997 AC regas in East London

[SFO]

any recommendations please?

My AC has not been regassed in years, and is not as cold as it should be.

[996TT02]

Check for condenser leaks first else you will be wasting money

[Tony1963]

If it's not as good as it was, but is still working, then I'd say you've no leaks. If there's a leak all the refrigerant will bid you farewell.

Please don't find somewhere cheap. Make sure that whoever does it carries out the vacuum stage for at least thirty minutes, or you'll be wasting your time and money. Have you asked a main dealer for a quote to do it? Or a Porsche indie?

[996TT02]

Leaks can be very slow, but leaks they are. I have an evaporator leak (on a non-Porsche but no difference) that means I now need to re-gas every 2 years, but before the leak, the aircon was perfect for many long years, never needed re-gassing. Cost benefit tips to occasional regassing rather than replacing the expensive to buy and expensive to replace (dash out job) evaporator, but Porsche leaks are usually cheaper to sort out.

Condensers on 911s are notorious for leaking due to corrosion, which initially results in a very slow leak, naturally. Similarly the pipe unions on the underside of the car are susceptible to corrosion affecting the o-ring seating. Both issues needed sorting on mine. A perfect system does not leak.

[Tony1963]

To be fair, most systems should be vacuumed and refilled every two years or so anyway to remove moisture and air. But point taken.

[SFO]

it works, just that in recent extreme heat, was not cool enough

car is 8.5 years old and never been regassed so a top up may be useful

[Tony1963]

Just make sure you don't ask just for a top up. It needs recovery, vacuum for at least thirty minutes, and then the correct quantity adding. Anything less is a waste!

[tr7v8]

Cannot recommend these guys too highly. http://www.ac4cars.co.uk/
They do lots of exotica & people travel miles to get to them.

[eshroom]

There’s a Porsche expert under the arches by Maltby Street Market. Usually has some beautiful old Porsches to drool over there too.

[Tony1963]

Really doesn't matter if they're a Porsche specialist at all. As long as they've the correct refrigerant and the standard servicing cart, it's the same system on a bus, lorry, house, train, Apache helicopter........ bigger, maybe one or two different components, but the theory and connections are exactly the same.

Edited by Tony1963 on Thursday 9th August 07:33