Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi Guys,

The gas in my air con system has leaked below the level required to keep the air con cold. Obviously being a MK patrol I need the old style of gas or a retrofit. I got a quote from the air con people and they recon around $700 for new seals throughout and a regas.

Anyone got this done before? what did you pay? was it as good? can this be done yourself? If I know its a slow leak and all the hoses haven't been touch in years could I fairly safely say the leak is from the compressor and just drop that in for new seals and then get regased? Surely new seals and a regas aren't $700.

thanks for the help people
cheers

Sometimes the hoses themselves can leak, the suspended oil in the gas forms a barrier inside the hoses, and with age the hoses can become permeable to the gas, if the system does not receive regular use to circulate the oil.

700 is on the steep side but it depends on the actual quote & what you are getting. When I converted my MK the filter was about 250 trade so I manufactured a bracket, modified the pipes and fitterd a universal unit with metric threads which cost about 75 bucks.
All the o ring deals in the piping require replacement as well as the schrader valves. They actually fit a lager valve housing as the adaptors for regassing are different.
Mine worked ok until the top pipe from the compressor broke on the way to Port Lincoln (rough bastard of a road between there & Cowes in spots).
It will never work as good with R134a gas as the system was designed for R12 but it will be ok.
Unless you know someone with a bottle of R12 lying around you wont be able to regass it with that. It will also be cost prohibitive & illegal in some states.
When the retrofit is done they will put a dye in the system so leaks can be checked. The dye is ultraviolet & thus can only be seen with the appropriate light. If the air con guy is worth his salt he will do a free recheck for leaks as he will have a light.
Be prepared to spend money as your system is old & will be prone to breakdowns. Most common to go after the retro is the compressor but it will show its head quite quickly & will not be covered in the warranty for leaks. Neither will any of the other parts for breakages. You can't expect him to warrant 20 year old parts.
I was lucky beacause I am a mechanic i did most of the work myself except for the gassing as I dont have the machine.

Good luck, when AC systems get old sometimes its better to just wind down the window