Aircon help needed

[stevie_a]

Saw that mrscalex had an aircon system available in parts that got me thinking.

My car has aircon but it has never worked, I understand that if it is empty of gas it won't turn on.
I tried to have it regassed when it was mot'd but even though it had no gas in it there were unable to get any in.
Mumbles of blocked valve were mentioned but no solution offered.
Any ideas where I should start looking?


Just noticed that my last 2 posts have come up as being posted by stevie_a but I'm jaguartvr. Whats going on? Can anyone help with this as well?

 

[t-tony]

Saw that mrscalex had an aircon system available in parts that got me thinking.

My car has aircon but it has never worked, I understand that if it is empty of gas it won't turn on.
I tried to have it regassed when it was mot'd but even though it had no gas in it there were unable to get any in.
Mumbles of blocked valve were mentioned but no solution offered.
Any ideas where I should start looking?


Just noticed that my last 2 posts have come up as being posted by stevie_a but I'm jaguartvr. Whats going on? Can anyone help with this as well?

Try having it regassed where they know what they're doing Stevie. Then you'll get some sensible help.

Tony.

 

[jaguartvr]

I tried to have it regassed but it wouldn't take any. They said it could be a stuck valve......or spmethin else.
Not very good on aircon so I need to know where I should start.

 

[t-tony]

If there is no gas in there take the valve out, it's just like a tyre valve.
But have at least 2 rubber gloves on and release it very slowly just in case there is gas in the system after all. IF you hear any hissing tighten it back up. Do NOT get your face or any exposed skin in the way of escaping gas this stuff has a very low boiling temp and will readily boil on contact with your skin.
You are much better having it done by a professional and it doesn't sound as though the person who did look is one. I would take it to another specialist.

Tony.

 

[jaguartvr]

What valve am I looking at and where is it located?
Thanks


Is it part number 2? and is it accessible?

http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/Z..._air_conditioning/evaporator_expansion_valve/

 

[t-tony]

In the engine bay there are two connectors for re gassing. A high pressure and a low pressure they will have black plastic covers screwed onto them. They will be on the pipe work across the engine bay.
Can anyone with a Z3 with A.C. please post a picture of the connectors.

Tony.

 

[jaguartvr]

I know about the low and high pressure connectors from when we tried to regass it.
My question was, is part number 2 in the link likely to be the culprit stopping the gas from being pumped in and where
is it located and is it accessible?

 

[t-tony]

I honestly don't know. I've never come accross a car where I couldn't get gas into the system and I'm not aware that anyone else at work has either. Have you tried searching on YouTube?

Tony.

 

[stevie_a]

Try having it regassed where they know what they're doing Stevie. Then you'll get some sensible help.

Tony.

Saw that mrscalex had an aircon system available in parts that got me thinking.

My car has aircon but it has never worked, I understand that if it is empty of gas it won't turn on.
I tried to have it regassed when it was mot'd but even though it had no gas in it there were unable to get any in.
Mumbles of blocked valve were mentioned but no solution offered.
Any ideas where I should start looking?


Just noticed that my last 2 posts have come up as being posted by stevie_a but I'm jaguartvr. Whats going on? Can anyone help with this as well?

@GazHyde

 

[GazHyde]

@GazHyde

Already dealt with

 

[stevie_a]

TOP MAN !

 

[lightning]

How long has the air con not worked for? If it’s been empty for years all the seals will have dried out and the gas will most likely leak out as fast as they put it in.
Also you need to consider why did it stop working in the first place. The compressor may have seized or failed. Any fault such as this may well prevent it being re gassed.

 

[t-tony]

How long has the air con not worked for? If it’s been empty for years all the seals will have dried out and the gas will most likely leak out as fast as they put it in.
Also you need to consider why did it stop working in the first place. The compressor may have seized or failed. Any fault such as this may well prevent it being re gassed.

Agreed, but, none of the above would stop you from filling the system which is what the OP is saying happened.

Tony.

 

[mrscalex]

 

[lightning]

Agreed, but, none of the above would stop you from filling the system which is what the OP is saying happened.

Tony.

Yes it would, if there was a bad enough leak from one or more places the gas would leak out as fast as the machine put it in.
I imagine also that if the re gas machine detects no pressure after a short time it will shut off.

 

[mrscalex]

I have a lovely mobile guy here in Swindon who looks at my air con. Last time I had to force money into his hand for diagnosing something which I then said I would do myself (it was a seized fan, not compressor like I thought).

Although I noticed very recently he does now charge £20 to come out and give an estimate if he doesn’t do the work.

 

[Antm72]

The machines are designed to recover what gas is there first. The sytem is then checked by applying a vacuum before they would even attempt to fill it.
No competant air con garage would just fill its nasty stuff.
Mine never worked when i brought it but i checked the compressor with a feed to show it was ok and the clutch worked.
It pressure tested fine and it sas filled but leaked over a month but as dye is added i can see from where.
All seals and dryer on the list but its convertible its not priority if its hot i drop the roof .

 

[t-tony]

Yes it would, if there was a bad enough leak from one or more places the gas would leak out as fast as the machine put it in.
I imagine also that if the re gas machine detects no pressure after a short time it will shut off.

But then you would know there was a leak wouldn't you? Thats not the same thing as saying I can't get any gas into the system is the valve faulty. In any case, as you obviously aren't aware, a regas procedure is done only after the machine has evacuated the system to create a vacuum which in effect draws the gas into the system when the refill begins. If the machine cannot create a vacuum in the first instance it will not instigate the refill. If it cannot create a vacuum then there's obviously a leak! They work like this to prevent the gas being released into the atmosphere.

Tony.

 

[jaguartvr]

Air con wasn't working when I bought the car so I don't know how long it has been like this.
As I understand it, if there is no gas it will operate the compressor. They attempted to refill the system as it was empty but the system
would not take any gas and he said it was probably the valve ( not the filling/emptying valves).

http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/Z..._air_conditioning/evaporator_expansion_valve/

I'm pretty sure it is part number 2 in the diagram but not quite sure where it is located. I suspect somewhere under the dash, if it is I suspect it will be more trouble than it is worth.

Does anyone know the location or has anyone replaced one?

 

[t-tony]

If there is no gas (ie no pressure in the system) the compressor will not work because there is a pressure sensor in the system which cuts power to the compressor clutch feed when the pressure falls below the sensors level.

Tony.