Does this help at all?

http://www.air-4.com/knowladge1.html

Pulling a vacuum downstream of the expansion valve (10) would pull a vacuum upstream of it too, I'd expect.

1 hour ago, Tech1e said:

 

I was referring to that statement, you have to do a complete fill.

 

Yes but in most cases they will draw off say 400g into the recieving vessel and then refill with 525g using only 125g of their refrigerant gas which costs something like £30/kg, even more in France.

 

When they are only charging €59 a top up represents a significant material charge, a complete refill a lot more, many places are now charging per gramme added, Norauto its a fixed price at €59.

Thanks Wino, item 7 the high pressure service valve is shown in the low pressure circuit!

 

I am going to try and pressurise each port on the 1st replacement compressor, that should give me some idea, I reckon they are not isolated because the pumps are shipped with blanking plates and rubber bungs and the interior a partial vacuum, when the first plug is removed it takes a lot of force and makes a big sucking noise, the newest one did it which makes me think it cant be a leak through the casings or the shaft seal, maybe it is simply me re-using the old O rings after all.

 

I live in hope.

On the assumption that in the UK next week I can get a working compressor on the vehicle with no leaks then I have ordered some regas canisters and the operating valve from Ali-Express which should be with me here in France just after I return.

 

It will be good to be completely autonomous and to get a return on the investment in the kit.

 

I have watched many Youtube videos on vacuuming and regassing, this one is the best I've seen in terms of its not long and annoying yet he explains all the bits which the others left me wondering about:

 

 

 

OK I wont be able to judge the exact weight that goes in but I intend to judge it by the pressures and the temp/humidity on the day, I can always add more later, even with the precise amount some would soon leak away.

Edited 19 July, 20196 yr by J.R.

15 hours ago, J.R. said:

Thanks Wino, item 7 the high pressure service valve is shown in the low pressure circuit!

 

 

 

?

I see it in the 'high pressure liquid state' part of the circuit. Are you looking via a phone? The diagram is in black & white when viewed on my phone, but colour and much easier to understand on PC/laptop/tablet.

My eyes would not be able to make out any of it on a phone!!!!

 

I can see my problem, the diagram uses the same grey colour for the high pressure liquid state as the low pressure gaseous state.

 

Where will I be able to buy a pair of proper genuine material O rings over the counter and not ones the right colour but made from recycled dildos?

 

In the UK that is, I wont have time to wait for a postal delivery.

You mean the yellow and the light blue?  Wish I'd just screenshotted it in the first place.

 

Bizaare, they are both grey when I view the link.

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

Where will I be able to buy a pair of proper genuine material O rings over the counter and not ones the right colour but made from recycled dildos?

 

Your nearest (to UK base)  Skoda dealership parts dept?

They may have to order them in, so phone a few days ahead.

 

 

I wont be putting myself through that experience ever again after the last time I naively went and asked where the parts counter was, times have changed since I left the UK, back then the garage in the village was a multimarque one with a huge seperate warehouse that did nothing but supply parts to the trade & public for the whole VAG range and all the other manufacturers whose new cars they sold, they were excellent, identified parts quickly and had them usually the next day if they were not in stock, vans out delivering all day long.

 

Now its just one person who was working at Dixons yesterday that wants to sell you a new car or life insurance and who does not have a clue how to find a part number on the computer. The only parts stocked are oil & air filters for the service workshop.

 

Never again.

 

Thank god for T'internet.

Edited 20 July, 20196 yr by J.R.

I've always had great service at VW group parts counters, it's the service desk that I never want to visit again.

Ask Mike at Listers to quote for what you need, he's the internet's answer to the parts counter;

[email protected]

 

 

Some good enws at last, went everywhere i knew in the Gatwick area on the search for O rings, got sent from pillar to post then finally the local independant VAG garage said go to TPS Gatwick, I didn't know they were there = probably forgot, didn't know usually  means that at my age

 

What a breath of fresh air they were, took me back to my days of dealing with a major Ford parts supply warehouse in the last century

 

Signs up saying trade only from 1st May 2019 everywhere but simply so it looks like they are abiding by the planning restrictions or whatever obliged them to outwardly do so, had them in stock and Quantum oil on special offer at a good price, finding and experiencing them has been one of the few positives of coming back to this overcrowded place.

 

And cerise sur le gateau, on removing the old unions I found that I had indeed decapitated an O ring refitting them last time, something did onot feel right.

 

It drew down a vacuum very quickly and is currently holding it well after 15 minutes.

 

Next week I should have the refill cans of R134a and the adaptor from China so will have cooling again.

 

Then I can tackle the Chinese pump supplier now I have found and photographed the stripped pulley hub, I have not yet left feedback for the new pump so there is some hope, if not I have fitted the old hub on the initial failed Chinese pump so could sell it on.

 

 

Next week on the 22nd of July actually means a month later thanks to how the French like to sit on all packages from Chinese sellers for a month except those with tracking which get here in 3 days.

 

Anyway my "Penguin" gas arrived and I successfully recharged the system which is no blowing cold air, shame the canicule is now over!

 

I learned that the weight they state for the contents is actually the whole canister weight and what they claim as 250g contents is actually around 168g so the 3 cans that I used really need to be 4 cans but there is a way that I can inject a final one without pulling a vacuum with a bit of fiddling to purge the line.

 

Went to order some more and found that most sellers have stopped selling it (it is after all illegal to sell it in the EU) and the price is up 40% for the couple with stock remaining.

 

Then I found that it's just been renamed "water filter for air conditioning" and there are hundreds of listings cheaper than ever

 

Really satisfying to spend money on tools & equipment to be autonome rather than spend it with those who are unworthy.