Citroen aircon

[renagade]

Hi Guy's
Just wondered if there is a way I can check if my aircon has enough fluid in it,I am about to drive down to Spain and France.
The gets cool but it may get cooler if i add some more fuid.

Paul

 

[Mottie]

You cant really check the gas in it as far as I know. When you go in for an aircon service, they normally draw it all out and refill with the correct amount of gas/lubricant. I think Kwik-Fit have a guarantee that if they do this and its no colder than when you went in, there's no charge.

https://www.kwik-fit.com/blog/getti...ns-why-its-time-to-get-your-air-con-recharged

 

[Burnerman]

Halfords and similar to A/C top up kits - the can has a coloured gauge to tell you what's what.
John

 

[Mottie]

True, but personally I wouldn't waste my time or money on them.

 

[Burnerman]

Me neither
OK for a top up, I guess.
John

 

[JohnD]

I use Kwikfit, they (are supposed to) give you a printout showing amount of old gas and oil sucked out, and the amount put in. I keep them to see if it changes when I have it done again.

If the figures are quite close you probably haven't got a leak.

Conversely....

 

[DaveHerns]

I used Kwikfit for my Citroen C5 aircon a few years ago. Bunch of incompetent rude idiots. The refill cans work after a style but only add gas (and hopefully a bit of PAG oil ) Any moisture or contaminants in the system is left there. You can get an aircon service at a proper garage for about £45 so it's not really worth buying the can and gauge

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Sooooo many bad reviews of Kwikfit online ....

 

[JohnD]

Any moisture or contaminants in the system is left there.

Do you mean that the branch you went to wasn't using the machine with a vacuum pump that sucks out and weighs the old contents?

 

[Stivino]

He means with the re-fill cans.
My Meriva had a wee leak. I used to top it up every 9 months or so with a re-fill can and it worked fine.

 

[DaveHerns]

Halfords stores only seem to be using the DIY cans . The pro's can add a leak sealer which can stop minor leaks.

 

[renagade]

I was watching a demo on yutube about car air con refilling and the the was saying that it is poss to get a rattle can of air con gas with the leak seal in it. That would help with any small leaks I would gave thought

 

[Stivino]

The re-fill cans have the oil and leak sealer in them too.

 

[Avocet]

Hi Guy's
Just wondered if there is a way I can check if my aircon has enough fluid in it,I am about to drive down to Spain and France.
The gets cool but it may get cooler if i add some more fuid.

Paul

What sort of Citroen? Not that lovely DS in your avatar, I hope?! (If so, it's likely to use a very obsolete refrigerant)!

If it's a more recent one using the R134a refrigerant, you can (as has been said) buy top-up cans from places like Halfrauds. They come with a gauge that fits on the low pressure charging port. You can just connect the gauge (without the can) and run the engine with the heater control set to maximum cold and the fan on full speed. You should see the needle on the gauge dip down to almost a vacuum when the compressor cuts in. The gauges have green and red zones showing when a refill is necessary (although they're something of a "one-size-fits-all" solution and are designed primarily to sell top-up cans)!

As has also been said, they contain various "magic chemicals" including lubricant, leaksealer and whatever else. I know of at least one aircon specialist who HATES them because they bung up his expensive refrigerant recovery meachine. They're really only a badge to get a bit more life out of an aircon system on a car nearing the end of its life. If you're going to keep the car, I'd go to a local specialist.

 

[Mottie]

I presume you mean bodge and not badge.