Air Con?

[PaulCartwright]

Does anybody know how I fill up the A/C on the Citroen C5 or any car for that matter I had a completely empty system I purchased a bottle (13.4 KG) off an "internet auction site" stood the bottle UPRIGHT and filled the car with the gas. I have the correct couplers and such. filled the car up to 35PSI and I cannot tell the difference the A/c clutch kicks in and there is a sound in the car of air passing through the pipes I have initially opened up the opposite valve until I could smell 134A gas to bleed the system.

 

I noticed on the A/C bottle I purchased that if I turn the bottle upside down you get a liquid?

 

So do you fill the system with liquid or gas or neither?

 

Any ideas

 

Paul

 

I drive a Citroen C5 2.0 MPI Exclusive SE on an 02

[kfk]

Regassing an air conitioning sytem from empty isnt a DIY job.

 

How the system works

If you compress a gas it becomes hot, but when you let it expand again it cools down. If you turn a gas into a liquid, and then allow it to turn back into a gas the effect is multiplied. The main components of all systems are as follows.

 

The gas is drawn into the compressor, and then compressed by a number of pistons. The compressed gas then goes through a large radiator normally behind the normal cooling rad, where the gas is cooled. This piece of equipment is called the condensor because it condenses the gas (turns it from a gas to a liquid.)

 

The liquid gas now moves into the car, and is squirted through a jet into another radiator. The gas evaporates and as it does so cools down. This radiator is called the evaporator for obvious reasons. Basically that is all there is to it. Provided the system doesn’t develop a leak the gas will continue this cycle almost ad-infinitum.

 

Everything else in the system is designed to control temperature or to ensure a longer life for the equipment.

 

Dangers of Air Conditioning Refrigerant

 

1 ) Refrigerant in the system is under pressure ( can be 300 psi with the system switched on ). normaly approx 50 - 100 psi in static conditions.

 

2 ) Liquid on the skin can cause cold burns ( frost bite ) and can be very dangerous to the eyes.

 

3 ) The gas vapours are heavier than air. In a confined area it will replace the air, ( spreads along the ground and collects in pits ).

 

4) Do not smoke or use naked flames when in the vicinity of these gasses, the combination of the two will produce highly toxic phosgene gas (Mustard Gas).

 

In short if you have not been trained or lack the required equipment do not touch the air conditioning systems.

 

 

The reason for the change form R12 to R134A refrigerant Gas

R12 refrigerant gas contains CFC's which means it contains Chlorine. Chlorine is one of the main causes of the Ozone Depletion. The new refrigerant gas R134A ( which is in all vehicles from approx 1995 - ) has no Chlorine in it, so it does not damage the Ozone. It does however contribute in a small way to the Greenhouse Effect ( Global Warming ).

 

THERFORE WE NEED TO RECLAIM BOTH GASSES.

 

It is an offence to release either gas into the air and is punishable by a fine of £20,000 or imprisonment.

[PaulCartwright]

so i did it right then?

 

any sugestions to what i can do to get the A/C working properly as in this weather its murder!

[kfk]

i wouldnt say you did it right!

 

You didnt create a vacuum first.

You havent removed whatever moisture is in the system

You dont know how much refrigerant you have got in the system

 

The refrigerant is currently mixed with water and other gases due to a vacuum not having been applied to the system.

 

As you are probably aware if you boil water and then add salt it goes off the boil because you have altered its state.

 

By mixing refrigerant with condensation and other impurities you have done the same.

 

With a vacuumed system the refrigerant is initially pulled into the pipes and then the remainder is forced in.

 

I would guess that without vacumming the system that you have possibly only got 50% of the amount of refrigerant in even though you have the correct pressure.

 

So if you have insufficient refrigerant you cant expect it to work correctly.

 

Why was it empty of gas?

[PaulCartwright]

i hit a deer of cannock chase and it nudged the rads i fixed it myself and replaced the a/c rad so it was a completly empty system

 

im sorry to be a pain mate thanks for your comments they are really helpfull

 

how do i create a vacuum is it a special piece of kit?

 

i took it to citroen and like if you need a light bulb chaning they say "it has to be put on a computer" i told them balls

[kfk]

You do need a piece of kit to provide a vacuum......our piece of kit has just cost 3 grand, but then apart from driving the car in the workshop and mopping the technicians brow it seems to do it all on its own.

 

Seeing as you know what caused the leak, and seemingly you have fixed it. I'd recommend] checking your area for regassing specialists......it doesnt need to be a main dealer.

 

I know were doing regasses at the moment on promotion £59.95.....a bargain if you were in kent.

 

Had a quick search and came up with AirMedics, there in the staffordshire area, might be worth a ring explain you've repaired it and ask for a quote.