Civic Ep2 2003 AirCon

kPATm · 17 Jun 2015 at 22:46

So the air con in my car hasnt worked for ages. I had it regased a couple of years ago and it worked for a few days then packed in again. Iv been thinking it may be a leak in either or both schrader valves. Well hoping it is as it should be an easy fix? Any way as the refrigerant is no more would it be safe to just remove the valves or would there still be some gases in there or if there is maybe the pressure wouldnt be hight enought to be dangerous? Also does anyone know what schrader valves would I need for the EP2. Cheers

loltim · 17 Jun 2015 at 23:23

Are you sure it's not the condenser that's packed up? Why don't you take it to an AC specialist?

robinbanks · 17 Jun 2015 at 23:50

loltim said:
Are you sure it's not the condenser that's packed up? Why don't you take it to an AC specialist?

Agreed

but not sure why you advised to use a specialist?

Anyway best bet would be to have it leak tested if it is them it would be a easy find&fix. But i think its going to be the condenser as the the part the more likely to leak.

George Hincapie · 18 Jun 2015 at 00:23

Why wouldn't you want to take it to someone who knows what they are doing?

kPATm · 18 Jun 2015 at 05:08

George Hincapie said:
Why wouldn't you want to take it to someone who knows what they are doing?

Because I would like to try and suss it out myself with the help of you kind people. And the schrader valves would be the cheapest and easiest possible fault to replace ?

Dogbreath · 18 Jun 2015 at 07:49

kPATm said:
Because I would like to try and suss it out myself with the help of you kind people. And the schrader valves would be the cheapest and easiest possible fault to replace ?

Also by far the most unlikely, they rarely go wrong. It's not cheap if you change the valves, re-gas it and it all leaks out again.

Janesy B · 18 Jun 2015 at 09:22

It's probably going to be the condenser but if you don't get it leak tested and checked you'll just be replacing parts for no reason.

kPATm · 18 Jun 2015 at 09:30

Mm fair enough. Will try and get it tested. Would the tester be able to diagnose a faulty condenser?

nicRob · 18 Jun 2015 at 10:08

Should be a dye in the gas so look for green residue around somewhere, that will be where it's leaking

Skilid · 18 Jun 2015 at 11:35

On my EP3 I had it inspected by a specialist and he found that the glass inspection window on the receiver/drier was leaking gas. Had that part replaced, the system refilled and boom worked perfect. With AC it's not always as straight forward as you think. Any one of the major components can go wrong for various reasons.

kPATm · 18 Jun 2015 at 15:04

Been reading a lot about this inspection window. Where is the bugger?

RJC · 18 Jun 2015 at 15:11

Majority of cars I have checked are either the condenser or pipe has fractured.

The liquid receiver will be on the smaller tube coming out of the condenser, usually they are out the way and a pain to see.

Skilid · 18 Jun 2015 at 15:59

After a little bit of googling, it looks something like this: http://www.knowyourparts.com/public/uploads/2012/08/Refrigerant-Circulation.jpg

It's located near the front right of the engine bay. Similar to this location: http://repairpal.com/images/managed...edia/CM_Heating_Cooling/AC_Dryer_07.30.11.png

Mine didn't look cracked, but it was still leaking.

EDIT: I don't own the EP3 any more, so can't take pictures, it was years ago.

loltim · 18 Jun 2015 at 17:05

robinbanks said:
Agreed but not sure why you advised to use a specialist?

Anyway best bet would be to have it leak tested if it is them it would be a easy find&fix. But i think its going to be the condenser as the the part the more likely to leak.

Because it needs more than a re-gas by the sounds of it. Kwik Fit (for example) is OK for a re-gas but nothing else.