Question:
i own a 3 year old vauhall astra 33000 miles and feel the air conditioner
is not working as well has it has been. is it due to the very hot weather
weve had lately or does it need a service or repair? can anyone help? i
would like to be fore warned b4 i take the car to a specialist and fork
out ££££
Answer:
As it is still working, just not so well, it needs gas. around 50UKP for a
vacuum and re-charge.
Remmeber to exercise the system once a week *all* year around, and natural
gas loss is reduced
But if the gas level is low it's leaking gas slowly - and the leak needs to
be found and repaired otherwise you'll be in thae same position in a few
weeks or months
Depends on how quickly its gone from working well to working poorly. Gas is
lost nautrally over a period of time- the molecules are that small they can
perculate through the rubber pipes in time.
A leak free system would require a recharge about every 2-3 years ; one with
a leak would be completely dead within acouple of months.
My '99 Focus has never had the aircon regassed and it blows as cold as the
day I got it six years ago. I know of others that don't make it to two
years. I'm not convinced that the refrigerant will pass through the pipes.
I think it far more likely that it is lost through the compressor seals.
