996 Air-con regas - does it need a specialist?

[LeeME3]

Think I need the aircon regassing on my 996 C4 (hope so as it's cheaper than a new compressor!) as it doesn't get very cold at all.

Does it need a Porsche specialist or are there 'drive-in' places that can do it without ballsing anything else up? Any recommendations in Lincoln/Nottingham area appreciated...

Cheers!

[magic torch]

Any drive in place can do it, just had mine done.

Turned out a compressor was leaking so it went to my OPC to be repaired under warranty. Re-gas place had quoted £350.

Then took it back to be re-gassed.

[paulburrell]

Take it the £350 was to fit a new compressor and then re-gas the system?? Re-gas normally costs between £50 to £75 at a specialist.

[LeeME3]

Cheers guys, just booked it in to a place in Lincoln tomorrow, quoted £55 for flush, de-fungicide (yeeeeuch, what grows in there?!?!) and re-gas. Will let you know if it makes much difference.

[magic torch]

Yep, £350 was for the compressor, got my OPC to do it under warranty instead. Re-gas was £50.

Good luck Lee, hope the system in leak-free.

[leeme3]

magic torch said:

Good luck Lee, hope the system in leak-free.

Do they often suffer leaks then? ...and will this be picked up when they gas it?

[magic torch]

The gas acts as a 'lubricant', so if it's not used over a long period (winter) the rubber can perish and leak.

They usually put a dye in when they re-gas. If there's no cold air at all, it's normally a sign that the gas has gone, and there's a leak.

[leeme3]

Ah well fingers crossed, take it a leak generally means a new compressor?

[magic torch]

More likely than not it'll be a rubber hose of some sort.

I'm no expert though, just been through this with a couple of cars.

[abarber]

Just got my 993 regassed, was working ok but hadn't been done for at least 2 years. It was 50% full. No leaks, everything is fine. Now much cooler..

[LeeME3]

Had it re-gassed - all lovely and cool and then this morning when I went out to the car heard a hissing noise from under the driver's door. Quick investigation revealed pin hole in the plastic tube running just in from the sill. So, it now needs the hole repaired (hopefully doesn't require a whole new pipe) and another re-gas! I did scrape the underside on a curb recently (and took the front lower valance trim off - but that cost £5.86 to replace!) so maybe I damaged it then.

Place where I had it done is run by a guy who (co-incidentally) drives a 996 as well and they seemed a decent bunch so hopefully if I get them to do the repair we can come to an arrangement about re-gassing a second time (ie I reckon they should have checked the system for leaks before filling it up and allowing it all to drain away within 12 hours!)

[Magic Torch]

My lot didn't charge for the second re-gas. Don't know why, didn't ask.