Has anyone here successfully revived an air conditioning system in a
vehicle that has been discharged and unused for ten years?

I've long wanted to the air con working again in my SD1 Vitesse but ten
years have passed since I got the car, and that's eleven years since it
was discharged.

I have a spare new old stock Harrison compressor with its sealing plugs
still in, and a new condensor. As to the receiver/dryer and other bits,
who knows what state they are in?

Who has any horror stories or tales of surprising joy relating to
restoring air conditioning?

We used the Vitesse to go to Limoux in the south of France. Two days
drive each way. I wouldn't bother if the car were just for driving in
the UK, but in the August heat (and with 15 cases of wine potentially
cooking in the car) it's something I really want to get my teeth into
before summer 2010...

Michael

In article <AY-dnV66r_EorTnXnZ2dnUVZ8g2dnZ2d (AT) pipex (DOT) net>,
Michael Kilpatrick <michael (AT) mtkilpatrick (DOT) SPAMfsnet.co.uk> wrote:
You'll need a new receiver drier, IIRC. And it might be a problem getting
the correct refrigerant. Think there is a substitute which is ok with the
older type of seals etc but not so efficient. But the Rover air-con was
rather over specced anyway, so should be ok.

--
*No I haven't stolen it , I'm just a shit driver*

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

I phoned a chap from Papworth who was recommended to me. He said
something similar about the r/d, but suggested that there shouldn't be
too many problems using RS24 (or whatever it's called), which is like
R134a but with additives to work with older systems that used to run on
R12, such as the SD1.

I'm wondering if the other (rather more fun) option would be to make a
DIY Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube with an air compressor in place of the
original air con compressor!

Michael

Michael

In article <pcmdnWOt1J9vRTnXnZ2dnUVZ8vmdnZ2d (AT) pipex (DOT) net>,
Michael Kilpatrick <michael (AT) mtkilpatrick (DOT) SPAMfsnet.co.uk> wrote:
Right. I'm told it doesn't work quite so well but should be ok.

Nice thought - but there must be a snag otherwise it would already be used?

I reckon it's always the compressor seals which fail first. Maybe because
the bearings go too. A new compressor should give at least five years
trouble free use - then start leaking all over again. Mine only lasts a
month or so now.

I wonder if new or recon compressors are easier to get in the US?

--
*Why is the third hand on the watch called a second hand?

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article <7gk405F2pckm1U1 (AT) mid (DOT) individual.net>,
Huge <Huge (AT) nowhere (DOT) much.invalid> wrote:
Ah.

--
*Wrinkled was not one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Michael Kilpatrick wrote:
about £90. I should imagine the SD1 system will be very similar.

--
Pete M - OMF#9

'62 Rover P4 100
'61 Rover P5 3 litre
'72 Rover P6 3500 Auto
'78 Escort 1300 Sport
'99 Audi A6 V6 Quattro Avant


"It's an Alfa, it will go wrong, it will piss you off, why should your
Alfa experience be different from everyone else's.
Now get back out there and swear at it before something else breaks."