Cab a/c packed up in France

mikebeaches

mikebeaches

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Rapido V68 Van Conversion
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Since 2009
Just arrived in France to discover the air con in the cab isn't producing any cool air.

Not sure if re-gassing might fix it, but thinking of trying to get it done over here. Assuming it shouldn't be too difficult to find somewhere.

It's a 2016 Fiat X290, but guess any decent garage should be able to tackle?

Heading to Coulommiers, 40-odd miles east of Paris. Not a problem at the moment because weather cool with showers, but forecast to be 28-30c in a few days, so would like to see if it's an easy fix.

Any thoughts...? :unsure:
 
When the van is warmed up to temperature and idling and you turn the air con on, does the engine revs increase slightly?
 
Not noticed that, but did think the a/c, or something, sounded different to previously.

I will check carefully when we're on the road tomorrow. Have you had a similar issue XxAnthxX ?
 
If the engine does not increase its idle speed, it will more than likely have tripped out on low gas pressure.

It could be just a simple top up of the refrigerant so it allows the air con compressor to start….do you run the air con frequently….even on cold days?
 
Contact site you are headed to and tell them to expect a gas cylinder and then Amazon is your friend !

Alternatively I would think norauto would have a can

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Our 2016 ducato needed regassing at 3 years old
It had lost the gas because Fiat had cross threaded the filling valve when they van was built. There was oil in the cap whre the gas is filled.
 
suavecarve said:
Contact site you are headed to and tell them to expect a gas cylinder and then Amazon is your friend !

Alternatively I would think norauto would have a can
Click to expand...
Is it an easy DIY job? My days of trying to fix mechanical stuff are almost over. ;).
 
If you do attempt to top it up yourself…..check the refrigerant type your van uses.(it’s probably on a sticker on the slam panel or the underside of the bonnet)

Pre 2017 A134A was most common gas but after this R1234yf became more common thanks to our EU friends….oh and it’s twice the price.

You could have either….

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mikebeaches said:
Is it an easy DIY job? My days of trying to fix mechanical stuff are almost over. ;).
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Yes as long as you don’t have a leak……well a big leak anyway.

you can get air con sealer which lubricates dry o rings which will start to leak if you don’t use the air con regularly….even in winter.
 
It’s a case of finding the low pressure fill point on the air con pipe work…..connecting the gas and filling to the correct pressure….a bit like a tyre 😉
 
You can get DIY cans, BUT to do the job properly the system should be vacuumed down before adding more refrigerant.
Air con systems will only lose gas because of a leak, the most common of which is a damaged condenser, they are really quite fragile being aluminium and situated in front of the radiator.
If you just get it re-gassed it will fail again until the faults are rectified.
 
XxAnthxX said:
...do you run the air con frequently….even on cold days?
Click to expand...
Yes and no! I'm aware of the importance of keeping the seals moist by using regularly.

The problem is the van hasn't been in regular use for a while, although we try to take it for a short run every 4-6 weeks.

But I do wonder if the seals have dried out / perished? :(
 
eurajohn said:
You can get DIY cans, BUT to do the job properly the system should be vacuumed down before adding more refrigerant.
Air con systems will only lose gas because of a leak, the most common of which is a damaged condenser, they are really quite fragile being aluminium and situated in front of the radiator.
If you just get it re-gassed it will fail again until the faults are rectified.
Click to expand...
This is why I'm wary of trying to fix it myself.

And I realise re-gassing alone may not be a long term fix. But I think it might be worth a try for this short trip, as we're only away for just over a couple of weeks.
 
Your van AC will naturally permeate refrigerant (about 10-15% a year) till it trips out on low pressure….but it will more than likely be dry seals where the refrigerant will escape.

If you put a sealer in to lubricate and seal the o rings….get one that has dye in it, then if there’s a larger leak you can easily see it, because of the dye stain.

I wouldn’t bother getting it vacuumed……unless you have a failure of a pipe or component, that requires replacing….then get the air sucked out after the new parts are fitted.
 
Try Feu Verte or any of the other Halford type of establishment over here if a condenser (most likely) done in a day and around €500.
There are a lot of urban myths ref air con.
If using a dye to locate a leak you will also need an ultra violet lamp to see it.

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XxAnthxX said:
Your van AC will naturally permeate refrigerant (about 10-15% a year) till it trips out on low pressure….but it will more than likely be dry seals where the refrigerant will escape.
Click to expand...
10-15% a year loss and the van 6 years old means we'd be down to between 60% & 90% loss of refrigerant anyway on that basis.
 
eurajohn said:
Try Feu Verte or any of the other Halford type of establishment over here if a condenser (most likely) done in a day and around €500.
There are a lot of urban myths ref air con.
If using a dye to locate a leak you will also need an ultra violet lamp to see it.
Click to expand...
500 Euros!! Crikey £50 in the UK if it's just an evacuate and regas of R143A
 
XxAnthxX said:
It appears we’ve already diagnosed a failed condenser…🙄
Click to expand...
No not diagnosed just being realistic, for the age of vehicle in question it is the most common cause of failure.
 
mikebeaches said:
Just arrived in France to discover the air con in the cab isn't producing any cool air.

Not sure if re-gassing might fix it, but thinking of trying to get it done over here. Assuming it shouldn't be too difficult to find somewhere.

It's a 2016 Fiat X290, but guess any decent garage should be able to tackle?

Heading to Coulommiers, 40-odd miles east of Paris. Not a problem at the moment because weather cool with showers, but forecast to be 28-30c in a few days, so would like to see if it's an easy fix.

Any thoughts...? :unsure:
Click to expand...
My kits are in Spain, OFN, R134a etc and The UK, so I am useless to you.

Try Norauto for a kit if you get stuck.

Broken Link Removed

My be just needs re-charging if not used for a while, leak on condenser or worse still, evaporator.
 
XxAnthxX said:
Quite possibly why it’s stopped working…..but it could be a catastrophic failure of a pipe or component.
Click to expand...
Our Audi never needed re-charing in 17 years. But it was an A2 with Climate control and always reverted to ON each time ignition was turned on/off

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