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luciogodoy
Member Since: 14 Apr 2008
Location: Windsor - UK
Posts: 356
  
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| AirCon Fault with suspicious cost to fix - Your opinion pls |
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Hi all
Took my disco 3 to LR in Slough last Thursday to check the aircon.
But before that I had gassed the aircon at Kwik-fit 3 weeks ago as the aircon wasn’t cooling at all.
The car passed the vacuum test at Kwik-fit, and it had 100gr of gas on it and Kwik-fit refilled with 810gr, and after 3 weeks the Aircon wasn’t cooling again - so i though i had a slow-leak.
LR kept the car for the day and told me that I had a leak on the rear pipes just below the passenger seat.
I had previously learned that when your aircon is re-gassed they will usually add an UV dye, to make troubleshooting easier.
At the end of the day I took the car away today without fixing the issue as LR didn't have the pipe in stock.
As you probably already guessed I went to Maplin and purchased an UV light as I wanted to be sure that the £473 they are charging me is worth, so waited until night time and used the UV light, for my amusement I could NOT find any leaks or proof that LR had actually investigated the leak! No marks under the front wheel arch or other points where the dirt was cleaned.
No UV dye to be found anywhere, apart from a small spill next to the valve on the engine bay.
Just from my own piece of mind, if there was a leak, should i have seen the UV dye right?
LR has re-gassed the system and it is working for now. I even powered the car, aircon on, and no leak!!
Thanks
Lucio I'm riding a R1250GSA Triple Back
Previous love: Disco 3 HSE MY07, D4 heated Steering/W, D4 rear cluster, D4 extended roof rack, D4 grille & air grille, D4 rear bumper, colour coded arches + front bumper, side-steps, Webasto timer/ remote control, De-Tangoed Xenon headlights + HID, LEDs all around, reverse CAM (RR hack) + brightness, DLR LEDs, 3-click indicator, SatNav on the move, EGR's done, front/rear antiroll bar Polybush, gearbox pan/filter + oil mega-flush.
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 30th Jul 2012 11:37 am |
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BLFarrar
Member Since: 02 Aug 2006
Location: Deepest, Dankest, Darkest, Dingiest......Le Halifax, West Yorkshire...with strong links to Ireland
Posts: 6222
 
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I have to assume you have a D3 HSE with back system - you have a load more piping that can & will leak.
The Kwik Fit work...it isnt a vacuum test - the vacuum is to rid the system of air before any fridge gas is fed in
I was also told the pipe corroded & thus leaked ...I asked for the pipes & found the material all ok - its the interpipe connection "O" rings that leak....
You may get away with lust one of the pipes if they can use thier electronic fridge leak detector to find the actual point of leakage...
The pipes are a sod to take out & fit..but a D3 is a dud without AC that works BREXIT - done properly.
Right now ...We need Government - not Politics
Save the Dipstick Flagbearer-keep it simple, less likely to fail campaign-agenda items:Starting Handles, Acetylene Lamps.
Founder: Dipsticks-R-Us Inc
D3 HSE-perfectly formed, passenger friendly...has real DIPSTICK
Jag XK-but sadly no DIPSTICK...HUGE design fault
FL2 has DIPSTICK..."real comfort in rear seats"
VW Golf wondermobile (?)..has real DIPSTICK
Morris Minor..original DIPSTICK technology..and a real KEY.
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| 30th Jul 2012 12:51 pm |
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bambi
Member Since: 10 Apr 2009
Location: south yorkshire
Posts: 2059
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Lucio find a local air con specialist,
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| 30th Jul 2012 2:38 pm |
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tonigmr2
Member Since: 07 Jun 2011
Location: Herts
Posts: 277
  
