Z3 air conditioning
- Thread starter lightning
- Start date
Mine is a 2000 model and it still works great. only today I used it..... icy cold.
If it ain't broke don't fix it.
I have no idea when or even if mine has been re-gassed. It works.
I have no idea when or even if mine has been re-gassed. It works.
I think that when the air stops coming out cold is what most people do. Although I've had the air con gassed on a couple of cars recently, and you don't realise what cold is until it's been done.
@t-tony's advice works just as well though for the gentleman of leisure in all of us
Tried mine for the first time last week. Roasting hot sun, sitting in traffic on the M1 just south of Sheffield. Put hood up, pressed aircon button and waited....and waited......and waited....Ok it not working. Put hood down and continued roasting!
Next day took car for regassing and they find only 25g of gas loaded compared to the full charge of 900g. No wonder it was not getting cold. Interestingly the compressor is protected by a pressure sensor so if there is insufficient gas pressure the compressor does not run. The regas service includes lube oil and UV dye addition. The garage said run it for a week then come back in and we will check the system for small leaks with the UV lamp.
A week later the air is coming out cool but not really cold. The UV lamp showed up a leak from a connection block or gasket at the front where the UV dye had leaked out. Need to investigate further to work out which part is at fault but it will probably be a garage fix due to the high pressure in the circuit and need to degas and regas.
If you are having your system regassed I would recommend ensuring that they add the UV dye and go back for the follow-up check.
Next day took car for regassing and they find only 25g of gas loaded compared to the full charge of 900g. No wonder it was not getting cold. Interestingly the compressor is protected by a pressure sensor so if there is insufficient gas pressure the compressor does not run. The regas service includes lube oil and UV dye addition. The garage said run it for a week then come back in and we will check the system for small leaks with the UV lamp.
A week later the air is coming out cool but not really cold. The UV lamp showed up a leak from a connection block or gasket at the front where the UV dye had leaked out. Need to investigate further to work out which part is at fault but it will probably be a garage fix due to the high pressure in the circuit and need to degas and regas.
If you are having your system regassed I would recommend ensuring that they add the UV dye and go back for the follow-up check.
All aircon systems have a cutoff on the compressor, generally when the level of gas in the system falls below about 50%.
Aircon should be used every now and then (at least once a month and for at least five minutes) or the various seals can dry out, causing leaks.
Obviously it can be used with the heater on for this purpose, if you do not want cold air.
Aircon should be used every now and then (at least once a month and for at least five minutes) or the various seals can dry out, causing leaks.
Obviously it can be used with the heater on for this purpose, if you do not want cold air.
You can use it all year round to dry the air in the car too. Most A/C gas has a dye in it these days.
Ferrari....interesting, got any photos, seriously?
I had climate control on my Mercs, never turned it off.
I had climate control on my Mercs, never turned it off.
B
bonzo
Guest
Have it regassed and checked each year, and run it (at least) fortnightly for 5 mins. I find AC a godsend with the top down on a hot sunny day. But can't believe the number of roadsters (all makes) that keep the top up in super weather!
Bonzo
Bonzo
Price check around where you live Phil, I'm sure you will find a more competitive price than that. Do you ever visit Lincoln?
Cheers, Tony.
Cheers, Tony.
I got a local man-in-a-van air con specialist to come and re-gas my Mini Cooper. Carried out a full pressure, UV dye test and service before filling it up again. Cost me more than Halfords, but I felt a lot more comfortable with his work and it was fully guaranteed too!
Bonzo, dear chap, if you aint got AC, and don't want to roast your nuts, you put the roof up......
Or, if you've got an ear infection and you can't stand the pain you have the roof up.
B
bonzo
Guest
Which rather spoils the point of having a roadster! I was just saying that even with the top down, and hot sun beating down one can still get cool by using the A.C. If you don't have A.C. you could lower the sidewindows and remove the windbreak. The cure for roasted nuts is to drive without shorts or trousers and apply lots of factor 50.