The Mitsubishi Pajero Owners Club®

airconman · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 22:25 Post subject: Air Con Systems

Hi All,
Thanks to all who have recommended my services on this site.
If anyone has any questions about their air con system I will be more than happy to help. I`ve recently left the royal navy where for the last two years I used to teach Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. Now I run a business called "HARRISONS VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONING" based in Gosport, Hampshire. I`m fully mobile and can work on your beloved Pajero`s wherever it suits you.
Typical charges: System Analysis. De-gas and correct disposal of refrigerant, Pressure testing and leak detection with Nitrogen, Vacuum de-hydration (min. 30 minutes), Addition of system oil and UV dye if required, Re-charge with correct amount of refrigerant (wieghed in NOT done by the hit and miss pressure method), full system running checks. All this for £50.00 inclusive. No rectification work will be carried out without your full approval and with a firm and final quote!
Other services include - R12 to R134a retro-fits (R12 is now banned and is illeagal to use) or R12 to RS24 much, much cheaper. All types of leak detection available, component replacement at far lower cost than a main dealer, but with new, original parts.
Some of the answers to questions I`ve read here are suspect to say the least. Thanks for your time - and remember DRIVE COOL - ARRIVE COOL email: steveharrison30@hotmail.com Freephone:0800 0935465

Google · Sponsor

gazzer · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2003 23:38 Post subject:

Compliments to Steve for turning out to look @ my truck @ work.

That was the easy bit....... after a struggle to find a leak, and there was one...or two, he located one in the worst place possible.....in the dash passenger side heat exchanger. Why not the rear one? Eh! Am I that unlucky? Spose so.

He's left me to strip it all out (my choice). Anyone done it before? I've a Russeks Manual. When ready he'll come back, sniff the glue...I mean gas and locate the leak. Gas 'er up and leave me to put it together again. Nice chap!

Glad I dont need it for day today travel.

Cheers Steve, I'll be in touch.

mab · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2003 0:37 Post subject:

Welcome airconman, maybe you can help ?? Sad

Had my system regassed last year before towing off to france and it worked a treat, having only had the car a short while it never worked, anyway regassing did the trick.. HOWEVER , On the way home I heard a terrible screaching noise and smoke coming from under the bonnet, on checking discovered the pulley on the front of the air con unit had stuck or ceased if you like but the main pulley operating the belt continued turning, hence the smoke off the burning belt. I turned off the air con and problem was put to bed for a bit at least until i got home. When home then I turn the air con on ( after renewing the belt ) and no screaching nor burning, but no cold air either, any ideas as to what this could be. The wheel on the front of the unit does not turn now, which was the same as before I had it gassed, is it possible that I could have lost the gas during this incident or could it be something worse. Is there anyway that I can check if there is gas in the system without going to a garage..

Sorry about the inane dribbling, but couldn't really abbreviate and make myself clear.. Very Happy

airconman · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2003 11:27 Post subject:

Hi Mab.
First of all I will answer the easy question! To check the system for refrigerant you require a Manifold set which comprises of a set of pressure gauges with the correct type of faces, depending on which refrigerant your dealing with. You will also need a set of hoses to connect the manifold set to the service connections on the car. these will have either a standard "screw" on coupling for R12 or RS24 systems or an instanteaneous type of coupling for R134a systems, so what I`m basically saying is you need specialist equipment.
The way you`ve described the the problem with your a/c unit it seems like you could have either a worn out pulley bearing or worse a siezed compressor! The easiest way to check all of this is to remove the belt again and spin the pulley wheel on the front of the compressor by hand, also try to rock the wheel from side to side. If it spins freely and there is no exsessive sideways movement ,the bearing should be fine.
To check the compressor itself you should be able to turn the clutch plate (on the front of the compressor pulley wheel) by hand, if you cannot do this there is a good chance the compressor is siezed, if this does turn okay say a little prayer as you`ve just saved around £700!!!
If its just a case of you`ve lost the charge out of the system make sure that whoever re-charges it for you carries out a full pressure test using Nitrogen and checks the whole system over for leaks - this is essential as its not only a waste of your money to have a leaking system re-charged - its illegal.
Hope this is of some help, its always difficult trying to sort ot a snag without actually seeing the problem.
Remember - DRIVE COOL - ARRIVE COOL

mab · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2003 1:06 Post subject:

Thanks for the reply ACM. When you put it like that it sounds so simple..
My initial worries are about the £700 fear you mentioned, but I will try the things you said and hopefully this will help me diagnose the fault before gassing again..

