A/C issue

[nickdrinkwater]

Hi guys

The a/c/climate control on my car stopped working the other day.  Took it to the garage today and been told it's a leaking pipe that needs replacing.  I'm sure the diagnosis is right as when I bought the car last year I had the seller regas it and it has gone flat again since then.

Anyway, question is do you think ?360 is a fair price to get this fixed?  This includes the part (260-something) and labour presumably which is 2 hours

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Nick

[TurboDan]

The labor sounds about right, but ?260 for the pipe sounds pretty steep. Would it be possible for you to get the part number (or perhaps the exact name of the part) and look it up online to compare?

[S204STi]

Sounds right.

[shp4man]

Need the car's year, model, engine size and the part name of the hose- Suction? Discharge? Liquid line? Manifold assembly?

[nickdrinkwater]

Thanks guys

2007 Passat 1.9 TDI

Not sure on the part no/name just yet but I understand it is a pipe somewhere that has broken which means the refridgerant has escaped from the system.   You can tell I'm no HVAC expert 

[shp4man]

Thanks guys

2007 Passat 1.9 TDI

Not sure on the part no/name just yet but I understand it is a pipe somewhere that has broken which means the refridgerant has escaped from the system.   You can tell I'm no HVAC expert 

Well, since that powertrain apparenty wasn't available here, I can only estimate, but at a shop rate of $100 an hour, the average parts/labor for an average hose replacement, leak test, evacuate, recover and recharge would be about $630 American dollars.

[nickdrinkwater]

Well, since that powertrain apparenty wasn't available here, I can only estimate, but at a shop rate of $100 an hour, the average parts/labor for an average hose replacement, leak test, evacuate, recover and recharge would be about $630 American dollars.

Thanks buddy  .  That matches up with what I have here then, and is probably accurate since the whole system will be common across different powertrains.

[Morris Minor]

Does the 1.9 diesel drive OK with the a/c running? I know they suck a few horsepower, which can be a issue with on lower output engines.

[CJ]

Does the 1.9 diesel drive OK with the a/c running? I know they suck a few horsepower, which can be a issue with on lower output engines.

My driver's ed car was a 2001 Jetta TDI and I remember it being just fine.  I drove the balls off of it every time I detailed it. 

[nickdrinkwater]

Does the 1.9 diesel drive OK with the a/c running? I know they suck a few horsepower, which can be a issue with on lower output engines.

Absolutely fine.  Until it stopped working, I had the A/C on permanently since that's how climate control systems are meant to work in order to maintain a temperature (or so i heard)

[AutobahnSHO]

Absolutely fine.  Until it stopped working, I had the A/C on permanently since that's how climate control systems are meant to work in order to maintain a temperature (or so i heard)

The A/C cools, you don't need it unless you need to cool or de-humidify. Because running the A/C and heater will produce air that isn't as hot as just heater but will take moisture out of the air.

[nickdrinkwater]

Ok thanks

So I've got it fixed

How often should A/C be used in order to keep it working correctly?  Every week?  Or is this a myth?

[Rupert]

I'd say that's a myth. Use it when you need it, and not when you don't.

[shp4man]

The compressor's shaft seal uses lubricating oil mixed with the cold juice (refrigerant R-134A) to complete the seal. If it dries out from long time non-operation, some or all the R-134A can leak out the compressor shaft.

[AutobahnSHO]

a/c will cause a drop in mpg about 1-3?

Running it every week or two should be fine, what maybe 10-15min?

[280Z Turbo]

The A/C on my Z worked fine until I removed it for intercooler/terbow power. Every other seal was dried out, but the A/C worked fine.

I'd file this under shade tree mechanic's tall tales along with the "250 mpg carbuerator" and "leaky muffler cracks valves".

[shp4man]

a/c will cause a drop in mpg about 1-3?

Running it every week or two should be fine, what maybe 10-15min?

Yes.

And once every 2 months is OK.

[shp4man]

The A/C on my Z worked fine until I removed it for intercooler/terbow power. Every other seal was dried out, but the A/C worked fine.

I'd file this under shade tree mechanic's tall tales along with the "250 mpg carbuerator" and "leaky muffler cracks valves".

Compressor runs in the defrost position- even in the winter.

[Soup DeVille]

The A/C on my Z worked fine until I removed it for intercooler/terbow power. Every other seal was dried out, but the A/C worked fine.

I'd file this under shade tree mechanic's tall tales along with the "250 mpg carbuerator" and "leaky muffler cracks valves".

Its one of those things that may or may not be true; but I'll run the AC on the Caddy every couple of months anyways, because it just might be true.

[280Z Turbo]

Its one of those things that may or may not be true; but I'll run the AC on the Caddy every couple of months anyways, because it just might be true.

Your Cadillac runs?!

[Rupert]

x2

?!

[Soup DeVille]

Your Cadillac runs?!

Yes, but it doesn't drive at the moment.

The original 425 is in it and complete, and that runs. The new motor is still incomplete. Most of the accessories on the old motor will go on the new one, including the AC compressor.

To be brutally honest, I start it mostly just because that's about the only time I get to play with it at all.

Life lesson #32567: If you want to restore a car, don't have twins.

[Rich]

Twins aren't all that bad

[Soup DeVille]

Twins aren't all that bad

My twins are a boy and a girl, and they just turned one.

[Rich]

My twins are a boy and a girl, and they just turned one.

Oh, you meant the other way of "having" twins

[Soup DeVille]

Oh, you meant the other way of "having" twins

yes, yes I did.


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