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Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 4:37 pm
by Travis
W reg 2L petrol Tintop.
The AC light is on and there is a noise when its on, but it doesn't seem a lot cooler from normal cold air...
Is there a problem or am I expecting ice cold from a ten year old Bongo?

Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 4:44 pm
by mikexgough
sounds like a regas is needed..... mine is cold since a regas.....
Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 5:27 pm
by scanner
Easy to do it yourself with a can of gas/leak sealer most good motoring shops sell them, but if all else fails try Halfords.
Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 5:42 pm
by missfixit70
Travis wrote:W reg 2L petrol Tintop.
The AC light is on and there is a noise when its on, but it doesn't seem a lot cooler from normal cold air...
Is there a problem or am I expecting ice cold from a ten year old Bongo?

If you haven't been using it every few weeks during the winter then the seals may have dried out.
For the same price as the halfords recharge kit you should be able to get all the old stuff sucked out & new put in, that process will also check if you've got any leaks, although I think the recharge kit has leak sealer in it.
Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 6:19 pm
by scanner
missfixit70 wrote:
For the same price as the halfords recharge kit you should be able to get all the old stuff sucked out & new put in, that process will also check if you've got any leaks, although I think the recharge kit has leak sealer in it.
As I said "a can of gas/
leak sealer" it does everything a garage recharge does for just about the same price, with enough gas to do an average (which may well be smaller than a Bongo's double system) system 2 or 3 times. I've topped up two systems and still have enough left to do another one.
Even when it's all used up you still have a gauge left that can be used to check systems for pressure.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 32#reviews
You've reminded me I need to check the Bongo over the weekend.
If the seals have dried out a garage top up well may need doing again later as the seals gradually re-soften and some further gas loss can occur, with a kit the second top up is free.
Whichever option you go for make sure you use the aircon all the time for a few weeks and then for at least 30 mins a week, every week, after that.
Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 6:25 pm
by Alison01326
I asked a similar question last year which resulted in quite a long thread. Funnily enough, I never did get around to getting mine sorted but it's on the round tuit list for this year

Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 6:33 pm
by David Edwards
Or.. you pop up to Aberdare to my garage, J & K mot centre at Aberdare, they will do it using a computer controlled machine and at a good price too, give em a ring and ask em, if you like, 01685 886880, tell em, Dave Bongo told you to,lol, ask for James or Keith. Oh and mot there is £25.00. ;lol,
Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 7:07 pm
by missfixit70
scanner wrote:missfixit70 wrote:
For the same price as the halfords recharge kit you should be able to get all the old stuff sucked out & new put in, that process will also check if you've got any leaks, although I think the recharge kit has leak sealer in it.
As I said "a can of gas/
leak sealer"
it does everything a garage recharge does for just about the same price, .
Beg to differ on that point as a proper garage/aircon specialist will suck out the old gas & oil & replace with the correct amounts of new. How do you know how much oil these cans put in & you're just topping up rather than replacing. I'm surprised at you Scanner making such an error

Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 7:15 pm
by mikexgough
missfixit70 wrote:scanner wrote:missfixit70 wrote:
For the same price as the halfords recharge kit you should be able to get all the old stuff sucked out & new put in, that process will also check if you've got any leaks, although I think the recharge kit has leak sealer in it.
As I said "a can of gas/
leak sealer"
it does everything a garage recharge does for just about the same price, .
Beg to differ on that point as a proper garage/aircon specialist will suck out the old gas & oil & replace with the correct amounts of new. How do you know how much oil these cans put in & you're just topping up rather than replacing. I'm surprised at you Scanner making such an error

You don't know the quantity that is used......but the cans have a weight on them.....but the Gauge is (being an american product) Idiot proof......you fill till your in the green..... job done.....
I did a Peugeot 406 for a mate.....worked well....still works today after 2 years..... as Scanner said....an all in one product....inc leak sealer......not sure if I would use one for my Bongo.......
Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 7:36 pm
by scanner
missfixit70 wrote:
Beg to differ on that point as a proper garage/aircon specialist will suck out the old gas & oil & replace with the correct amounts of new. How do you know how much oil these cans put in & you're just topping up rather than replacing. I'm surprised at you Scanner making such an error

What error
Read the reviews - I've used one, have you?
"It does just what it says on the tin" and does it very well as Mike says.
I'm surprised at you trusting the average garage (or even worse K*****t) to do it any better than you could yourself .
SFAIC Either do it yourself or go to a proper Aircon specialist and pay the bill.
Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 7:46 pm
by missfixit70
Mine cost £40 with the aircon guys coming to my house to do it, with me in attendance, not having to get my hands dirty, but making sure it was done properly. As I said removal & replacement with measured amounts of oil & gas, rather than just topping up with unknown amounts, not the same thing at all, that was the error

If there is not enough oil, or indeed too much, it won't be too happy.
As per usual, you've twisted what I've said Scanner

Proper garage/aircon specialist I said, not an "average garage or kwik fit" I'm just pointing out that it's two different processes, it may well work & good luck to those that use it. If mine develops a leak, I may try it, knowing that I've removed the old oil & gas & am starting with new stuff.
Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 7:49 pm
by mister munkey
This gives me hope.
Mine was not as cold as last year but I shafted myself going down the Kwik F***it route, leaving me with either an empty or half gas filled system (set to Ranger settings as Bongo was not on the machine menu) so that now the compressor no longer kicks in.
Local A/C specialists want sixty quid just to "Have a look at it"
One of these kits could save my bacon & it needs to be done soon before the seals dry out.
Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 7:54 pm
by rita
scanner wrote:missfixit70 wrote:
Beg to differ on that point as a proper garage/aircon specialist will suck out the old gas & oil & replace with the correct amounts of new. How do you know how much oil these cans put in & you're just topping up rather than replacing. I'm surprised at you Scanner making such an error

What error
Read the reviews - I've used one, have you?
"It does just what it says on the tin" and does it very well as Mike says.
I'm surprised at you trusting the average garage (or even worse K*****t) to do it any better than you could yourself .
SFAIC Either do it yourself or go to a proper Aircon specialist and pay the bill.
Hi, I used a regass EZ CHILL yesterday on a ca-put air con.Started to fill as per instructions then the o/s fan came on at 35 psi(BLUE on the gauge)The only thing that concerns me is the air left in the system.The vehicle (Bongo) is on its way to France,hope they don't end up with frogs legs.

Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 7:58 pm
by scanner
missfixit70 wrote:Mine cost £40 with the aircon guys coming to my house to do it, with me in attendance, not having to get my hands dirty, but making sure it was done properly. As I said removal & replacement with measured amounts of oil & gas, rather than just topping up with unknown amounts, not the same thing at all, that was the error

If there is not enough oil, or indeed too much, it won't be too happy.
You're entitled to your view - but as I say I've used one, no greasy hands and the system works perfectly, no error IMHO.

Re: Not sure if air con is working
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 8:05 pm
by missfixit70
scanner wrote:missfixit70 wrote:Mine cost £40 with the aircon guys coming to my house to do it, with me in attendance, not having to get my hands dirty, but making sure it was done properly. As I said removal & replacement with measured amounts of oil & gas, rather than just topping up with unknown amounts, not the same thing at all, that was the error

If there is not enough oil, or indeed too much, it won't be too happy.
You're entitled to your view - but as I say I've used one, no
greasy hands and the system works perfectly, no error IMHO.

I didn't mention greasy hands either

just dirty hands
