a.c. attended to on my 3B coupe.
Firstly, I should say that the ACsystem has been empty of gas for a year, (I have not run the AC in that time). System was emptied of R12 by my local garage, as they had to remove AC condenser for access to other areas.
The AC company in went to is AC Care, in Essex, They have worked on my cars before, and sorted problems out, when others have been unable to.
The conversion to standard (and easily obtainable?) R134a (one, three, four )has to be done as, as others have said R12 is now illegal. Evidently any "hybrid" gas which may conatin part R12 is also illegal.
What AC Care will do on my system is to first replace drier (£40.00 item). Drier for R12 is evidentally totally unsuitable for use with other gases. System is then charged with R134a, and very briefly run to "stir up" oil within system. Gas, and oil is then removed from system, system is then vacuumed and new PAG oil is then added to system (compatable with R134a gas), then regassed with R134a. As this gas is run at higher pressures, a reduced quantity of gas is used to charge the system. System is then "ready to run".
Evidently this method is suggested by the U.S. environmental protection agency (EPA) as a viable alternative for older AC systems, avoiding the high cost of changing all seals etc. . I am told that the CFC's in R12 (the reason R12 is now banned) contain chemical which "coats" seals, and, provided the system has been running correctly over the years with R12, then seals should not be affected too badly by using R134a. The big advantage in changing to R134a over other hybrid gases (some already mentioned in previous postings) is that R134a is an industry standard gas, so future servicing can be undertaken by any reputeable AC contractor. You will not be locked into one, or have to change gases again at a future date, if your chosen contractor cannot source the gas in the system.
This method of changing gas is described on the EPA web site, follow this link and check the relevant pages for more explanation and info http://www.epa.gov/spdpublc/title6/609/index.html:
Just my two pennies worth!

Regards

Ian

[Rob W]

Thanks Ian,now just to find out what they put in mine.They did say they were gonna use a dye? to check for leaks,couldve sworn someone said earlier in this thread about using neons to look for a leak,anyway what do i know im tired hungry and bored passing my overtime away ho hum...

[audiman]

Those stickers tell you what gas the condensers are designed for not what the system has in it!! Looks like someone has fitted the wrong part at some point in its life, wont affect operation, but you cant garauntee gas type.

[missmouse]

R12 replacement

Hi Rob, I posted this some time back but some folks poo, poo,ed it!
I work in a restoration workshop & we use a company in Glasgow (kooltech I think) & once when the guys were down regassing for us, I got chatting to them about the problems with older cars & the R12 thing. They told me that they had done an old Yank tank from the 70's a few months back where there was no F**king chance of a seal kit / upgrade & what they did was to use a mixture of butane /propane to recharge the system, ( the mix IS important!) the customer was well aware of this ("bodge!!") but was absolutly delighted with the fact his A/C now worked again!!
Apparently this gas mix has no detremental effect on the seals (R12 original) & will not cause explosions with the mineral type oil used!
Rather than condem them as cowboys I think they should be commended on their ingeneuety!
good luck!
i'm sure glad I have A/C this weather! LOL!
Simon

[Rob W]

Thanks missmouse

I was trying to find a company i could use direct but i gave up after lotsa ringing around and getting next to no where,so i let the my local specialist get on with it when they were giving my S2 a service,so now i have AIR
I just need to ask what gas they used when i go back tomorrow if i can get them to ring up the guys they use.

[Michel]

Slightly hijacking this thread, Rob W who do you use in N. London?
I haven't found anybody around there who seems keen on the S2.

I need to get the A/C compresssor changed on my Avant and I'm getting a lot of relucantance from potential places.
cheers,

[Rob W]

Hi Michel

I use a company called White Rose(an Audi VW specialist in Southgate N london) if thats any use to you.
020 8882 8382

[missmouse]

Originally posted by Michel
Slightly hijacking this thread, Rob W who do you use in N. London?
I haven't found anybody around there who seems keen on the S2.

I need to get the A/C compresssor changed on my Avant and I'm getting a lot of relucantance from potential places.
cheers,

Michel, is your comressor totally f*****d? just that sometimes its just the clutch/electomagnet coil that is gone & while im not sure about the S2, I changed one on a Ford last week. The complete assembly cost £100. + the dreaded VAT! Took abot 25 mins to change! reckon on at least 5 times as long for S2!!!
Keep cool!,
Simon

[Rob W]

Believe me Michel i know thats why i gave up and let them do it(White Rose will use an outside contractor for that type of work),i couldnt even get it re-gassed anywhere else.
Good luck buddy.

[Michel]

Thanks guys.
The belt to the compressor snapped whilst on the m-way, resulting in instant fog.......everywhere.
It then got jammmed and started smoking.....lots of thick white acrid smoke.

The guys I use said that the compressor had seized, which from all the S2 boards, is not uncommon.
I'm not able to tell if the comp. is dead or the clutch gone, my technical ability is nowhere near good enough.
How would you be able to tell?

I'll try to find an a/c specialist to help.
In this heat the a/c would be a bonus.

Cheers,

Michel.

[audiman]

If you can turn the most forward part of the compressor by hand then it is not seized. Or is it just the pulley where the belt runs that has seized. That should freewheel with the engine off and no belt on it