I bought a MK2 1.6 Petrol Hatchback in June this year due to the new London emissions rules.

The car had a good documented history, although the air conditioning was not working at all when I bought it. I took a chance on it hoping that it would only need re-gassing.

I had my local independent garage pressure test it, at first it did not hold any pressure. After they added sealant to the system and ran the flush machine, the AC did hold pressure, and the system did work and blow cold. They also added some UV dye which would show up any leaks once the system was running again.

That soon showed up a leak from the part of the compressor I have highlighted in the photo. I borrowed the photo from ebay, the actual compressor is still fitted to the car.

I have the AC running constantly when the heating is on as it helps keep the inside of the car dry. The system is still working, but that part of the compressor is now wet with oil which glows green when exposed to UV light. There are also two possible pinhole leaks on the condenser which is showing corrosion.

It appears that there is a circlip in the highlighted area on the compressor. I assume that the leak could be something like a perished o-ring, although the system would need to be depressurised to replace it.

Has anyone on here seen this before? is it possible to de-gas the system and replace that o-ring with the compressor in place?

Thanks for any replies.

 

2 hours ago, AntonovAN12 said:

... although the air conditioning was not working at all when I bought it. I took a chance on it hoping that it would only need re-gassing.

 

When buying a car if the A/C doesn't work properly, it is NEVER a simple regas...

2 hours ago, AntonovAN12 said:

It appears that there is a circlip in the highlighted area on the compressor. I assume that the leak could be something like a perished o-ring, although the system would need to be depressurised to replace it.

Has anyone on here seen this before? is it possible to de-gas the system and replace that o-ring with the compressor in place?

Yes, I have seen that before as it happened to my very own compressor (car is of similar age). I simply bought a replacement compressor off Ebay for around £20, good time of year to buy one as no one repairs their A/C in winter LOL

Someone else may suggest a 'fix' but for me the quickest and easiest way out was a 'new' one. (Photo of where the leak was on mine, actual pic, not an Ebay one LOL) You will not be able to tackle the leak here with the compressor in situ...

Thanks for the reply. I had considered that way, but the used compressor could well leak again as the seals will be the same age.

It seems that replacing the o-ring would be about the same amount of work as both involve depressurising the system and unbolting the compressor.

 

The MOT station I usually use put the car up on the lift as I was passing. It looks like the compressor may be leaking from the front pulley seal.

Has anyone on here ever fitted a reconditioned original compressor unit?

They can be had for about £200, not including the surcharge for return of the old unit.

 

 

29 minutes ago, AntonovAN12 said:

The MOT station I usually use put the car up on the lift as I was passing. It looks like the compressor may be leaking from the front pulley seal.

Has anyone on here ever fitted a reconditioned original compressor unit?

They can be had for about £200, not including the surcharge for return of the old unit.

 

 

£200?? Geeze, the compressor I bought on Ebay was around £20 - now if you're a rich fellow, sure, pay what you want, but there's really no need!

Have a browse through these for some potentials...

I have had a look at the used ebay units before. While it is by far the cheapest option, the problem I have is that there is no way of knowing if they were properly maintained with oil changes.

Even if I had the system depressurised and fitted the used compressor myself it could leak again or even worse seize up the next month. From what I have read, if the used compressor fails and fills the system with metal particles, the whole system ruined.

If it was a part I could fit myself without needing to pay to have the gas removed and refilled, I would fit the used one.

 

Just now, AntonovAN12 said:

I have had a look at the used ebay units before. While it is by far the cheapest option, the problem I have is that there is no way of knowing if they were properly maintained with oil changes.

 

OK buddy, we just have entirely different outlooks on risk LOL My '£20' unit has been installed almost 2 years now. If it failed every 2 years for the next 20 odd years, I'd still be quids in over what you want to pay 😂 Just do what makes you happy, that's what I do... (Oh, I have never 'maintained' an A/C compressor in my motoring life!)

To add to this question, how many PSI / Bar should a fully pressurised AC system read on a pressure gauge?

The sticker in the engine bay shows that the system should be filled with 600g of R134a, but not what the system pressure should be. 

2 hours ago, AntonovAN12 said:

The sticker in the engine bay shows that the system should be filled with 600g of R134a, but not what the system pressure should be. 

