... and guess what!! Yup, it don't work!!

The old girl's eleven years and c200k miles old so I'm guessing organ failure!

When they get to that sort of age are any components more likely to have failed than any others?

I could get it gassed up but I have a feeling I'll just be dumping £60's worth of R12 to atmosphere!

Any handy hints 'n' tips as to where to look first (before I shell out any folding stuff) would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Gaz

GaryBC wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 15:00:

... and guess what!! Yup, it don't work!! The old girl's eleven years and c200k miles old so I'm guessing organ failure! When they get to that sort of age are any components more likely to have failed than any others? I could get it gassed up but I have a feeling I'll just be dumping £60's worth of R12 to atmosphere! Any handy hints 'n' tips as to where to look first (before I shell out any folding stuff) would be appreciated. Cheers, Gaz

Condenser is a common failure but it could be anything.  :-/

No R12 in an Omega though, you're thinking of Senators & Carltons before it. Omegas have R134a  ;) ;)

Andy B wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 15:16:

GaryBC wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 15:00: ... and guess what!! Yup, it don't work!! The old girl's eleven years and c200k miles old so I'm guessing organ failure! When they get to that sort of age are any components more likely to have failed than any others? I could get it gassed up but I have a feeling I'll just be dumping £60's worth of R12 to atmosphere! Any handy hints 'n' tips as to where to look first (before I shell out any folding stuff) would be appreciated. Cheers, Gaz Condenser is a common failure but it could be anything.  :-/ No R12 in an Omega though, you're thinking of Senators & Carltons before it. Omegas have R134a  ;) ;)

Maybe I'm best to simply get it gassed and check for leaks.

(I'd forgotten R12 was outlawed yonks ago!!)

Worth giving all parts you can get to a good visual examination. A good air con specialist will be able to check for UV dye and, if that doesn't reveal anything, charge it with inert gas plus dye to try and find the leak.

They are legally obliged to check a system for leaks before charging with refrigerant. ;)

Kevin

unless its kwik fit

neilr wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 21:07:

unless its kwik fit

Now, talking of Kwik Fit, I was hoping this topic would come up - my car's aircon is working but definitely needs a topup to make it colder, would it be safe to go to Kwik Fit under these circumstances? They guarantee an improvement in cooling don't they?

The aircon on mine didn't work when I got it, there was pressure in the system but not enough for the pressure switch to allow the compressor to operate so may be worth checking if there is any gas present as a re-gass may be all thats needed

I seem to remember someone saying that quackfit use the new aircon machines which are pretty foolproof.
Connect up, input car to be serviced and the machine does the rest.
So in this instance they could well be worth considering.

CaptainZok wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:05:

I seem to remember someone saying that quackfit use the new aircon machines which are pretty foolproof.Connect up, input car to be serviced and the machine does the rest. So in this instance they could well be worth considering.

Didn`t notice my leaking condenser when they gassed mine >:(

Gaz, sorry for the hijack, just re-read your post and should have started my own  :-[

CaptainZok wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:05:

I seem to remember someone saying that quackfit use the new aircon machines which are pretty foolproof. Connect up, input car to be serviced and the machine does the rest. So in this instance they could well be worth considering.

True enough,a mate of mine has a newish bosch machine that starts its cycle with a vacumn test which should show if a leak is present but not where it is .If the system fails the vac test the rest of the programe aborts

RobG wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:08:

CaptainZok wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:05: I seem to remember someone saying that quackfit use the new aircon machines which are pretty foolproof.Connect up, input car to be serviced and the machine does the rest. So in this instance they could well be worth considering. Didn`t notice my leaking condenser when they gassed mine >:(

According to the chap that did mine the machine will refuse to fill if it can't pull the required vacuum on the system.
In saying that mine only lasted a few months after the fill before dumping it'd load from the condenser.

Mine passed the vac test with the Kwik-fit machine. 24 hours later all the refrigerant had disappeared. Got a proper A/C specialist, found the leak within minutes

RobG wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:11:

Mine passed the vac test with the Kwik-fit machine. 24 hours later all the refrigerant had disappeared. Got a proper A/C specialist, found the leak within minutes

Agree with Rob, my leak was through the valve and it still passed the vac test!  :P
Now i just carry a portable drinks cooler and keep its doors open has the same affect  8-)  ;D

RobG wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:11:

Mine passed the vac test with the Kwik-fit machine. 24 hours later all the refrigerant had disappeared. Got a proper A/C specialist, found the leak within minutes

Agreed. The problem with KF is that, if there's a problem, they will be none the wiser. They know enough to connect up the machine and press the button (and they stripped the thread on my low side valve cap in the process >:().  A proper aircon specialist will be able to diagnose any issues.

In my experience, although KF claim they won't charge you if they can't measure an improvement, they will not even bother to measure the system's performance and will charge you anyway. You will then have to write them snotty letters until they refund you. ;)

Kevin

Odds on the condenser - the radiator like thing in front of the radiator.

Not overly expensive off Ebay.

Make sure it is flat MDTM knows about this!

Had the replace the 2.0CD one, it was stone damage we think.

Kevin Wood wrote on 28. Apr 2011 at 11:47:

RobG wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:11: Mine passed the vac test with the Kwik-fit machine. 24 hours later all the refrigerant had disappeared. Got a proper A/C specialist, found the leak within minutes Agreed. The problem with KF is that, if there's a problem, they will be none the wiser. They know enough to connect up the machine and press the button (and they stripped the thread on my low side valve cap in the process >:().  A proper aircon specialist will be able to diagnose any issues. In my experience, although KF claim they won't charge you if they can't measure an improvement, they will not even bother to measure the system's performance and will charge you anyway. You will then have to write them snotty letters until they refund you. ;) Kevin

Hang on....Kevin Wood...went to Kwik-Fit???

;D

Key areas of failure are as follows -Condensor,high and low valves,the a/c pipe which runs along the pass sisde chassis rail towards the bulkhead.

It turned out to be a leaking evaporator on mine. Difficult to spot even with dye and a tricky job to replace.

Kwik Fit are fab. They filled my wife's Laguna but didn't charge anything because they said the compressor had failed. The system ran ice cool for the next 2 years but is now ready for another top-up. I'll be going back!

Looks like it is "bite the bullet and shell out c£70 for a proper job" time!!