maghouse Posted August 26, 2006 Report Posted August 26, 2006 Had the Evaporator replaced about 3 years ago as the system was leaking - aircon ran fine until ...Few nights ago saw smoke coming from the bonnet and a burning rubber smell, checking under the bonnet could see the compressor pulley was not running and the smoke/smell coming from the drive belt so assumed the compressor had seized. Turned off the system to allow the pulley to 'free-run to get me home.Main dealer repair - Quote
TKPeters Posted August 26, 2006 Report Posted August 26, 2006 Aircon - who needs it - open a window my wife said LOL On my 2000 X Reg Galaxy, I had the compressor changed with a similar failure, no other problems though.I suppose if the internals have failed whilst the aircon was running it could be carried into the system Have you got the car back? I would take it to another aircon specialist Quote
maghouse Posted August 28, 2006 Author Report Posted August 28, 2006 Got the car back, Sercks were quite happy to 'finish it off so I could have the car for the weekend and take it back in Tuesday where they will put a new compressor & carry out another flush - all FOC so they are being very good about it .....I still cant see how swarf could block the evaporator - correct me if I am wrong (not up on Aircon) is the evaporator like a radiator ? If one vane is blocked - why cant the coolant flow through the others or is it a single flow (if that makes sense !) ... Quote
RADIOTWO Posted August 28, 2006 Report Posted August 28, 2006 Got the car back, Sercks were quite happy to 'finish it off so I could have the car for the weekend and take it back in Tuesday where they will put a new compressor & carry out another flush - all FOC so they are being very good about it .....I still cant see how swarf could block the evaporator - correct me if I am wrong (not up on Aircon) is the evaporator like a radiator ? If one vane is blocked - why cant the coolant flow through the others or is it a single flow (if that makes sense !) ...Hi Maghouse Not an expert, but can they not take off the evaporator and back flush it like a radiator ? or even check if it is blocked before saying it is blocked !! Just a thought Steve Quote
maghouse Posted August 28, 2006 Author Report Posted August 28, 2006 Hi Steve, I asked them that and they said they would have to take the evaporator out which is a labour intensive job (that I know is correct from when they fitted the new one a few years back) and if it is out - you may as well fit a new one - the cost is in the labour.They seemed to say back flusing in situ could push all the debris back into the various other components against the normal flow and would cause more damage - again that seems to make sense ... oh woe ... Quote
sad_git Posted August 28, 2006 Report Posted August 28, 2006 I would have thought any debris should have been caught by the receiver-dryer, I presume this has been replaced at the same time as the compressor. Ford's method when compressor fails is to check the colour of the oil drained from the compressor, if it is clean then just replace compressor and receiver-dryer, if it is discoloured change the whole system! :D I think if the system is flushed thoroughly and the receiver-dryer replaced it would be ok. Best of luck Quote
maghouse Posted August 28, 2006 Author Report Posted August 28, 2006 I would have thought any debris should have been caught by the receiver-dryer, I presume this has been replaced at the same time as the compressor. Ford's method when compressor fails is to check the colour of the oil drained from the compressor, if it is clean then just replace compressor and receiver-dryer, if it is discoloured change the whole system! :D I think if the system is flushed thoroughly and the receiver-dryer replaced it would be ok. Best of luck The bill shows the receiver/dryer was replaced - they said exactly the same thing - this would have caught the debris so is changed as a matter of course along with a flush. I am going to hope the new compressor and another flush will do the trick tommorow .... One other question if I may - will running the system with the Aircon on do any damage if the evaporator is blocked, my thought is that running the system on and off might dislodge the debris or am I being too hopeful ! Quote
RADIOTWO Posted August 28, 2006 Report Posted August 28, 2006 Hi Steve, I asked them that and they said they would have to take the evaporator out which is a labour intensive job (that I know is correct from when they fitted the new one a few years back) and if it is out - you may as well fit a new one - the cost is in the labour.They seemed to say back flusing in situ could push all the debris back into the various other components against the normal flow and would cause more damage - again that seems to make sense ... oh woe ...Hi Again Ok all noted I only ment back flush if the evaporator was out of the car not to do it in place. Steve Quote
sad_git Posted August 28, 2006 Report Posted August 28, 2006 I would have thought any debris should have been caught by the receiver-dryer, I presume this has been replaced at the same time as the compressor. Ford's method when compressor fails is to check the colour of the oil drained from the compressor, if it is clean then just replace compressor and receiver-dryer, if it is discoloured change the whole system! :D I think if the system is flushed thoroughly and the receiver-dryer replaced it would be ok. Best of luck The bill shows the receiver/dryer was replaced - they said exactly the same thing - this would have caught the debris so is changed as a matter of course along with a flush. I am going to hope the new compressor and another flush will do the trick tommorow .... One other question if I may - will running the system with the Aircon on do any damage if the evaporator is blocked, my thought is that running the system on and off might dislodge the debris or am I being too hopeful ! Running a/con shoudn't do any harm, the pressure switch will stop the compressor pumping if there is a blockage causing high pressure. If they haven't finished the job there's a good chance they didn't re-gas the system so it won't work anyway. Quote
maghouse Posted September 3, 2006 Author Report Posted September 3, 2006 Fixed ! New compressor fitted & works a treat - Sercks said it was likely the commpressor was faulty as they have had these faulty from new before (new supplier I think !) but a second flush & this compressor - all works fine - just ready for winter ! Quote
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