306 Air Con Again !?!

Hi everyone
I recently bought a 1999 306 1.6 Meridian. When I switch the a/c on
there is a loud hissing noise from behind the dash (a common problem
looking at other posts). I had the gas checked yesterday by a
specialist and was told that there is plenty in the system - just under
4 on the gauge. The system was re-gassed 4 weeks ago by the same
person and worked afterwards. The compressor is cutting in and the
clutch plate is spinning but there is no difference in the air temp.
They suggested running the a/c regularly over the next 6 weeks to see
if it sorts itself out.

I said that I thought I'd seen a fluid leak from around the area of the
compressor but the specialist said that it was nothing to do with the
a/c system.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Hopefully the "specialist" is correct that there is the correct amount of
gas in the system. "Hissing" can occur when there is not enough, resulting
in gas rushing through the expansion valve rather than condensed
refrigerant. It won't be the gas escaping is if it's a loud hiss as it would
all be gone in a number of minutes.

I have been doing regassing for years, and I really don't know what "4 on
the gauge" means. If there's any kind of compressor / expansion valve / gas
problem with lack of cooling, watching the high and low side pressures with
the system running should tell you what is happening - there are 2 gauges
you need to watch.

Maybe you should get a second opinion from another "specialist"

 

The gauge that was used to test the amount of gas had 2 sets of
numbers. My reading was below 4 on one scale and 56 on the other but I
don't know what the scales were.

Thanks for the help.

 

Possibly temperature then, degrees C, if so then this would not be an
unusual reading. Means that at the evaporator (the bit which cools the air
in the car) should be at approx 4C if the refrigerant is flowing. Would be
interesting to know if the low pressure pipe is cold, if so and the air is
warm, could be a problem with the control flaps / heater valves (if is has
one)

 

Thanks.

How do I locate the low pressure pipe?

 

You should find 2 pipes going to the evaporator (at the back of the engine
bay). When the system is running normally, on of these may be slightly warm,
the other (low pressure) cold. Normally the cold is slightly larger
diameter. The low pressure runs straight to the suction side of the
compressor, the high to the receiver / drier (like a can) to the condensor
at the front to the output of the compressor.

 

The ' fluid leak' that you noticed may just be condensation dripping.

Have you had the problematic pipes at the front replaced? Common
problem on the 306.

 

Thanks
I won't be able to check the low pressure pipe until this evening so
I'll post my findings either tonight or tomorrow morning.

With regards to the leak, I don't think it's condensation as it has an
oily texture but I've not had the pipes replaced because I haven't
noticed a leak in the last week or so. Which pipes are prone to wear
on a 306?

Could the leak be connected with the a/c not working? No leak at the
moment and no a/c.

 

In message <>,
joss stops reading and ponders a while before
scribbling this reply

The pipes that are prone to leak are the front metal pipe that runs from
the compressor then along the bottom of the radiator and up the near
side of the radiator to the evaporator which sits in front of the big
radiator.
This is on a phase 2 306 meridian 1.6 1999.
The metal pipe as mentioned above is held in place by 2 tabs which are
fastened to the bottom of the radiator via tox screws which are
ba****tered to get out. The leaks usually occur under the rubber
grommets.



I had mine repaired for £40.00 new will cost £100 from pug dealer.
Dealer part only!!!!

With regards to oily texture leak. Possibly the head gasket on the
compressor? Which is replaceable, though most so called specialists will
tell you different because they would not know how to do the repair. Its
easier for them just to replace the compressor and charge £800.00 . Mine
went the same way. However I bought a new compressor £186.00 inc. vat
and next day delivery from
http://www.caraircon.co.uk/html/parts.html
Pug dealers wanted £500.00 plus!!
If oil leaks from the compressor then so does the gas! The oil in the
compressor mixes with the refrigerant. You should also have a dye added
with the compressor oil. This will then show any leaks by leaving a
fluorescent green stain at site of the leak.


Product Name: Compressor
Company Name: Peugeot
Model No: 306
Engine Size: 1.6
Fuel Type: P
Transmission: M/A
Year From: 4/98
Year To:
Gas: R134A
O.E. Number: 6453N1
Parts Number: 14-1500
Other Information: COMPRESSOR MAKE: SD7V12 MODEL: 1500

Incidentally the correct way to check the correct weight of refrigerant
is by extracting/scavenging it and weighing it. The same goes for when
re charging.

Good luck with it.
Tip of the day? Find someone who knows what there talking about, not
someone that's paid £3k for a 2 day course on car air con.

 

I had the a/c running on my way home from work and checked the pipes.
If I've got the correct one then there wasn't one that was noticably
cold. I've been in touch with someone to give me a second opinion as
I'm not too impressed with the person who looked at it last time.

 

Yep, seems more and more people are claiming to be air conditioning
specialists because they bought a standalone piece of kit with some
instructions. I don't claim to know everything but when I had a problem
with mine I ended up having to do my homework and knew more than some
of the so called experts by the end of it.

There are also those who do know but like many in the auto industry
will make up faults, normally claiming the compressor has gone, to make
a fast buck.

 

In message <>,
joss stops reading and ponders a while before
scribbling this reply

Sadly this is the case. Pay £3000 and get a 2 day course and very basic
equipment then let loose on unsuspecting public. Specialists indeed
hahahah. I was lucky enough to have dropped on a true pro in car air
con. A local mobile mechanic called Dave Wilson. He took time to explain
every step he took in the process. Top man indeed.
It isn't hard to do a search on car air con and get yourself aquatinted
with how it works, what bits do what and why. Knowledge is king.
joss

 

I totally agree. In the last week or so I have had to become pretty
familiar with the basics and, if I knew then what I know now, I'd have
been able to ask a few more questions when I had the system looked at.

By the way can anyone recommend someone in the Surrey/Sussex area who
is reliable and knows what they're talking about?

 

I'm in Poole / Dorset if you thinking of visiting (Sandbanks beach is lovely
at the moment!)

www.poolecool.co.uk

 

Hum Poolecool website does not really inspire. It seems simply to offer
re gassing. If you need repairs it seems to indicate you would need to
take it to a garage or dealer. So what's the point. Might as well take
it to a garage or dealer in the first place. Just my thoughts..

 

I reckon that is a good service they are offering. Around here (Sunbury,
just inside M25) I only know places that you have to take the car to and the
cost is more like £70.

 

If you have an oily liquid dripping below that part of the engine, could it
be a slight leak in the power steering pump or pipes?

Have you checked the pollen filter, if blocked with crud, it would whistle.
Also as suggesdted, you might have a problem with the controls for the
heater. Some of the peugeots were fitted with stepper motors to operate the
flaps, and these have been known to fail.