Volvo 480 Club Europe

Hello folks, had a run out in the wedge this week, in sweltering conditions. Tried the aircon to no avail, and am guessing it needs a regas. Is this something we can trust to a Kwikfit or Halfords or backstreet garage, or is it another DIYable thing with a kit from Amazon or the like?

No doubt there are gremlins to account for in the process. My car is a late low miles 2 litre Celebration with the yellow gubbins (tech term) on the aircon tackle.

Has anyone got any experience getting this done?

Martin

I don’t have air-con experience with the 480, but my previous experience on two older cars with non-modern connections was that you are really limited by the limited intellect of chain garage workers if they can even connect to it.

I had success on the XM with an independent who was very good and specialised in just air con. He could connect to older connections and obviously knew what he was doing.

If the 480 has modern connections, you may be in luck with chain garages but I’d still be wary.

I took the C6 for a re-gas at a chain recently. It passed the leak test apparently but lost all the gas within about 2 days. This has also put me off from them—- zero fucks given in most cases.

Thanks James, I guess as wedgie enthusiasts we get used to the low standards generally found with national chain outfits. I think I will have a word with my local garage, who know the car and actually do appreciate my custom.

Good advice! Thanks
M

I'd be wary of letting a Kwik Fit type chain getting their hands on the aircon, Martin.

Better to start with your trusted garage or a recommendation from them.

I had Hutton Brothers do Lily a few years back and will be getting them to do Pud soon - I know they do it properly and aren't at all fazed by older cars! Most of the guys there broke their teeth on them!

David

After having my aircon regassed twice, I've decided it had to be fixed, because R134a refrigerant is a very powerful greenhouse gas.
So I took it to my trusted Volvo specialist, who managed to find a second hand (but like new) aircon condensor.
We had to work on the car for a day, every pipe, every connection was stuck and the condensor turned out to be for R12 so we had to have the fittings adapted. I've heard there are also universal condensors available.
Eventually the bill was 750 € (so almost 700 quid) but it is still holding 3 years after!
https://goo.gl/maps/ht6KJqnWhwFjUG898

Hello Robert,

That sounds ominous! Mind you, your car has done a fair amount more mileage than mine I think... but then again, they are all at least 26 years old by now, which is plenty of time for various connectors and systems to sieze up!

I'll see what my local garage have to say. No doubt it will be expensive!! Question is, will it be worth it, when we've probably already had what passes for summer here anyway!

All the best!

Martin

Martin Mc wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 01, 2021 9:00 am

Question is, will it be worth it, when we've probably already had what passes for summer here anyway!

All the best!

Martin

Well, don't forget that AC removes moisture from the air.... that's a handy feature to have on a 480!