Is It True About The 5S Air Con?

852 Views 12 Replies 10 Participants Last post by GaryR, Apr 9, 2010

guitarjon

Discussion Starter · Apr 9, 2010

Where have I heard that the aircon in a 5 cannot be simply serviced by a run of the mill aircon guy who charges about 35-50 pounds? Im sure I have heard somewhere that its a special type of aircon that costs around 100 pounds to be re-gassed is this correct or am I lying to myself thinking that I have heard the above?

I was only saying the other day about the fact I would just take my roof off, which was replied with "What if its humid and raining?"

If I can get a run of the mill 35 quid one I would but at 100 pounds im not so sure. I'd rather sweat in the rain with the roof down

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poopipe

· #2 · Apr 9, 2010

as i understand it from a neighbour who regasses aircon professionally my 5 would cost a fortune because it requires gas that is no longer legal and it would need converting to a system that can use the newer legal gas - that's a 92 mk1.

I imagine there's a point where they switch to the newer gas in which case it wouldn't need converting and the refill would be cheap but I have no idea what model year that would be.

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guitarjon

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 9, 2010

Well I have a 1990 mk1 so Im probably in the same situation as you.

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samuli

· #4 · Apr 9, 2010 (Edited by Moderator)

Where do I know has my AC been converted or not to the new stuff

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thewildblue

· #5 · Apr 9, 2010

I think you need to look for a sticker on it....If it says r134 I think its legal, and if its R12 its not.

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Quick Silver

· #6 · Apr 9, 2010

I had mine converted last summer - just requires an adapter on the re-charge valve (supplied by garage) that cost me ?5 + the standard filling charge & I was good to go

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Roadsterchinsk

· #7 · Apr 9, 2010

Normally you will need a seal kit as the R134a isn't as good to the seals as R12.

If your aircon is mega cold on a hot day and I mean really cold its more likely to be the more efficient R12. R134a is not as efficient and is therefore less cold.

My view on this is that if its working doesn't get it changed over as regular once in a while use of the R12 is going to keep the seals nourished and keep it in there.
If you are going to remove the AC however and you have R12, it would be irresponsible not to pay someone to de-gas it correctly and control the gas.

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Baby G

· #8 · Apr 9, 2010

Also look at lubrication for the compressor. On my other car I ended up with a serious bill as the new gas was used, this doesn't carry lubricant in the same way which ultimately led to the compressor failing. Not a good thing. Gary at AVACS in Alton is excellent if anyone's down that way.

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niggle

· #9 · Apr 9, 2010 (Edited by Moderator)

Roadsterchinsk said:
Normally you will need a seal kit as the R134a isn't as good to the seals as R12.

If your aircon is mega cold on a hot day and I mean really cold its more likely to be the more efficient R12. R134a is not as efficient and is therefore less cold.

There are legal replacements for R12 which are (almost) equally as efficient (RS24 and R314a). Note that R314a and R134a *are* two different refrigerants.

There was a mobile A/C guy from the Midlands (Bees?) at the OC National Rally last September. He was doing a full R12 evac and regas for £70, although this might have been a "show special" price.

Labour costs for fitting new seals for R134a would be quite high, I would have thought.

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hooligan

· #10 · Apr 9, 2010

got mine done with the r12 substitute gas last year for ?70 .

on most imports you will find that the gas has been removed anyway in japan prior to shipping i believe it has to be done by law, hence why most imported roadsters AC does not work!!

at least thats what the old guy who did mine told me...

worth doing if you can be bothered as *some* times it is just a little too hot to have the roof down! granted not very often....

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niggle

· #11 · Apr 9, 2010 (Edited by Moderator)

hooligan said:
got mine done with the r12 substitute gas last year for £70 .

on most imports you will find that the gas has been removed anyway in japan prior to shipping i believe it has to be done by law, hence why most imported roadsters AC does not work!!

Thats good to know.

Did you need to have service port adapters fitted to refill with the R12 substitute?

My Roadster was imported in 2006 and still has the original service ports. The previous and only other UK owner did not mention anything to me about the A/C being regassed whilst he owned it so I am assuming that it arrived from Japan in working order.

Incidentally, does anyone know of a UK source for A/C receiver driers? I can get a Visteon item for 15 USD from the states but then they want over 30 USD to ship it to the UK.

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guitarjon

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 9, 2010

So does anyone know anywhere in South Yorkshire where I can get this conversion done? Cant say as Ive noticed any stickers on mine.

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GaryR

· #13 · Apr 9, 2010

South yorkshire you would do well to speak to Jay (blackbullet), he will point you in the right direction he's more commercial but will have contacts if he doesn't provide the service himself.

Regards seals, any system that has not been run for some time or suffered charge (and oil loss) has the potential to be problematical. I've never heard of seals being changed for a replacement refrigerant.

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