Crap Air Con and who can put it right?
15 July 2002, 01:48 PM
#1
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This heat wave we're having has revealed to me that what I thought was air-con in my MY97T was in fact ambient air blasting at me at high speed (i.e. air got cooler the faster I went). Sitting in that dreadful traffic jam on the A3 yesterday on the way back from the Goodwood Festival of Speed has convinced me I gotta do something about this.
Sometime ago there was a thread about the recommended approach to re-gassing the compressor, that avoids taking out a loan in order to get it done by a Subaru dealer. Can't find that useful bit of info so can anyone tell me who us Scooby owners prefer to use for this?
Ta muchly in advance,
Canuck
Sometime ago there was a thread about the recommended approach to re-gassing the compressor, that avoids taking out a loan in order to get it done by a Subaru dealer. Can't find that useful bit of info so can anyone tell me who us Scooby owners prefer to use for this?
Ta muchly in advance,
Canuck
15 July 2002, 01:57 PM
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had mine sorted a month ago by a firm called "Serck Intertruck". i think thet are a national company, I found them in the yellow pages.
my 94 WRX had the illegal gas in so that had to be drained and a new receiver drier fitted and regassed.
Total cost £128 + vat
my 94 WRX had the illegal gas in so that had to be drained and a new receiver drier fitted and regassed.
Total cost £128 + vat
15 July 2002, 01:58 PM
#3
Before you take such drastic action, may I just enquire whether (but I'm sure you will have) had the airflow in the Re-Circ position? Aircon doesn't work (very) well when hot air from the outside is coming in all the time.
From the sound of your post (the faster I went the cooler) it would probably seem that this was the case. Just check this & it might save you £150
From the sound of your post (the faster I went the cooler) it would probably seem that this was the case. Just check this & it might save you £150
15 July 2002, 02:10 PM
#4
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Nice one Puff, tho' I have noticed that a lot of the modern climate control systems do in fact switch over to re-circulation I have been running the air-con in the scoob with the vent open to "atmosphere".
Is this the problem then or one with the compressor? Hmmm.
If the compressor, then the daft thing is that I bought this car 2 years ago from a reputable East Midlands Subaru (and Farm Equipment) dealer, who claimed to re-gas the unit after I complained about how pathetic it was on the test drive. When picking up the car for that glorious first blast off the forecourt I was told that it was all sorted and so have only assumed that this was as good as it gets - which seemed about as effective as the standard equipment headlights and thus yet another of those delightful ickle Scooby quirks that can be rectified if one can be bothered to do so.
[Edited by Canuck - 7/15/2002 2:12:54 PM]
Is this the problem then or one with the compressor? Hmmm.
If the compressor, then the daft thing is that I bought this car 2 years ago from a reputable East Midlands Subaru (and Farm Equipment) dealer, who claimed to re-gas the unit after I complained about how pathetic it was on the test drive. When picking up the car for that glorious first blast off the forecourt I was told that it was all sorted and so have only assumed that this was as good as it gets - which seemed about as effective as the standard equipment headlights and thus yet another of those delightful ickle Scooby quirks that can be rectified if one can be bothered to do so.
[Edited by Canuck - 7/15/2002 2:12:54 PM]
15 July 2002, 03:04 PM
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Hi there,
I have my aircon on in my MY98 with the vent open to atmosphere and still get icy cold air so if it is working properly IMHO this shouldn't be the cause of the problem - and it worked fine like this in the traffic to and from Goodwood all weekend !
If you have'nt had the aircon turned on for ages it is possible it does need re-gassing.
If you are in the South Midlands I can find the number of the place that re-gassed my aircon (they were recomended to me by my local Subaru dealer) for about £55 earlier this year.
Regards
Robin
I have my aircon on in my MY98 with the vent open to atmosphere and still get icy cold air so if it is working properly IMHO this shouldn't be the cause of the problem - and it worked fine like this in the traffic to and from Goodwood all weekend
!If you have'nt had the aircon turned on for ages it is possible it does need re-gassing.
If you are in the South Midlands I can find the number of the place that re-gassed my aircon (they were recomended to me by my local Subaru dealer) for about £55 earlier this year.
