Thread: Aircon servicing?

My TD5 D2 has had few of the failures that other poeple on here have had, I put this down to good luck and regular preventative maintainance. (If the head, sump, front drive-shaft have to come off, regular brake-fluid flushing etc etc so what? Just do it.) It keeps the car reliable as possible but these jobs I do myself.
What about the servicing of the A/C system?
Estimates range from $100 for 'we just regas it' to '...could be three grand if we have to take the dash apart to get to it..."
The A/C works now and has not lost much effectiveness in the 3 summers I have had the car. I don't want a compressor failure or other instantaneous breakdown that servicing could help avoid. Adelaide is in a heatwave BTW...
Is a service worth it? What gets done? What do I ask for? How do I know it has been done properly?
Sounds like some people on here have A/C experience or qualifications. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance, Jason M.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

routine servicing of aircon basically involves turning it on and making sure it runs.

inspecting it is just a case of making sure all the lines are secure.

you only really service it if you need to work on it and then servicing includes

degassing
changing the reciever drier or the dessicant bag
checking its still got oil in it
regassing

all of which you need to have an aircon ticket to do.

anything else is technically a repair.

everything you do for servicing and testing means you let a little of the gas out of the system.

The book tells you how to take care of the system and IMHO if its working and you use it every week then you leave it alone.

X2

The other things you can check is make sure the electric fan in front of the radiator is on( when the A/C is on),hose out the condenser regularly,& while you are there also the rad,intercooler,etc.Removing the top plastic panel will give you better access.
Also remove the foam filter which is at the base of the windscreen,under the bonnet & give it a wash,then refit it.

Chafing of hoses is a common cause of failures,so check them regularly,particularly the suction hose near the A/C compresser as it is real close to the oil line from the turbo.