2.2DTI Elite - Air Con problem???

[martyn_bannister]

Hi there,

Apologies from a newbie if this is in the wrong section!

I have recently bought a 2.2DTI Vectra Elite and am reasonably happy with it.
Despite having to spend £167 to get the local Vauxhall Garage to diagnose (£126 !!!) and fix the Boost Pressure regulator sensor (£41) I have decided to keep it!

It has now started to make a hissing noise. This appears to eminate from the passenger dash area and doesn't sound like a leak, more like high pressure gas rushing through a very small pipe.

Any experienced people out there know if this might be Air Con related? Difficult to tell, but the AirCon doesn't seem to be quite so cold as when I first bought it. But that was mid june, and it was well hot, so these things are relative.

Any help appreciated - I don't want another £100 + bill for more "diagnosis"!

TIA

/\/\

[martyn_bannister]

Well..... the story is this......

Took the beast to the local auto air con specialists.
He says

"Lack of gas. System was still pressurised, which means there isn't a leak. System should have around 0.8 kg of liquid in. Only found 0.1 kg.
Diagnosis - the latest refridgerant gas (R134?) is not like old R12. Much 'greener', but after a while it 'ages' and refuses to turn into a liquid after being compressed and cooled. Therefore, probably not been re-gassed since manufactured and so done rather well, considering"

I am rather sceptical about no leak - where has the 0.7 kg gone?

Have to wait and see if it lasts another 4 years.......... :)

Cost £75 + VAT ---- Probably better than getting the local Vauxhall dealer to do it!

[martyn_bannister]

Well.......

I reckon, normal operation will be for there to be liquid up to the expansion valve in the evaporator. As it expands it makes no noise. If the proportion of liquid to gas is too low, there is gas both sides of the expansion valve and it starts to "hiss".

Thats my uninformed take on it anyway!

[ion]

Glad it's sorted Martyn.

Welcome to the site BTW

[martyn_bannister]

Hopefully my replies might help someone else too!

[ion]

Introduce yourself in the welcome section Martyn & have a browse through the site, it's packed with useful (& less) information :D

The people on here are very helpful & friendly.

Cheers,

Ian

[Lonton]

Going to re gas my 55 plate 2.2 se vec sri today rate plate is off ..who knows how much R134 in gramms should be in the system

[plasma]

900 grams in total of gas/oil and dye

[Lonton]

Thanks regased today now nice and cold in side..happy days 32 in London today..

[BIG DAR]

It may be a vacuum pipe behind the dash that controls the air vent flow.