Air-Con system, problem shooting help

[Whitesupraboy2]

Ok my air con has never worked since i got the car.
The guy told me he thinks the compressor had gone, well ive finally decided to sort this out.

How can i tell if the system simply needs a re-gas, the compressor has gone or the condensor?? As in theory all these 3 things would give the same symptom to me of not engaging the air con when activated.

(im hopeing he did say compressor and not condensor here and i dont look stupid because there isnt such thing as a compressor for the air con.!!)

cheers for any help

[smarty]

Does the engine pick up when you turn on the aircon?

[Whitesupraboy2]

Does the engine pick up when you turn on the aircon?

no this is what i mean, wouldnt all 3 problems cause this to happen?

[how_supra]

Ok my air con has never worked since i got the car.
The guy told me he thinks the compressor had gone, well ive finally decided to sort this out.

How can i tell if the system simply needs a re-gas, the compressor has gone or the condensor?? As in theory all these 3 things would give the same symptom to me of not engaging the air con when activated.

(im hopeing he did say compressor and not condensor here and i dont look stupid because there isnt such thing as a compressor for the air con.!!)

cheers for any help

This is a good question as my air con doesn't work either, and I have just assumed it needs regassing.

[smarty]

Doesnt the system just shut down if there is a lack of gas in the system?
So it dont knacker it!!

[Whitesupraboy2]

Doesnt the system just shut down if there is a lack of gas in the system?
So it dont knacker it!!
yes thats correct, but i would of thought if the condensor packs up or the compressor it would do the same and as the guy told me he thought it was the compressor. I wondered if any way i can test / look at anything to find out etc....

[smarty]

I changed my condenser when changing the radiator as it was falling apart (fins were falling out).

So unless this has a leak i wouldnt have thought it would be the condenser.

[Soonto"HAS"soop]

Try this.....

http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=58&highlight=aircon+test

[Whitesupraboy2]

i done the test a while back and i read it was the error that says needs a re gas, are you saying the condensor / Compressor would produce a different error code? the normal one everyone gets 14 is it? cant quite remember. its the one where certain lights flash at you! lol

[Soonto"HAS"soop]

i done the test a while back and i read it was the error that says needs a re gas, are you saying the condensor / Compressor would produce a different error code? the normal one everyone gets 14 is it? cant quite remember. its the one where certain lights flash at you! lol

If yours says it needs a regas, then it will not engage the pump, so I wouldn't expect the pump to be the problem. I would also suggest that you only need to replace the condenser when it either has a leak, or is so badly damaged that it won't work efficiently. Personally, I'd have a look in the Yellow pages, and get someone out to check it all, they will normally look at the condenser and see if it's in a good condition, they will then pressurise (SP) the system and do a leak test, if that is all fine, then they will fill it up and you will have cold air again.

[Whitesupraboy2]

cheers mate, by looks of it, it could be just a regas, though the guy did own a air conditioning firm (for big navel boats) and yes i did ask why hadnt he fixed it :D