Regards
Robin
15 July 2002, 03:13 PM
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As long as you haven't got the nasty gas that can sometimes turn into something close to mustard gas,then you could try halfords...I think they charge about £60...but more if you need anything more than a regas...such as dehumidifying crystals...etc
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15 July 2002, 03:25 PM
#8
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The Manual for my car (I dont have a Scoob) says that you should use the aircon (not necessarily on cold) for at least 30mins a month to keep it in decent working order.
Andy
Andy
15 July 2002, 04:35 PM
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Had mine regased for £35 by a Green Flag chap. I think they have franchises, anyway my local one does it so might be worth a call.
That price was + VAT (
) and included adding dye to check for leaks afterwards, he even did the GFs Cappuccino that initially appeared to not leak only to find after filling it, it did 
He didn't even charge for that and just came back after I fixed the pipe. £35 again all in.
That price was + VAT (
) and included adding dye to check for leaks afterwards, he even did the GFs Cappuccino that initially appeared to not leak only to find after filling it, it did He didn't even charge for that and just came back after I fixed the pipe. £35 again all in.
16 July 2002, 10:20 AM
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To answer that question about whether to recirculate or not when running the air-con, I tried it out last night after Puff made his insightful comment.
The tepid air coming out on re-circ/air-con was no colder than running with full vent and the air-con off. Seems that re-gassing is the issue. I do try run the thing for 10-15 min every month just to keep things sweet (in fact it used to work a treat for de-misting the inside of the car in the winter or when it rains and you're soaked). I thought that re-charging was good for at least 3 years, so from what I said earlier this looks a bit premature for it to have packed up already! The thing never seemed to work well anyway, even after picking it up the first time from the dealer. I expected that the air should be cold enuff to bring up the nips on the wife and have been well disappointed...
I have heard that Halfords can re-charge and was hoping to canvass opinion before letting 'em at my car. Any other suggestions are most appreciated (I live up near the Notts/Lincs/Leics border), and I definitely do not want to spend £150 to sort this, if it can be avoided!
Canuck
[Edited by Canuck - 7/16/2002 10:21:19 AM]
The tepid air coming out on re-circ/air-con was no colder than running with full vent and the air-con off. Seems that re-gassing is the issue. I do try run the thing for 10-15 min every month just to keep things sweet (in fact it used to work a treat for de-misting the inside of the car in the winter or when it rains and you're soaked). I thought that re-charging was good for at least 3 years, so from what I said earlier this looks a bit premature for it to have packed up already! The thing never seemed to work well anyway, even after picking it up the first time from the dealer. I expected that the air should be cold enuff to bring up the nips on the wife and have been well disappointed...
I have heard that Halfords can re-charge and was hoping to canvass opinion before letting 'em at my car. Any other suggestions are most appreciated (I live up near the Notts/Lincs/Leics border), and I definitely do not want to spend £150 to sort this, if it can be avoided!
Canuck
[Edited by Canuck - 7/16/2002 10:21:19 AM]
16 July 2002, 10:57 AM
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Sorry to hijack
Should you lose significant power when putting the aircon on, as in MY96T you actually feel the difference when you press the aircon button. I've driven many other cars with it fitted and not really noticed it before.
PP
Should you lose significant power when putting the aircon on, as in MY96T you actually feel the difference when you press the aircon button. I've driven many other cars with it fitted and not really noticed it before.
PP
16 July 2002, 01:34 PM
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I have thought the same thing for a while that the air con may need re-charging. I looked at trading in the car at a Subaru dealer, they tested the air con whilst the car was idling and they commented that it was not as good as they thought it should be. They had the re-cir switched off and it was sucking in air from outside.
Driving off with the air con the air gets colder so I think just a one off. Out this weekend and very hot, flat mate says that I should run the air con with re-cir switched on. So I give it a try and it was bloody freezing!!!!! So it would seem all is well.
In my previous BMW I never turned re-cir on and the AC pumped cold air all the time..........As you say maybe just another Subaru quirk.
Just my 2 cents worth
Dunk
Driving off with the air con the air gets colder so I think just a one off. Out this weekend and very hot, flat mate says that I should run the air con with re-cir switched on. So I give it a try and it was bloody freezing!!!!! So it would seem all is well.
In my previous BMW I never turned re-cir on and the AC pumped cold air all the time..........As you say maybe just another Subaru quirk.
Just my 2 cents worth
Dunk
16 July 2002, 02:14 PM
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When I got my MY99 last September, the sales guy said ... and I quote ...
