Found a car but need a little help.

Hi,

I've just been to look at a a coop and it's basically the car I want. However, I think the aircon compressor might be knackered. There was no cold air at all from the vents even though the A/C light was on.

When I pressed the A/C button, I went and checked to see if the pulley was driving the pump or not. As far as I could tell, it wasn't. The belt was obviosuly spinning the outer part of the pulley, but the centre was stationary. Is this correct or is it faulty?

Please look at this photo to see the bit that I'm talking about. Should the area that the arrow points to be spinning or stationary?

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/DavidCane/a-c.jpg

If the pump does need replacing, how much does that job cost? I need to know so that I can get that much knocked off the price.

Once this little detail is resolved, I should be buying this car. However, I'm not buying a car if I know it's got faulty A/C.

Thanks

DC

'Probably' needs a re-gas, but you won't know unless you re-gas it... but both the Coupes I've had have been 'fixed' with a re-gas.. cost £50-70 depending on where you go.

So, if it's in need of a re-gas, the centre of the A/C compressor pulley won't spin when the A/C button is pressed? Is that correct?

Cheers

DC

If the system needs a regas it wont turn on once the pressure is below a certain point I believe.

Just before I bought mine it was regassed and was working fine, 2 months later it has stopped again. I am thinking it must have a leak somewhere?

Might be best to get the WHOLE system checked out! It could be regassed and then just stop in a few months time!

If it just needs regassing, it will still spin the compressor when you push the aircon button. To check if the compressor is running do the following:
1. Switch on engine with bonnet up and window wound down. Allow idle to settle.
2. Press aircon button. Within a second or so you should hear the engine note drop momentarily and then come back up to normal.

If you don't hear the engine note drop, the compressor isn't working. Could be as simple as a relay. Could be a new compressor.
If you do hear it drop but you don't have cold air, it needs a re-gas. But you may also find that the seals need replacing and the system needs a full overhaul. This cost the previous owner of my coupe £250.(I've got the bill).
I don't know how much a new compressor/re-gas would cost but I don't think you'd see much change out of £500-£600.

I'd be looking at £500 off the asking price if the compressor isn't working and £250 if is but you have no cold air.
Hope that helps.

Thanks for that. Assuming that it's needing more than a simple re-gas, can anyone recommend a specialist in the North London or Northampton area? The car and it's current owner are in Northampton, I'm in London.

One of us will be fixing it, we'll decide who tomorrow. I'd be happier if I do as then I'll know exactly what was done.

DC

I was under the impression that it has a pressure cut off, if the pressure of the system drops below a certain amount it will not engage the Electro magnetic pulley and start the compressor!

These are who I've used and they are very professional. Open on Saturday morning too: http://www.car-aircon.co.uk/

Thanks dazzle. I called them today and they said anywhere between £50 + vat for a simple re-gas, up to £500 for a major component failure. So I guess I'm looking at £500 + vat worst case scenario.

Time for some haggling after work. Hopefully I can get £500 off as the car does need a service yet is advertised as FSH.

DC

what's the car DC?

A moon grey 20VT plus. We've agreed a price and will subtract the cost of the air con repair from that price. I'll call the seller this evening when I'm back from work and try to finalise it all. Everything else on the car is good, although it does need all fluids and filters changed, but we need the iron out this A/C detail.

Once we're all done and dusted I'll post more details. If all goes well I should have it in 2 weeks. The seller needs the car until then anyway so it's not a problem as I'm not in a hurry.

Congratulations!

I take it you're a hppy bunny then! Dis it all run 'sweet as a nut'!?

Would love to see some photos, and hear the details whenever you can ...

I'm still looking, as you know, so i'd be very very grateful for any advice that you've learnt through the buying process. Potholes to fall into / dodgy cars out there / things to look out for ...

anyway, once again, congrats! I'd be absolutewly chuffed to bits if I was you! A PLUS! (Tasty).

Cheers for now,

It's booked in to have the aircon oiled and re-gassed on Saturday and I should be actually buying the car next Saturday, 13th may