"NEW" air con compressor

[timorr]

Hi all, I am due to get the air con compressor replaced by my local garage here in Cork, Ireland.
This will be the second time having to replace it and the local garage is advising me to try and source a brand new product.
Can anyone tell me is it possible to get a brand new air con compressor for my '96 Bongo, and if so would I be mad to purchase such a thing?
I have searched the forums and web, but only seem to be able to find second hand on ebay.
Or is there a more readable available similar non bongo part that I could use?
Thanks for your time and help.
Tim

[haydn callow]

Not a part that normally gives any problems and for 2 to fail would be very odd....are you sure that the correct amount of gas is being put in ??? remember that there is a rear aircon and so the amount of gas is much more than normal.....you can find the correct amount if you do a forum search

[timorr]

I bought the Bongo from a good reliable dealer in the UK who fixed it under warranty the first time. So I guess he must have know exactly what he was doing. Although it was a second hand compressor he replaced it with, again I would presume that he knew exactly what he was doing. This one however ceased after only a couple of weeks.
The problem is I can not keep traveling over to the UK to get it replaced under warranty. The cost of ferries and milage is just too high for me.
In showing it too a local air con garage here in Ireland he confirmed that the compressor was ceased.
Now the original sales company in the UK will send me another (second hand) part, but I just am worried that the same thing will happen again and hence the look for a new part.

I can see that they must be an unusual part to fail on the Bongo as I can find very little discussion or availability of parts on the web. I have tried all the dealer sites on this site with no luck.

You would think leaving in miserable weathered Ireland that I could do without air con, however my windscreen de-mister has never worked that well without the air con and thats why I really need it.

Thanks for your help
Tim

[haydn callow]

950g seems to be the figure to go for with 14ml of pag46 oil.

[francophile1947]

It is very unusual for a compressor to actually seize - did they actually put any PAG oil in the system?

[timorr]

I am afraid that I would not know exactly what they would have done when I brought it back in under warranty. I am a Bongo lover rather than a Bongo expert. As I said they appear to be a good reputable dealer of Bongo on the UK so I guess they must know what they were doing...?

The original compressor ceased after a couple of weeks of buying the Bongo. After getting the second one replaced it too went after a couple of weeks.

The problem for me is that I am at the mercy and trust of the experts that I bought it from and that is not easy when I live about a days drive and an expensive ferry trip away.

As I said they told me to bring the bongo back over for another fitting, but the finance just wont allow me to do this.

I do not really know what to do at this stage, you guys are complete experts compared to what I know. I just felt that a brand new part and a local garage was the way to go.
What would you guys suggest?

Thanks
Tim

[haydn callow]

What exactly is the problem with your Air/Con (A/C) ??
Is it having any cooling effect at all ??
Was it o,k, for a while then just stopped cooling over a period of a couple of weeks ??
Is the compressor actually turning ?? ( check under passenger seat...it's the front rubber Belt) (don't put your fingers anywhere near it when running)
Is the compressor making any "bad" noises ?? (the compressor/pump is under the passenger seat below the alternator...it looks a bit like a big electric motor with a pully and belt driving it)

Personally I would take it to a garage that does a lot of air con work....ask them to take the gas out and they should be able to tell you the weight that they remove....if it's less than 950gm get them to recharge it and put the oil in (14ml of pag 46 oil )and regas and check for leaks.....they must then test it at the front and back units....that job should cost no more than £70.

[timorr]

The problem is that it ceased completely, but why I don't know. When it happened I opened up the engine and could see the air con belt turning but not the wheel and it was just producing burning smoke from the friction, I then cut the belt off. I have already had it at a good air con garage here in Ireland and they confirmed that the compressor was completely ceased (no turn in it at all). They checked there books for the parts while I was there but had nothing for Mazda Bongo, so I said that I might be able to get a new parts here through this site.

My UK dealer has said that he will source me another second hand compressor but...?

[haydn callow]

I think you have been extreamly unlucky.....get your dealer to send another 2nd hand one and make sure it is fitted with a new belt and filled with the quantities above.....3rd time lucky

[timorr]

Yea, I think this is what I am hoping...so much for the luck of the Irish.
I would nearly leave it the way it is (broke) at this stage and just put up with slow windscreen de-mister.
Maybe save my money for some chrome mirrors or under seat UV lights...even if I can't see out the window I will be looking good?

I will see what my seller produces over the next week (hopefully)

Thanks for the help
Tim

[mister munkey]

I'm going with Haydn on this, lightning rarely strikes twice & all that.

But there's a niggle in the back of my mind that something has caused this to happen twice in such quick succesion. An out of skew pulley or something along those lines . . . . . Someone, somewhere will have the answer.