aircon leak seal, bad idea?

[cypher007]

the octy weve just bought apparently has a bad condenser, according to a garage that tested it for the previous owner so not sure if telling the truth.

 

anyway looked at the replacement procedure and looks a ball ache. just wondering if anyone has used the cans of leak seal Halfords do? ive read they can potentially block other areas?

[Guest]

As it's a specialist job and winter, I'd save up for summer and get a pro to do the job.

 

You've enough snags on that old gird without gumming up an already u/s deluxe feature.

 

Commendations for trying though 😊

[KenONeill]

1 hour ago, cypher007 said:

a bad condenser, according to a garage that tested it for the previous owner

Well, I'd want an automotive air conditioning specialist to do the work (and that way you avoid paying main stealer "pay for the new showroom" charges).

[cypher007]

will most likely wait till summer. hopefully not too much moisture has got in.

 

ive used DIY gas cans before and the condenser alone is £100 before ive paid the mech I use to take the front of the car off. he charges £70 just to regas, he said the gas price has gone mental (this was about a year ago), normally hes pretty cheap for all other work.

 

might get him to vac the system before I try and use this stuff just to make sure the moistures out.

 

spent soo much on this car already. note to self don't buy from people you know:

 

£1000 for car

£55 for oil and filter

£267 for timing belt kit water pump and oil service

£13 air filter

£159 2x tyres

£395 2x new front shocks springs and CV boot and 4x glow plugs and brake shields.

 

stuff that is still broken:

 

parking radar

alarm sounder

rear washer

boot wet

air noise through rear door

wash whole interior, very dirty

headlight washers

 

Edited 27 February, 2020 by cypher007

[Guest]

One item I would insist on checking is the refrigerant pump solenoid valve.

 

I had a leaking condenser on mine for an unknown but presumably lengthy duration.

 

Had the system flushed, lots of crap apparently.  New condenser and regass.

 

It now does work but poorly taking ages to run cool and fluctuates between ambient and cool, never chilly.

 

From what I've seen ont' tube the solenoid valve gets clogged due to contaminants in the system preventing proper operation.

 

An easy DIY strip/clean or replace if it wasn't for the costly gas handling, so tackle it before regassing and save more crotch pain.

 

 

Edited 27 February, 2020 by MicMac

[cypher007]

Is the solenoid on older cars like mine? I’ve looked at the compressor in the past and it has an electromagnetic clutch. My Audi A3 is solenoid as I don’t hear it clunk in and out.

Edited 28 February, 2020 by cypher007

[J.R.]

I have the identical car & year to yours and it has a Sanden clutchless aircon pump with the modulating valve.

 

You are probably looking at the shear plate and thinking that its a clutch (been there done that), if the only wires to the pump lead to a connector at the rear then its clutchless, if they go into the rear of the front pulley then you are correct.

[Twostrokemick1]

Do not the dealer I learnt the hard way. It did not seal the leak and killed the compressor