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I have just had this repair on my disco but under warranty, it was about that cost. *now enjoying* D5 Namib Orange HSE 68
Disco4 Kaikoura Stone HSE 16
Disco4 Nara Bronze HSE 11
Disco4 Nara Bronze XS 10
Disco3 Rimini Red HSE 07
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| 30th Jul 2012 6:03 pm |
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DeeJay
Member Since: 07 Jan 2011
Location: Devon
Posts: 265
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Had the same on my D3 at the begining of the so called summer. It was abugger to find the leak even with the UV. Dealer had to replace two pipes expensive because the had to remove N/S suspension to get at them, and yes was about the price that you have been quoted. 
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| 30th Jul 2012 6:15 pm |
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D4JWW
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1318
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Unnecessary quote removed
Would that be the pipe near the battery? Just replace with front AC pipe and thereby blocking gas to rear pipes( which is left in place). What about an upgrade/mod by fitting a Solenoid valve to close the rear pipes when not in use and replace metal pipes with special rubber pipes? A few mods... and keeping it all running...Faultmate MSV2
MY09EGR's blanked Thanks Bellautos, BAS
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| 30th Jul 2012 7:55 pm |
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B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
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Quote:What about an upgrade/mod by fitting a Solenoid valve to close the rear pipes when not in use
This would probably make things worse. The biggest cause of a leak in any air-con system is lack of use. Unless you use it regularly, the lubricant cannot circulate and therefore the "O" rings will dry out and let the gas escape. That said, the rear pipes do seem to be a weak point. 
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| 31st Jul 2012 11:57 am |
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def90v8
Member Since: 22 Jan 2011
Location: kent
Posts: 55
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Hi we have fitted many pipes before and have tried just o rings but all came back still leaking,
The most common joints are on the sill by the air sus compressor or on the up sweep around the diff area.
Have recommended to a couple of owners who could not afford the repairs to try a system sealer Halfords sell them as a last ditch attempt not heard and more so could have fixed it not sure.
Hope this helps
And yes the more u use a/c the better for the car also u use more fuel with the windows open than modern a/c uses.
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| 31st Jul 2012 8:09 pm |
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D4JWW
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1318
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Unnecessary quote removed
Did you consider replacing with longer section of rubber pipes with less joints? A few mods... and keeping it all running...Faultmate MSV2
MY09EGR's blanked Thanks Bellautos, BAS
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| 31st Jul 2012 8:24 pm |
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luciogodoy
Member Since: 14 Apr 2008
Location: Windsor - UK
Posts: 356
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Hi All;
Thanks for all the replies.
The A/C is still working, and no apparent leaks (using the UV light at night).
The pipes look very clean and rust free!
Lucio I'm riding a R1250GSA Triple Back
Previous love: Disco 3 HSE MY07, D4 heated Steering/W, D4 rear cluster, D4 extended roof rack, D4 grille & air grille, D4 rear bumper, colour coded arches + front bumper, side-steps, Webasto timer/ remote control, De-Tangoed Xenon headlights + HID, LEDs all around, reverse CAM (RR hack) + brightness, DLR LEDs, 3-click indicator, SatNav on the move, EGR's done, front/rear antiroll bar Polybush, gearbox pan/filter + oil mega-flush.
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| 6th Aug 2012 10:39 am |
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1964landyman
Member Since: 21 Jan 2008
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 24
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Hi. Also having problems with air con leaking gas on my 2007 HSE. A local air con garage found a leak at the joint below the rear door pillar, cleaned it up and replaced with a LR seal but the air con stopped working again within a few days so he had another go with other seals he had in stock. He is confident that this isn't leaking now as the dye isn't showing at that location but the sytem still emptied its self within a few days.
He cannot see any evidence of a leak elsewhere although he says he is sure that it will be the rear pipes that are responsible as they do not have any protection on them to stop corrosion, just an insulating foam sleeve to trap the water and salt which will just accelerate corrosion!! Why don't LR apply some protection to these pipes, it would cost them next to nothing but reduce the failure rate considerably and hence give them a better reputation!!
Anyway, he is now suggesting that he cuts the pipe that feed the rear aircon and folds it over several times to form a seal, hence isolating the rear aircon leaving just the front working. He advises me that he has recently had to replaced the rear pipes on another Discovery and the total cost was over £1000 !!
From what I read above, it appears that there is a specific blanking pipe that could be purchased to isolate the rear section, is this correct? Also, has anybody sealed the pipes in the waty my garage has suggested, as if this works, it's a 'no parts cost' option to get the front air con working again?
Thanks in advance for any info received. 2007 Series 3 HSE
2000 Series 2 ES
1997 Series 1 GS
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| 22nd Aug 2012 9:32 am |
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BLFarrar
Member Since: 02 Aug 2006
Location: Deepest, Dankest, Darkest, Dingiest......Le Halifax, West Yorkshire...with strong links to Ireland
Posts: 6222
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| OK...lets add some more data.... |
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My pipe change out was done in two bits.....
One that cost about £260..odd approx that chaged a front pipe or pipes...it worked for approx 10 months
The second that cost over £650..& did all the rest of the pipes....
I dont blame the dealers entirely as they can only fit what LR make
I have the old pipes still stored away...there is absolutley no corrosion on these & of the connecting joints still intact (one was lopped off) the "o" ring seal are there too. The o rings look OK..but the only test that is viable is does it hold refigerant gas.
Other dealers have told me straight away that the issue is the O ring seals & not pipe corrosion on most of what they have seen (this is true in the case of may vehicle)
The O ring seals ought to be of another more resistant material as the cause is most probably LR's is speccing what fitted or doing a cost down. The rear of the car system isnt newas it was on the Disco 2.
Rubber hoses dont work on fridge systems - any flexible ones you ever see are very special rubber with wire braid covering.
The use of a vacuum on a fridge system is to rid of air & other gases before fridge gas installed.
It would be great if LR stood over what they designed, tested, made & sold to us as we bear the cost of propping it up BREXIT - done properly.
Right now ...We need Government - not Politics
Save the Dipstick Flagbearer-keep it simple, less likely to fail campaign-agenda items:Starting Handles, Acetylene Lamps.
Founder: Dipsticks-R-Us Inc
D3 HSE-perfectly formed, passenger friendly...has real DIPSTICK
Jag XK-but sadly no DIPSTICK...HUGE design fault
FL2 has DIPSTICK..."real comfort in rear seats"
VW Golf wondermobile (?)..has real DIPSTICK
Morris Minor..original DIPSTICK technology..and a real KEY.
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| 22nd Aug 2012 11:38 am |
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Frapp
Member Since: 19 Dec 2008
Location: Norff Zummerzet
Posts: 1655
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I'm sorry I am no good at finding posts but I am sure someone on here had an issue with rear A/C and got a mobile bod to have a look and replaced the offending parts with "Rubberish" pipes at a fraction of the cost of replacing the steel ones.
I have a sneaky feeling it may have been DiscoDunc but not 100% sure Member of the carrot crank club
Embarrassingly in for the 2nd round, bought another two
D3 Jack Russell carrier
D4 Landmark for towing duties
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| 22nd Aug 2012 5:19 pm |
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