"Turn the air supply to the outside position"
"Turn the airflow to the face vents"
"Turn the fan speed onto max"
Don't do any of these now, and I find setting the airflow toward the screen the best for cooling from head to toe.
When stuck in traffic the AC is not fantastic, but on the move it's fine, tho I think it should be a bit colder.
I've not tried the AC in re-circ position yet, but I'll give it ago.
As my Scoob is now over 3 years old ... maybe it's time for a re-gas too?
J.
"Turn the air supply to the outside position"
"Turn the airflow to the face vents"
"Turn the fan speed onto max"
Don't do any of these now, and I find setting the airflow toward the screen the best for cooling from head to toe.
When stuck in traffic the AC is not fantastic, but on the move it's fine, tho I think it should be a bit colder.
I've not tried the AC in re-circ position yet, but I'll give it ago.
As my Scoob is now over 3 years old ... maybe it's time for a re-gas too?
J.
16 July 2002, 02:33 PM
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Using the air on 'recirc' is in theory more efficient as you are cooling the air that you already cooled. Problem is that you get a buildup of humidity in the air, so when you turn the aircon offf hey presto, misted screen. Having spent a month driving round europe a couple of summers ago I discovered that the best thing to do is open all the windows for a couple of minutes to let the hot air out the car, then to run it on 'recirc' then change to 'fresh' whenever the 'recirc' air starts to smell. I also notice that the air can't get out of the car when you're on 'fresh', so I crack the rear windows an inch and I can hear the fan speed up noticably.
17 July 2002, 12:48 AM
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It seems the UK dealer fitted a/c are worse than the factory fitted stuff.
Putting it to recirc won't make it any colder, but the a/c system will work more efficiently as the air is already cold inside. It is also better to have recirc as to keep the pollen & other gases (i.e. exhaust from other cars) out. It will be more humid inside but UK summers are dry enough not to mist up the windows, just don't open the windscreen vents & u'll be ok.
The most efficient fan speed is usually below the middle setting for most cars, the higher the fan speed, the less cool the air.
As for air vent settings, i usually have the face vents & foot vents on.
In HK, where the weather now is 33 deg & over 90% humidity, these settings work well as long as the system is working properly.
If the car has been sitting under the sun for the whole day, i would suggest first open all the doors for 1 or 2 mins to get rid of some hot air (don't drive off with the doors open!!), then turn on the a/c using outside air (not recirc), then drive off with the windows open & a/c on for 1 or 2 mins. when the interior has cooled down a bit, i.e. not boiling, then u can close the windows & switch to recirc.
[Edited by clarence - 7/17/2002 12:52:14 AM]
Putting it to recirc won't make it any colder, but the a/c system will work more efficiently as the air is already cold inside. It is also better to have recirc as to keep the pollen & other gases (i.e. exhaust from other cars) out. It will be more humid inside but UK summers are dry enough not to mist up the windows, just don't open the windscreen vents & u'll be ok.
The most efficient fan speed is usually below the middle setting for most cars, the higher the fan speed, the less cool the air.
As for air vent settings, i usually have the face vents & foot vents on.
In HK, where the weather now is 33 deg & over 90% humidity, these settings work well as long as the system is working properly.
If the car has been sitting under the sun for the whole day, i would suggest first open all the doors for 1 or 2 mins to get rid of some hot air (don't drive off with the doors open!!), then turn on the a/c using outside air (not recirc), then drive off with the windows open & a/c on for 1 or 2 mins. when the interior has cooled down a bit, i.e. not boiling, then u can close the windows & switch to recirc.
[Edited by clarence - 7/17/2002 12:52:14 AM]
17 July 2002, 09:55 AM
#17
Air conditioning requires the system to be used frequently ,otherwise the seals shrink and a loss of the coolant gas results.
That means even in the winter the a/c should be used.
A regas should not be conducted unless the original gas is removed from the system , a leak test performed and the joint rectified BEFORE regassing.
That means even in the winter the a/c should be used.
A regas should not be conducted unless the original gas is removed from the system , a leak test performed and the joint rectified BEFORE regassing.
17 July 2002, 12:06 PM
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This has generated lots of interesting discussion about air conditioning but I am still not yet clear on who to use in the UK to sort out my system which is not working properly.