The pressure is very strongly dependant on temperature, and on whether the A/C is running or not, and on the condition of the whole A/C system if it is running. So it is a very unreliable guide as to whether there is enough fluid in it. My system loses a little, maybe 50g a year, consistent with the age of the car and a bit of wear in the shaft seal. When it stops working properly, and measures below the green mark in the pressure gauge I got with a refill kit, I slowly add fluid with it running, until it gets cold at the return pipe from the evaporator (bigger pipe). Then stop. I weigh the fill cylinder before and after, as a guide to how much I am putting in.

It is better to have too little fluid, that just means a bit warmer A/C. Too much fluid is likely to totally wreck the compressor.

A typical pressure guide is here, but should be treated with great caution:

https://www.jamcoautoparts.com/systempressuretroubleshootingchart/

These will be with the system running. The low side pressure is fairly constant as that is governed by the evaporator temperature, and by a pressure switch in the system. The high side varies a lot as that is governed by the temperature inside the condenser, so is dependant on ambient air temperature, as well as a lot of other things.

19 hours ago, Tdci-Peter said:

It is better to have too little fluid, that just means a bit warmer A/C. Too much fluid is likely to totally wreck the compressor.

Thanks for the detailed reply. By "fluid" I assume you mean the gas and not the compressor oil? I was not planning to try adding any gas myself.

My MOT is due soon at the same place that re-gassed the system last year. While it was in, I was hoping to ask them to check how much pressure it had lost.

if it does come to changing the compressor for either a used or new one, I have been quoted £80 fit a compressor that I supply. This work would include de-gassing, swapping the compressor and refilling the system.

1 minute ago, AntonovAN12 said:

if it does come to changing the compressor for either a used or new one, I have been quoted £80 fit a compressor that I supply. This work would include de-gassing, swapping the compressor and refilling the system.

That seems quite a fair price especially as it includes a regas, it won't take that long if they can get it on a ramp straight away, should take 30 to 40 minutes...

15 hours ago, AntonovAN12 said:

By "fluid" I assume you mean the gas and not the compressor oil? I was not planning to try adding any gas myself.

The re-fill kits include a small amount of oil in with the a/c fluid. The a/c fluid is present inside the system both as a gas and as a liquid. In the refill cylinder it is mostly a liquid, due to the high pressure. But I would not recommend using a DIY refill kit if there is a bad leak, or to re-fill after any work done. The system needs to be subject to a really good vacuum to remove any air, and especially any water vapour, before being re-filled with a measured amount of the oil & a/c fluid mix.

My system only has a very small leak rate, so the pressure has never dropped to near atmospheric, and won't have drawn in any air or water. I have used about 1/2 the refill can in 6 years, so it is an economical way for me to keep the old system going. But you are right in using a garage to re-fill. The only worry is that the replacement compressor will seal ok. However they should do both a pressure and a vacuum leak test on the system during the re-fill, so hopefully will detect any problems.

On 12/19/2021 at 7:47 PM, StephenFord said:

When buying a car if the A/C doesn't work properly, it is NEVER a simple regas...

Yes, I have seen that before as it happened to my very own compressor (car is of similar age). I simply bought a replacement compressor off Ebay for around £20

To revive an old thread, when you had the used compressor fitted, did you have to order the pipe connection o-rings from Ford? They are a special type with four notches moulded into the inside of the ring.

The AC is not working very well these days, so am thinking about buying a used compressor to replace the leaky one.

12 minutes ago, AntonovAN12 said:

To revive an old thread, when you had the used compressor fitted, did you have to order the pipe connection o-rings from Ford? They are a special type with four notches moulded into the inside of the ring.

From memory, I'm pretty confident that no new 'o' rings were installed as I watched the whole process. Unless my guy sneaked something out of his drawer of bits, as he specialised in A/C.

Thanks for the reply. I believe these are the correct o-rings.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393457827470

Did they fit a new belt or were they able to leave the old one hanging on the engine pulley and slip the compressor into place?

10 hours ago, AntonovAN12 said:

Thanks for the reply. I believe these are the correct o-rings.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393457827470

Did they fit a new belt or were they able to leave the old one hanging on the engine pulley and slip the compressor into place?

LOL, I really think you're overthinking this. I bought him just the replacement compressor, less than an hour later I drove out with it fitted & working, that was over 2 tears ago...

