Air con adjuster?
Air con adjuster?
Author
Discussion

Duke Thrust

Original Poster:

1,680 posts

268 months

Saturday 10th June 2006
quotequote all
Chaps,

Is this my air con adjuster? Systems works fairly well, but not amazing. Tried to give it a turn but I couldn't shift it with my fingers, normal? There's no knob, so little to grab onto to turn *phanaar*

Nickccc

1,682 posts

277 months

Saturday 10th June 2006
quotequote all
looks right to me, should turn though.
Maybe try some mole grips ect.
Or just replace it, looks pretty standard.
Nick

gazm

886 posts

273 months

Saturday 10th June 2006
quotequote all
Hi guys


where is this to be found as im sure mine could be colder

mikesr

672 posts

260 months

Saturday 10th June 2006
quotequote all
Don't you have to be careful about adjusting? Too much causes the system to freeze solid in some way.

kevin63

4,661 posts

282 months

Saturday 10th June 2006
quotequote all
just under the dash, to the right of the steering wheel.

gazm

886 posts

273 months

Saturday 10th June 2006
quotequote all
cheers

mad mark

2,345 posts

261 months

Sunday 11th June 2006
quotequote all
Whilst on the subject of aircon.
Is there a way of telling whether it needs re-gassing without taking it to a specialist?

Nickccc

1,682 posts

277 months

Sunday 11th June 2006
quotequote all
Not realy Mark,
they will inject a dye into the system, then under ultraviolet light the dye can be seen if the system leaks.
Don't know of any other way to tell.

cossiemetro

1,092 posts

269 months

Monday 12th June 2006
quotequote all
its not cold

budaholic

1,516 posts

264 months

Monday 12th June 2006
quotequote all
cossiemetro said:
its not cold




Bud

monkeyjunky

418 posts

313 months

Monday 12th June 2006
quotequote all
Just had mine regassed and they put a thermometer in the cold vent (steering wheel) with the other vents closed. Mine operates at between 2.7 and 4.5 degrees C (apparently very good) you might want to do similar and compare. Re-gas was only 35 quid.

betty_swallocks

199 posts

243 months

Tuesday 13th June 2006
quotequote all
thanks for the thread
might have to change my name now

Duke Thrust

Original Poster:

1,680 posts

268 months

Tuesday 13th June 2006
quotequote all
Anyone tried the adjuster? Clockwise or Anti-clockwise?

(Didn't get a chance to try over the weekend)

RR Cerbera

125 posts

313 months

Tuesday 13th June 2006
quotequote all
You'll need to turn the adjuster clockwise to cool things down but only do it a little bit at a time. Make it too cold and the pipes will freeze, leaving you with unchilled air until things defrost.

I think that the best you can achieve before things freeze up is about 4C at the compressor (?) but bear in mind that this air then gets warmed up as it travels along the vent pipes on its way towards your car's interior. You should see ice forming on the outside of one of the air con hoses under your bonnet if things are working properly.

Duke Thrust

Original Poster:

1,680 posts

268 months

Tuesday 13th June 2006
quotequote all
RR Cerbera said:
You'll need to turn the adjuster clockwise to cool things down but only do it a little bit at a time. Make it too cold and the pipes will freeze, leaving you with unchilled air until things defrost.

I think that the best you can achieve before things freeze up is about 4C at the compressor (?) but bear in mind that this air then gets warmed up as it travels along the vent pipes on its way towards your car's interior. You should see ice forming on the outside of one of the air con hoses under your bonnet if things are working properly.


Ta, will try that

nsparey

926 posts

280 months

Tuesday 13th June 2006
quotequote all
monkeyjunky said:
Just had mine regassed and they put a thermometer in the cold vent (steering wheel) with the other vents closed. Mine operates at between 2.7 and 4.5 degrees C (apparently very good) you might want to do similar and compare. Re-gas was only 35 quid.



Where did you get yours done?

Duke Thrust

Original Poster:

1,680 posts

268 months

Tuesday 13th June 2006
quotequote all
Okay, given it a slight turn clockwise, will report back after a run to find out the results.

One thing I did notice whilst she was idling, the compressor turns on and off (I can see the front plate spin as the clutch engages) - is this normal or is the compressor meant to stay on (ie front part engaged) all the time the air con is on?

Touching Cloth

11,706 posts

268 months

Tuesday 13th June 2006
quotequote all
monkeyjunky said:
Just had mine regassed and they put a thermometer in the cold vent (steering wheel) with the other vents closed. Mine operates at between 2.7 and 4.5 degrees C (apparently very good) you might want to do similar and compare. Re-gas was only 35 quid.



Bloody hell and you're in Berkshire as well, wish I knew that before yesterday, just paid £65 to have mine done in Maidenhead.

Edited by Touching Cloth on Tuesday 13th June 22:16

K1 CERB

579 posts

287 months

Wednesday 14th June 2006
quotequote all
I am no A/C Specialist, but in a previous life I used to be a controls Engineer.

Take a nice warm July day (23 Deg.C+) and with the engine running switch on the A/C with cold fan running @ max. Find a thermometer and place in drivers consul air outlet if the temperature is between 17 & 21 I would suggest that a full regass might be over the top.

The A/C compressor is as suggested @ the top of the engine, when activated the front plate will rotate @ the same revs as the belt. It may be worth remebering that this will use approx 5BHP of Engine output, or alternatively more Petrol to stay @ same speed.

On 'Normal' cars the A/C wont kick in until the Outside air temp is above 12 Deg C. It may also be worth remembering to run the A/C occasionally throughout the year, as the gas will escape from the Seals on the compressor if it is not run regularly.

Hope this helps

K1 CERB

Ireland

3,517 posts

243 months

Monday 31st July 2006
quotequote all
mad mark said:
Whilst on the subject of aircon.
Is there a way of telling whether it needs re-gassing without taking it to a specialist?


If it's not cooling then there is someting wrong.

If the compressor is running (clutch pulled in, etc) feel the discharge pipe off the compressor (the smaller of the two) and this should be quiet hot.

The gas goes through this to the condenser (the second radiator) and cools down quiet a bit to the point where the liquid line going to the coil behind the dash should be just luke-warm.

As for the gas, in theory it should never have to be replaced as it only circulates and is not consumed.

In reality, seals will leak slightly over time.

Try to befriend somebody in the fridge trade if you want in re-gassed cheaply.

The £65 sounds about right, the £35 sounds like arse-pocket money for someone.