Greetings everyone,
thought I might share the following information regarding the E34 Air Conditioning System.
As the weather is starting to warm up here in Australia, I figured that it's time to get the A/C working. Took the vehicle to a local, well respected mechanic and took advantage of his $110.00 pre-summer special for re-gassing the system. Left the car (1995 - 525i) and received a call about 2 hours later saying that the job could not be completed as there was a leak in the system 'somewhere'. When the system is re-gassed the old gas is sucked out and a vacuum created in the system prior to the new gas being injected. The mechanic told me that when the 'sucking' process was completed the system would not hold the vacuum and therefore there was a leak. Given that the dispersing of A/C gas into the atmosphere is now illegal, he did not attempt to re-charge the system. Charged me $40 and I left. Later I called another mobile specialist who came to the house and inspected the car. He told me the following.
Apparently, there is a seal within the compressor that can often be dislodged when the system is placed in a state of vacuum, causing what appears to be a leak in the system. When the gas is injected back into the system it usually reseats the seal and all is ok. He charged the system with gas and dye and kept the car overnight. Problem fixed. No leak. Takes my driving pleasure to a whole new level.:thumbup:
Cheers
Weisebar
thought I might share the following information regarding the E34 Air Conditioning System.
As the weather is starting to warm up here in Australia, I figured that it's time to get the A/C working. Took the vehicle to a local, well respected mechanic and took advantage of his $110.00 pre-summer special for re-gassing the system. Left the car (1995 - 525i) and received a call about 2 hours later saying that the job could not be completed as there was a leak in the system 'somewhere'. When the system is re-gassed the old gas is sucked out and a vacuum created in the system prior to the new gas being injected. The mechanic told me that when the 'sucking' process was completed the system would not hold the vacuum and therefore there was a leak. Given that the dispersing of A/C gas into the atmosphere is now illegal, he did not attempt to re-charge the system. Charged me $40 and I left. Later I called another mobile specialist who came to the house and inspected the car. He told me the following.
Apparently, there is a seal within the compressor that can often be dislodged when the system is placed in a state of vacuum, causing what appears to be a leak in the system. When the gas is injected back into the system it usually reseats the seal and all is ok. He charged the system with gas and dye and kept the car overnight. Problem fixed. No leak. Takes my driving pleasure to a whole new level.:thumbup:
Cheers
Weisebar