Aircon

[Suffolk944]

This slightly warm weather has again turned my attention to the decidedly non-functioning climate control system in my car. Am trying to weigh up the cost/benefit of getting the system up and running (the condensor has a hole in it though no doubt all the seals will have long perished by now and it will need converting to a modern gas)

So...has anyone else re-commisioned a similarly non-functioning system and if so what sort of outlay am I looking at to get the thing up and running ?

If anyone here does happen to have a working system how effective is it ? Does it deliver an invigourating cool stream of air or does it have all the power of an asthmatic gerbil blowing through a straw ?

Or should I just forget about it and invest in an aircon delete unit and save myself a bit of weight ?

 

[Hilux]

It will need modern gas (a modern R12 clone - might be 134a???) but if its been down for some time the seals and compressor rely on the oil in the gas to lubricate the system.

I would budget for 1) a test with indicator dye and report and 2) replace seals and leaky bits

 

[Paul 290T]

My '86 turbo has had 2 condensers over the years (£600 fitted), a new drier and a refurbed compressor (£250 exchange from Eurocarpart for the compressor). When the compressor and drier where changed it was converted to 134a (£300 for the conversion excluding the compressor). I expect at some point seals around the pipework system will go. However apart from annual top up of R134a the system suffers no major leakage.

Therefore i suspect you younger car will possibly not be suffering from seal failure. However the cost of getting it back up and running could be around £1k if you need a compressor on top of the condensor. I would speak to a reputable aircon specialist to see if the compressor condition can be determined before taking the plunge on the known leaky condensor.

If you can't get the compressor verified, then make sure you are prepared for the worst case before embarking on your voyage of discovery.

 

[Kongsodoken]

ME TOO[]

I've been looking at the options I want a new compressor, i allready have a new condenser fitted ....I've heard (don't know how true) that the factory compressor does not work well with R134A.

I'm going to fit a Kuhel compressor the compressor, brackets, dryer and pipes for around £400

http://www.griffiths.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=15_16_52_62

anyone done this[]

 

[Frenchy]

My black car had a regas and has been converted to R134A it was freezing cold when working, compressor now leaking, my 220 has been converted to R134A and now needs a regas.

 

[edh]

Factory compressor was fine with new gas on my car.... But the airline lines had gone porous. When working well the system is very good (and must be tough to do without in a black car.) I'd budget a grand to fix it and hope it comes in cheaper.

 

[Frenchy]

My non sunroof black turbo s along with black interior cooks you in anything above 20 degrees []

 

[JM1962]

Removed mine (it had no gas in it and probably hadn't for years) including all pipework to save weight and tidy up the engine bay a little. I happened to have a non aircon alternator bracket so the job was easy and cheap. Must save around 15KG.

 

[Kongsodoken]

Yes but what your all forgetting ....BLACK is by far the Coolest colour ........and if it's black and Turbocharged ......Sub Zero[]

 

[homesea]

I nearly passed out in mine over the last week. Aircon is on the to do list!

 

[Suffolk944]

Thanks all I am tending towards getting the system fixed, I think a warm weekend travelling to Silverstone will probably convince me that last few % !

 

[tref]

It must be about 5 years ago now, but I handed my Turbo over to "Coolit" in Martinstown near Dorchester to fix my aircon - that required resealing the compressor, changing the drier and regas (conversion from R12 I believe) and cost around £600. It lasted until the car went off the road a couple of years ago, and now doesn't work again... maybe just needs a regas, maybe once again the seals have dried out and it will need resealing.

 

[TTM]

On a turbo I would say that air con makes sense if the car has not been modified beyond a certain point of no return, where for example a large front mount intercooler will have been fitted, as by then having the condenser in between the IC and the radiator will affect engine cooling by quite much.
A friend runs a massive front mount intercooler on his LR75'd turbo S and he sees coolant temp going past the 100°C mark on the gauge in Summer when running on track, even with the fans running at full speed. Always has to stop for a while to let it cool down after a few laps. Happened as well as we were touring the Vercors plateau in very hot weather a few years ago (I was driving the S2 so obviously I was enormously faster, even with the air con running).

So yes, if you think your air con can be repaired without too much effort and if you are happy enough with a standard-ish intercooler in the original location then I would suggest to keep it.
Even if a turbo realistically performs best and is best enjoyable (I think) in cold weather when air con will not be needed, even if not having the compressor in the engine bay makes life a lot easier, and even if this old style of air con system is quite rough in the way it works, it should overall add value to a good car, especially if it was fitted from new.

A proper specialist should be able to make it run perfectly for years without it needing a periodic check. I had it done on the S2 about 10 years ago and it still blows ice cold air whenever I take it out, which is maybe only 3 to 4 times a year these days. Any air con system that works all the time the engine is running should work for longer than one that is used only once in a while - it works exactly like a fridge.

 

[jasonp]

ORIGINAL: Suffolk944

Thanks all I am tending towards getting the system fixed, I think a warm weekend travelling to Silverstone will probably convince me that last few % !

nice one jon,,sure it will be worth it and a job i am looking into after oli discovered my s2 had air con,, i need to get costings but something i will consider as long as its not "silly money" for the new year,,,,jasonp

 

[zcacogp]

Jon,

Umm, you are thinking about this about two months too late. By the time you have had the work done, the weather will be cold and miserable again and you'll have all winter for the new gas to leak out ... []

ORIGINAL: jasonp

... as long as its not "silly money" ...

Jason, everyone's definition of "Silly Money" is different and I'll be interested to see what you are quoted to get your system working again. However I fear it will be quite ... expensive.


Oli.

 

[jasonp]

i guess it will need a compressor,seals etc but when she was in at tower recently jon said he was aware of a kit that was available for just over £100 that was used on a 964 he had in and didnt think it would cost very much to get mine up and running but thats where he lost me lol but as you say its a definion of costs but would look at having the work done at the end of spring if it was ok price wise,,jasonp

 

[Lowtimer]

Air con is not just for the hot sunny days, it is also really useful in the autumn and winter for demisting and dehumidifying the cabin. Having a white car (insert statutory jokes at will) I have the advantage that it really does reflect most of the heat when out in the sunshine, but it bugs me a bit that the air con is the only non-functioning part of my car and I'm on the verge of getting it done up over the winter if I can find someone trustworthy, and familiar with the ways of front-engined Porsches, to do the work.

 

[TTM]

ORIGINAL: Lowtimer
Air con is not just for the hot sunny days, it is also really useful in the autumn and winter for demisting and dehumidifying the cabin.

Ah yes, that British weather... I'll get my coat.

 

[Suffolk944]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Jon,

Umm, you are thinking about this about two months too late. By the time you have had the work done, the weather will be cold and miserable again and you'll have all winter for the new gas to leak out ... []

ORIGINAL: jasonp

... as long as its not "silly money" ...

Jason, everyone's definition of "Silly Money" is different and I'll be interested to see what you are quoted to get your system working again. However I fear it will be quite ... expensive.


Oli.

To be honest Oli the plan was the the aircon plus other stuff to be done considerably earlier in the year but the turbo related issues that cropped up have put my schedule somewhat behind hand ! Will probably wait until later in the year any way as want to enjoy driving the thing again rather than waiting it to return from the workshop once more.