The Great Peugeot 306 Air Con Mystery...
Discussion
Evening all,
My daily a hack, an S reg 306 1.9td, decided to liberate its air con gass over the winter. When the weather started to improve I had it re-gassed at Kwik Fit. No leaks showed up during the process and I went on my way, however, within 3 days the system was empty again. Kwik Fit gave me my money back and I took the car to an independant garage to have the leak investigated. The guys there couldn't find any issues and again refilled the system. 2 days later...empty.
They've had the car again today, and despite running dye through the system haven't been able to find anything. Its really got them stumped.
Anyone had a similar experience? I know its only a cheap car, but I intend to sell it on at the end of the year, and having the few creature comforts it has working, may make my £500 car more attractive than the next £500 car.
Thanks in advance.
My daily a hack, an S reg 306 1.9td, decided to liberate its air con gass over the winter. When the weather started to improve I had it re-gassed at Kwik Fit. No leaks showed up during the process and I went on my way, however, within 3 days the system was empty again. Kwik Fit gave me my money back and I took the car to an independant garage to have the leak investigated. The guys there couldn't find any issues and again refilled the system. 2 days later...empty.
They've had the car again today, and despite running dye through the system haven't been able to find anything. Its really got them stumped.
Anyone had a similar experience? I know its only a cheap car, but I intend to sell it on at the end of the year, and having the few creature comforts it has working, may make my £500 car more attractive than the next £500 car.
Thanks in advance.
Justin S said:
could be anything within the system. You will need a pressure test done with nitrogento begin with and you will only get that at a 'proper' air con shop, not a garage with a charging rig.Personally for a £500 banger I would just open the windows a bit more.
Well with my 100 mile a day commute 80% of which is on the motorway, driving with the windows open is far from ideal. I'm happy to pay a couple of hundred quid to get it done.MikeyMike said:
Justin S said:
could be anything within the system. You will need a pressure test done with nitrogento begin with and you will only get that at a 'proper' air con shop, not a garage with a charging rig.Personally for a £500 banger I would just open the windows a bit more.
Well with my 100 mile a day commute 80% of which is on the motorway, driving with the windows open is far from ideal. I'm happy to pay a couple of hundred quid to get it done.Perished hoses, leaking pipe jojnts, stone damagaed condenser, leaking mechanical seal on the compressor, the list is endless. If you need a condenser and fitting, may amount to more than the car, same with the compressor, same with the evaporator. Best thing would be to have a decent pressure test to identify the leak and then go from there. Some people use a leak sealer in the system, which 'may' solve the leak. But and its a very big but. You need to have the system dehydrated by vacuum correctly to put the stuff in, as it reacts with moisture, so when it finds the leak, will harden on it. If you have moisture in the system, you will block everything up and kill it completely. A company I have bought stuff from in the past is Autokool, who are pretty good for bits and pieces.
There IS a leak.The favorite on 306`s is the alloy pipes that run along the front X member corrode,but as said could be any where.Get it gassed up including UV die and checked by an AC expert.Mind you when you do find the leak the cost of fixing it will be more than the car is worth and you will end up living without AC?? The ally pipes never come out of the condenser without cracking it,two ally pipes and condenser fitted,regas etc about £650??
Skyedriver said:
Disconnecting the pump will save fuel too.
Its done automatically,as soon as the pressure drops below a certain level the clutch in the pump will not work so the belt pulley just free wheels.You can drive around for ever with no gas in the system and yes the AC has got to be the biggest "fuel drain" on an engine. 
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