DIY Aircon refill in a can

Mosser · Unread post by **Mosser** » 03 Jun 2005, 03:50

Thanks for the explanation, i considered going into the refrigeration trade at one time, but there's a huge amount to learn before you can do it properly

paranoid · Unread post by **paranoid** » 23 Aug 2005, 17:19

Fancy trying a DIY top up my self is it just a case of screwing the connector on and leaving it to empty?
My air con is cold but having been in other cars I think it could be colder

tomsheppard · Unread post by **tomsheppard** » 23 Aug 2005, 22:11

And how exactly do you measure the charge you have put in from the spray can? This stuff is critical as Alan said. Find a pro who has at least ten years' experience and read Alan's postings on the subject of BX aircon, or my own correspondence with him from March to July last year so you know what the pro should be telling you.

mbunting · Unread post by **mbunting** » 14 Nov 2005, 15:59

Well, not wanting to stir up a hornets nest here, I just thought I'd tell you that having bought a can and topped up ( or replaced

) the gas in my 405, I'm quite happy with the result.

That was done nearly two months ago, and it's still working.

There is a gague on the pipe, and the idea is that you shake the can while filling - with the engine and A/C on, until the gague is in the ok zone.

eskimoigloo · Unread post by **eskimoigloo** » 20 Nov 2005, 15:19

I am also tempted, as you can now get them much cheaper than Halfords. What brand did you use? Would you say it is now as cold as you would ever want it?
Chris.

Unread post by **Diana** » 25 Nov 2005, 09:30

Not ideal as a quick fix - but if any of you are over here in France for holidays at the start of the warmer season, a lot of garages (including our local Citroen main dealer) offer overhauls of airconditioning systems for 99€ - around £70ish.

Not practical perhaps unless you are going to be over here anyway, but perhaps a good excuse for a weekend away. You can always top up on spare bits from our scrapyards where citroens are very well represented....

London luke · Unread post by **London luke** » 02 Jul 2006, 18:44

I might have to visit France to get a rear hatch door for my Xantia. mechanics prices are so much cheaper. Will get them to do the brakes and suspension ,AC the lot !

waynedl99 · Unread post by **waynedl99** » 14 Jul 2006, 21:20

Don't have to go to france for a hatch, I got a full car sat in my garage just waiting for an excuse to strip it for parts.
All there except radiator and rear suspension is shot.
Activa too

2.0i Turbo.
Offers

Stewart(oily) · Unread post by **Stewart(oily)** » 15 Jul 2006, 15:18

I just got my Xantia 1.9TD SX estate last week, it has aircon but it wasnt working at all, Today driving in traffic the temperature gauge went over 100 so theres obviously an issue with the fans too, I tried Alan S s trick of bridging the two thick wires on the drier and one fan spun up to full speed (left hand one) for a few seconds then stopped. I removed the battery and separated every connector I could find, looking for the dreaded bitron unit (which I failed to locate?) a grey one clipped to the front panel with three wires proved to be dirty so a squirt and a scrape later I rebuilt it all, inspection of the aircon compressor revealed the connector to be disconnected!, clean and reconnect that and connect pressure gauge to the low pressure side reveals zero pressure, connect up the aerosol refill can and follow the instructions, warming the can with my hands and shaking regularly, as the motor warmed up the cooling fan (Left side) kept cutting in/out and then the compressor came to life

a few more minutes of shaking the can and inside the car was getting cooler

It works! but shouldnt both fans come on, presumably they are on a common circuit?
Stewart

Unread post by **alan s** » 15 Jul 2006, 21:27

Stewart,

I've had 2 cases in two different cars over here with that problem and in both cases it was the carbon brushes in one of the fans which had worn out.
Not an expensive fix but a right mongrel to get access to.
Br aware that with the air/con condensor producing heat, there is a tendency for air/con cars to overheat if driven in town with the air con on due to increse in load and heat coupled to decrease in air supply due to only one fan; open road @ 100 kph+ is no problem, but slow driving is.
I always do both fans when one goes to save the pain of having to repeat the job within a short space of time.

Alan S

(Edit: On a BX..........., it's a 5 minute job on one of those)

Stewart(oily) · Unread post by **Stewart(oily)** » 16 Jul 2006, 08:34

Thanks Alan, this is my first aircon car and I was surprised at how hard the fan/s run, I am off to the breakers today so will look for a fresher fan motor.
Stewart

London luke · Unread post by **London luke** » 18 Jul 2006, 17:36

Wayne

you have aPM !

waynedl99 · Unread post by **waynedl99** » 19 Jul 2006, 22:13

OK, I bit the bullet and tried 1 of these kits, Castrol, tbh, I found it a little flimsy and hard to press the button. BUT it worked, aircon compressor kicked in and overloaded the canister for a second, had to leave it, turn air con off, then turn it back on then try again, but it WORKED.

Will update on length of time it works for.

French Car Forum

DIY Aircon refill in a can

Left hand fan only?, Xantia 1998 TD SX aircon,