A/C regas 993

[wpozzz99zSS]

I did a quick forum search, but couldn't find the answer...

My a/c seems to be working, but not as well as I would like.

I checked and I last had it regassed in 2015 and it was very effective up until the car was stored.

I haven't used the car since the summer before lockdown, so that can't have helped, assuming I don't have any catastrophic leaks, how long should a 993 a/c system stay cold for between regassing?

Thanks.

 

[Gwsinc]

This system needs regular use to keep the seals oiled and sealing properly so loss of some pressure after a few years standing still is quite typical I'd say. If it's still cold now that's a good indication all it needs is a regas.

Worth a pressure test to see if it'll hold max pressure before worrying too much. If it holds pressure ask them to put a little UV dye in the system with the new gas, and if it does have a slow leak you'll be able to find the source more easily with a UV light.

Hope this helps.

 

[Paulb33]

Mine was regassed 2.5 years ago and yet empty / nonfunctioning at service just now. It had only done 500 miles in the interim. Regassed and working again now. 🙄

 

[Croydon]

So i've just returned from Le Mans Classic and its fair to say there was no aircon. A hard 1k kms resulting in me leaving at 07.00 am to travel home yesterday in order to not get too much sun, by 10.00 it was uncomfortable.

So is there a step by step way of checking what the fault could be, rather than regassing and it still doesn't work? I've read about loose piping, checking the seals (vacuum?) and then there's the condenser itself.

Thanks in advance.

Ian

 

[Paulb33]

So i've just returned from Le Mans Classic and its fair to say there was no aircon. A hard 1k kms resulting in me leaving at 07.00 am to travel home yesterday in order to not get too much sun, by 10.00 it was uncomfortable.

So is there a step by step way of checking what the fault could be, rather than regassing and it still doesn't work? I've read about loose piping, checking the seals (vacuum?) and then there's the condenser itself.

Thanks in advance.

Ian

When was it last gassed?

 

[Croydon]

It must had been gassed on purchase surely March 2019 but in all honesty I don't know. Where is the gassing point located?

 

[Zingari]

So i've just returned from Le Mans Classic and its fair to say there was no aircon. A hard 1k kms resulting in me leaving at 07.00 am to travel home yesterday in order to not get too much sun, by 10.00 it was uncomfortable.

So is there a step by step way of checking what the fault could be, rather than regassing and it still doesn't work? I've read about loose piping, checking the seals (vacuum?) and then there's the condenser itself.

Thanks in advance.

Ian

My money would be on the evaporator being knackered if it's never been replaced. That leads you on to a BIG job and +10hrs labour for a £150 part :roll:

Take it to Kwik Fit for a regas. If there's a leak or it stops working shortly after they've gassed it you get a refund. Then take it from there.

For the brave pill look here: http://p-car.com/diy/ac/

 

[decgraham]

Well mine was last re-gassed about 12 years ago just before I left Q8. However I use mine regularly and always run it every week for a few minutes even in the winter. As has been said above if the seals dry out then the gas will leak. The oil is in the gas so the A/C needs to circulate the oil. Of course the other issue is the condenser or the evaporator. I had my evaporator replaces more then 18 years ago in Q8 which is the more expensive of replacing the two. At the time OPC charged me KD 301.700 which in pounds is about 600 quid. It'll cost you a lot more then that today.

I've attached a picture of the A/C compressor showing the HP and LP connectors.

ATB

 

[Normski298]

I'd certainly recommend using a specialist. Never had much faith in Kwikfit et al as they rely completely on an automated machine. When I took the 964 in earlier in the year they ran for the hills!

I used a chap from Swindon - ACC (no affiliation) for both the 964 and 993 and he was very thorough with leak/ pressure testing etc.

Used by Sir Michael Kadoorie, for his vehicles, so must be okay....

Sadly I didn't get the benefit of the now ice-cold air con in the 964 for Le Mans Classic, clutch master slave went 2 miles out of Caen.......
:x :frustrated:

 

[Croydon]

I'd certainly recommend using a specialist. Never had much faith in Kwikfit et al as they rely completely on an automated machine. When I took the 964 in earlier in the year they ran for the hills!

I used a chap from Swindon - ACC (no affiliation) for both the 964 and 993 and he was very thorough with leak/ pressure testing etc.

Used by Sir Michael Kadoorie, for his vehicles, so must be okay....

Sadly I didn't get the benefit of the now ice-cold air con in the 964 for Le Mans Classic, clutch master slave went 2 miles out of Caen.......
:x :frustrated:

Thanks for that I too am inclined to let an expert flush and test the system pre gassing.

Sorry to hear about the mechanical on your way to the Classic, hope you've got it recovered and a you'll be ack on the road soon.[/b]

 

[Gwsinc]

Agree with everything above, use an AC specialist rather than quick fit and they will help pinpoint any leak. When you are inevitably hunting around for leaks after using UV dye, you can check the front of the evaporator by removing the plastic cover on the heater 'cassette' and removing one of the pollen filters. There are also two drains from the evaporator housing down to the ground, these drain to the fuel pump panel under the car so if it's a big leak you'll see UV dye round there too.

Hopefully won't come to it but it's a hell of a DIY to replace the evaporator, and you'll 100% need to lift the car to drain the fuel tank, pretty much took me a full 12h.

 

[Zingari]

Errr..............a specialist uses an automated machine otherwise they can't measure how much gas to add.

Kwik-Fit et al is used as a screening device to either gas it cheap or tell you there's a leak for no cost in which case you can then investigate with a specialist.

That said it's your money, your choice but connecting two pipes to two connectors staring you in the face when you open the engine lid is hardly rocket science. :roll:

Perhaps it's just me that takes a GT4 to Halfords when they had the offer of buy something for over £1 gives you a free MOT :floor:

 

[jonttt]

Perhaps it's just me that takes a GT4 to Halfords when they had the offer of buy something for over £1 gives you a free MOT :floor:

Nope I did that, it gives you even extra confidence in the car when they can't find anything to do on a car at free MOT :grin:

I did use them to regas the 993 with a smile on my face when I had to tell them they had parked the car the wrong way around to connect up with the machine and showed them the AC pipes where at the rear :roll:

 

[Gwsinc]

Errr..............a specialist uses an automated machine otherwise they can't measure how much gas to add.

Kwik-Fit et al is used as a screening device to either gas it cheap or tell you there's a leak for no cost in which case you can then investigate with a specialist.

That said it's your money, your choice but connecting two pipes to two connectors staring you in the face when you open the engine lid is hardly rocket science. :roll:

Perhaps it's just me that takes a GT4 to Halfords when they had the offer of buy something for over £1 gives you a free MOT :floor:

Just to be clear I meant an AC specialist rather than a Porsche specialist, I've amended my post, and this is in response to Croydon who appears to have a leak rather than to the OP who appears to just need a regas, in which case take it to whoever you like/trust.

If it isn't the evaporator and is just a generic valve, an AC specialist may have one available and fix it immediately, the mobile chap I used had a spare valve to replace one that we found was leaking on my car after I replaced the evaporator. Hence my recommendation for an AC specialist.

 

[GMG]

...I use my local ATS ( small branch with same staff and manager for years) for all my cars aircon needs...

...I recently repaired a local leak on my 996 ( usual os rear of car location) took it to them and because they were aware I had fiddled left it hooked up to the machine under pressure for an hour and when no loss of pressure was identified they topped it up...

...they are super serious about their responsibility in relation to not topping up a leaky system which is a pain if you want a quick in and outer !