Air Con Leak,

[Bobogib]

I took my Octy in to kwik fit this morning to get the Air con re-gassed. There initially didn't seem to be any problems, but when they took the fill hoses of, the system was leaking from (what I was told was the HP valve) the fill port on the near side by the bulk head.

What I would like to know is, Can you replace just the valve, or is it the complete pipe that needs replacing?

[rwbaldwin]

Yes - you can just replace the valve core or the whole valve if necessary.

[Bobogib]

Yes - you can just replace the valve core or the whole valve if necessary.

Fantastic, Thank you very much.

[RADIOTWO]

I took my Octy in to kwik fit this morning to get the Air con re-gassed. There initially didn't seem to be any problems, but when they took the fill hoses of, the system was leaking from (what I was told was the HP valve) the fill port on the near side by the bulk head.

What I would like to know is, Can you replace just the valve, or is it the complete pipe that needs replacing?

Hi just to let you know I had a problem with my Air-con last year (not Skoda) and the guy could not figure out why is did not leak when

the pipe were connected to the machine, but take them off and a fortnight later the gas had gone, he then found the valve was leaking

and just replace the valve, and been fine since.

Radiotwo

[wayned]

Air con needs a specialist and not Kwik fit, they can test the system and confirm where it is leaking.

Also it is better to let them sort the problem as air con is not really diy.

[Uriel]

I'll be avoiding Kwik fit for aircon in future. I took my Octy for a regas there as it wasn't cooling well. Was told it 'hadn't worked' but they hadn't detected any leaks. They thought that some gas might have been added and advised trying the aircon to see if it had improved.

Over the next few days the grinding, scraping noises started. Eventually popped off the undertray to find out what was making the racket and it turned out that the compressor clutch had lunched itself. Coincidence? Maybe - but I suspect an aircon specialist would have worked out what the problem was and advised accordingly. Anyway over £400 later I have working aircon again...

[mbames]

To be fair to K-F, they are unlikely to have caused the clutch to break. The clutches can fall off without any external help. Unless of a member of staff tampered with it...

[Uriel]

Yep but strong co-incidence. I don't think they touched the clutch. However, if they got the gas pressure / amount wrong the clutch is designed to fail in preference to the compressor internals destroying themselves and sending bits of metal through the aircon system.

The main thing that went wrong is I suspect KF failed to recognise the problem and advise accordingly.

Edited 25 May, 2011 by Uriel

[rwbaldwin]

...if they got the gas pressure / amount wrong the clutch is designed to fail in preference to the compressor internals destroying themselves and sending bits of metal through the aircon system...

Not true. The clutch is not designed to fail. In fact, if the compressor fails, it will often take out the v-belt.

There is a high/low pressure switch which prevents the clutch engaging when the gas pressure is incorrect. In addition the compressor has a pressure relief valve.

Too much oil can cause the compressor to fail, but this usually happens over a much longer time period and is a silent killer. That's why you should never use 'cans of death' which contain at least 15% PAG oil.

Too little oil can also kill a compressor. The compressors on these cars have a protected oil supply, so the oil cannot be removed from the compressor during recovery or vacuum.

I think it is just a coincidence that your system failed after a recovery/regas at KF.