Thanks again..

Mike

p.s. Anything you need to know about wood, then I am your man Very Happy

Shogun_3.5_V6_24V_LWB · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2003 20:00 Post subject:

See posting workings used Harrisons Aircon great job great price well worth the travel from Reading to Gosport even better drive home in frosty cold car Very Happy

i would recommend him to anyone coz Steve done a fantastic job

p.s He is mobile and will come to you also value for money

Cheers Steve Very Happy

As Steve says "DRIVE COOL - ARRIVE COOL"

gazzer · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2003 22:31 Post subject:

Not so bad after all to remove the condensor from inside the car. Hour and a half it was out and stripped down. That included taking bits off the blower system to the left of the A/C box that didnt need to come off (including the speaker etc). There was a bit of fluff n poo in the vanes but it soon brushed off. No mould or stinky wetness (drain hole/pipe working).

Steve's coming back Toosdy to retest and seal the fault (assuming its not the condensor itself).

Chill!

Uncle Foxy · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2003 21:38 Post subject:

Do you charge extra for coming up to Lancashire Airconman Laughing

JayCee · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2003 2:33 Post subject:

Hi Aircon Man,

Just a couple of weeks ago I was mentioning how my aircon was working great, Hmmm , should have known better than to tempt fate.

Last week or so it tries to bring the temp down , but only suceeds after ages to drop it a couple of degrees.
Anything I can check... Question

I don't suppose I'll be getting you to do a call-out over to me.. Laughing

Joe

Damian · * Joined: 01 Jan 2003 Posts: 13 Location: London

Just how cold should the air be coming out of the airconditioning unit? I realise it must depend on the ambient temperature, but I'm not sure I would call the air coming out of my 1993 2.5td LWB "frosty" in the current heatwave. It is certainly cold when driving at normal speed and will bring down the inside temp from say 29 degrees to 22 degrees in about 30 mins with the fan on full. Does this seem normal or do i need a check?

Damian

RICHARD COWEN · * Joined: 07 Dec 2002 Posts: 14

My aircon is only giving a vent temperature of 15 degrees. The pump is running so the system must have some pressure but I suspect it needs topping up. When I had the system recharged last year following a leak the garage was not sure how much r134 to put in. Can you tell me the amount required for a 1994 2.8 LWB with twin aircon. I wish I could bring it to you to look at but I am in sheffield and am going on holiday in it, next week. Can you suggest any reliable people to go to in the Sheffield area.
Any info would be of great help.
Thanks
Richard

gazzer · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2003 22:40 Post subject:

Oh Deah!

The damn evaporator (radiator) has a hole in it.

Trying to get a price on one at the moment. It may be MitZi only!!

Serck are into A/C in a big way now, maybe they can "remanufacture" it.

Waiting for Steve to see if he can source and price.

I'll let y'all know.

airconman · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2003 23:31 Post subject:

Hi JayCee,
As much as I`d love a trip over to Ireland to sort your aircon out, you are definetly what I would call "out of area", besides which my good lady wife would soon put the mokers on it!
Sounds like you`ve lost most of the refrigerant from your system. this could be for a number of reasons, leaking joints, heat exchangers, hoses, compressor seal etc. All I can suggest is take it to someone who deals with a lot of vehicle aircon and get them to do a full pressure test using nitrogen (after recovering any refrigerant in the system).
Sorry I could`nt be of more help.
Remember... DRIVE COOL - ARRIVE COOL (When its fixed)

airconman · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2003 23:55 Post subject:

Hi Damian,
If you insert a reliable thermometer into the center vent, turn the air flow control switch so the air is only coming out of the dash vent, turn the aircon on and have it on re-circ with the fan speed on max. The temp. should come down to approx. 8 - 11 degrees. If you now turn the fan speed down to half speed the temp. should fall a further 3 or 4 degrees. This is due to the air passing over the evaporater coils slower and giving up more heat to the refrigerant.
There is also a marked differance between manual and climate control. The manual systems tend to get colder as they will cool down to the systems designed minimum temp. The auto climate control systems however will generally only cool down to a pre-set minimum temperature that is electronically controlled.
If its taking 30 mins. to drop the temp only 7 degrees then I suspect the system is low on refrigerant and you need to get it checked out.

DRIVE COOL - ARRIVE COOL

JayCee · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2003 23:56 Post subject:

Yes Indeed,
It is just as my wife has been saying for years.

I need professional help... Laughing

I will get it checked out properly , no point in me trying to muck about with it...

Thanks for the input...

Joe