9 hours ago, StephenFord said:

LOL, I really think you're overthinking this. I bought him just the replacement compressor, less than an hour later I drove out with it fitted & working, that was over 2 tears ago...

I'm not sure about labour prices in your local area, or how well you know your mechanic. Over here the garages will charge £60 just to empty and refill the system with gas. They also wanted £80 on top of that for removing the leaking compressor and fitting the used unit. You also generally have to book two weeks in advance.

That made me consider paying to have it depressurised and doing the removal and refitting work myself. At work, o-rings are generally replaced if their seals are broken.

I don't want to pay £60 to have it drained and refilled if it will leak out again.

The manual also says to cut the belt to remove it, and replace with a new one. I would also save money if that could be avoided.

 

How old is the belt?  If it's fairly new and supple, you can generally stretch them off & back on without damage if you're careful.  If it's old and crispy it's probably not worth the hassle and risk though.

I haven't read the whole thread.  Just wanted to check if you've had it diagnosed as only leaking at the compressor?  On a system that old I would be prepared for more than one area of leakage.

A poorly fitting new o-ring can be worse than a used one so that's really your choice to make.  Or leave it up to the garage if they're going to guarantee the repair...

The belt does look fairly new. I did wonder if it could be stretched back on.

The same place re-gassed the system in July 2021. It worked for quite a while, but is not so good recently. The green dye can be seen leaking from the compressor and an o-ring joint by the driver's side headlight. That only means removing one nut to replace it.

The garage say they can fit a used compressor, but are not willing to guarantee even the work when fitting a used part. This is better than some places that won't fit any used parts at all.

Another local "air conditioning specialist" quoted £400 for a brand new compressor. That was not including new drier and valve, cost of oil and gas, two hours labour at £80 per hour and VAT. They said that the drier and valve have to be fitted along with a new unit in order for them to guarantee their work.

 

 

13 minutes ago, AntonovAN12 said:

Another local "air conditioning specialist" quoted £400 for a brand new compressor.

Not bad, I was quoted £1200 (+VAT) for a new one for my previous Celica GT4. I'm not stupid, so bought a used one off Ebay for £35 which lasted 8 years when I eventually sold the car...

Does anyone know of anyone in the West London / western home counties area who would be willing to de-gas the system, install a used compressor and re-gas?

My usual garage who I mentioned earlier in the thread didn't seem too keen on actually doing the work.

If the compressor was easy to get to from the top of the engine bay I could do it myself after the system was de-gassed. Doing it myself from under the car would mean lying under it at the side of the road as I don't have a driveway.

 

The used compressor is now fitted. Now to see how long it lasts.

The final cost was £177. Unfortunately the garage have raised their hourly labour cost with the recent price rises.

I chose a used compressor on ebay where the seller had made the effort to fit red plastic dust caps into the pipe connections. I also chose one that appeared to be dry and free from oil leaks.

This is what the final costs were:

• Used compressor :£24
• Two new compressor to pipe fitting o-rings: £8 from Ford.
• One hour's labour to remove leaking compressor and fit used replacement: £75
• Re-Gas: £70

I will have a look to see if it is possible to change the leaking seals on the removed compressor when I get time. Hopefully I can do this and keep it as a spare as I know it is working other than the leaking seals. So far I haven't been able to find any parts diagrams for the compressor itself.

 

4 minutes ago, AntonovAN12 said:

• Used compressor :£24

I knew you could do it, well done...

4 hours ago, AntonovAN12 said:

The final cost was £177.

That's not a bad result all things considered. It's a lot cheaper than if you had bought a brand new one.

13 hours ago, unofix said:

That's not a bad result all things considered. It's a lot cheaper than if you had bought a brand new one.

Now I just have to hope this one doesn't leak again.

The cheapest "new" one I found was a recon for £120 with a £20 refund for return of the old unit. However, you also had to provide proof of having changed the drier and expansion valve to get a warranty on it. They also wanted proof that it was fitted by a "qualified engineer".

If it didn't need any of that done, and I could have changed it myself, I would have bought the recon one.

The o-rings that came with the used unit seemed like they could have been reused. When cleaned up with a squirt of brake cleaner they looked and felt brand new. I was expecting them to have gone hard as they are likely as old as the compressor. In the industry I work in, any unused o-rings or other soft seals are thrown away after ten years shelf life.