Subaru dealership or some national company (e.g., Halfords) or an independent?
What is the experience of the collective?
[Edited by Canuck - 7/17/2002 12:07:18 PM]
Subaru dealership or some national company (e.g., Halfords) or an independent?
What is the experience of the collective?
[Edited by Canuck - 7/17/2002 12:07:18 PM]
17 July 2002, 01:12 PM
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Chris,
Green Flag operate a franchise type system I think. The guy is supported by the green flag network and gets to 'specialise' in certain area, he sounded happy with the arrangement anyway.
He was a local chap who had the A/C equipment, not all would have it and I very much doubt he would travel that far, probably would cover Dorset and maybe Hamshire but for £35 travelling to Southampton is a waste of time...
The guys number is 01202 699825.
Green Flag operate a franchise type system I think. The guy is supported by the green flag network and gets to 'specialise' in certain area, he sounded happy with the arrangement anyway.
He was a local chap who had the A/C equipment, not all would have it and I very much doubt he would travel that far, probably would cover Dorset and maybe Hamshire but for £35 travelling to Southampton is a waste of time...
The guys number is 01202 699825.
17 July 2002, 01:52 PM
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Hi Guys,
I just called my local Halfords and they dont do it.....
Got a number of a m8 in the trade, National Air con, 01273202075,
they quoted me 85 + VAT for a full check up and re-gas.
I also enquired about the rumour of the gas in older models being dangerous, they seem to think that MY95 will be ok, however, if it does have the R12 gas, its an extra £65 +......
Group discount on air con regassing guys ??
Regards,
andyp
I just called my local Halfords and they dont do it.....
Got a number of a m8 in the trade, National Air con, 01273202075,
they quoted me 85 + VAT for a full check up and re-gas.
I also enquired about the rumour of the gas in older models being dangerous, they seem to think that MY95 will be ok, however, if it does have the R12 gas, its an extra £65 +......
Group discount on air con regassing guys ??
Regards,
andyp
17 July 2002, 04:59 PM
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As I said my Subaru dealer recommended the place that sorted my system out for £55. This included putting the UV die in to check for leaks etc etc and they were happy for me to stand there and watch while they did the whole thing.
My dealer actually said it was who they would take it to if I gave it to them, but they would have to charge the 'official' Subaru charge if they took it there for me.
If Northants is close enough and you are interested in the number let me know.
Cheers
Robin
My dealer actually said it was who they would take it to if I gave it to them, but they would have to charge the 'official' Subaru charge if they took it there for me.
If Northants is close enough and you are interested in the number let me know.
Cheers
Robin
17 July 2002, 07:09 PM
#24
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If you look on the air con 'canister' (the one with the small window on the top), it might well have a label on it
My MY94/95 says HFC134a
implying it has the later type of gas
Still needs refilling though!
and I'm still looking for a cheap place to do it
Most quote about £80
My MY94/95 says HFC134a
implying it has the later type of gas
Still needs refilling though!
and I'm still looking for a cheap place to do it
Most quote about £80
18 July 2002, 01:58 AM
#25
As a post script to my earlier post , if you guys have any doubts about your a/c system and gas levels , just look at the viewing "window" at the top of gas cylinder . If it is at all "disturbed" it indicates a gas loss. Which of course means a leak some where in your system.
18 July 2002, 09:03 AM
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LOL
thanks for that one Stu!
So we have three promising options:
Green Flag; number supplied by Rich 01202 699825
The National company;number AndyP supplied 01273202075
Northants company; number to be supplied by Robin
Suggestion made for "group buy" hmmmm, I'm game if the discount makes the wait to organise it worthwhile.
Canuck
thanks for that one Stu!
So we have three promising options:
Green Flag; number supplied by Rich 01202 699825
The National company;number AndyP supplied 01273202075
Northants company; number to be supplied by Robin
Suggestion made for "group buy" hmmmm, I'm game if the discount makes the wait to organise it worthwhile.
Canuck
23 July 2002, 03:42 PM
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It's not a fixed percentage for every engine, it's just a bhp load like every other component, so the more powerful the engine, the smaller percentage drop. And the CPU kills the aircon under full throttle too.
Oh and if a few bhp is important to you, don't open the windows!
Oh and if a few bhp is important to you, don't open the windows!
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