Metal Air Con pipes.?

woodways3 · Jun 4th, 2021, 15:56

I found the bigger of the two metal pipes going into the car has been leaking ,no gas in it now.I have a good used pipe.The slim pipe is Alloy . Question can the pipe be accessed from the cover at the bottom of the windscreen ,or is it what looks like a nightmare from within the car ??????? If so im wondering maybe to cut the old pipe insitue and join the better pipe with maybe a compression joint .Anyone done similar ?? I know where the old is leaking.

VOLVOBOY · Jun 5th, 2021, 19:31

Hi.
If i understand you correctly by removing the cover plate on the bulkhead you will see the Expansion Valve. Both large and small aircon pipes are connected to this by a holding plate and O-rings. Very simple to remove both pipes and worth changing the Expansion Valve at the same time.

woodways3 · Jun 5th, 2021, 21:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by VOLVOBOY

Hi.
If i understand you correctly by removing the cover plate on the bulkhead you will see the Expansion Valve. Both large and small aircon pipes are connected to this by a holding plate and O-rings. Very simple to remove both pipes and worth changing the Expansion Valve at the same time.

Thats great news,for a moment i thought the only access was from within the car.I guess the skuttle cover clips will all break upon removal?

VOLVOBOY · Jun 6th, 2021, 09:25

No , if you treat them like nuts and go carefull then they will spin off without breaking anything.

woodways3 · Jun 6th, 2021, 09:53

[QUOTE=VOLVOBOY;2743042]No , if you treat them like nuts and go carefull the
n they will spin off without breaking anything.[/QUO

Hi i have no knowledge of the expansion valve ,does the two pipes fit into this unit? Is it easy to fit,and does it need any other gaskets ? Thanks for your help.

VOLVOBOY · Jun 6th, 2021, 17:19

Hi.
Expansion Valve is fixed by 2 cap head screws. A new part will come with new O-Rings. Two Rings seal under the valve against the Evaporator and two rings seat against your pipes. This job is simple but just a bit fiddly making sure not to drop anything.
There are two more O-Rings ( one on each pipe) that you need to inspect. They should be replaced usually but you can re-use if they are not deformed or hardened.
The main reason why these systems leak (apart from punctured condensers) is the ageing of the sealing rings so it makes sense to change what you can whilst you can.
As the system is open to air you should really replace the Receiver/Drier as a service item and put some lubricant in.
I don`t want to over blow any of this and put you off but the more you do now the better the system will be once you have it re-gassed. All the parts are simple bolt-on , bolt-off items.

woodways3 · Jul 16th, 2021, 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodways3

Thats great news,for a moment i thought the only access was from within the car.I guess the skuttle cover clips will all break upon removal?

I asked if the two air con pipes can be accessed from the engine bay ,you appeared to say yes !!!!!!! After a lot of hassle removing the engine bay scuttle cover wipers arms etc ,There is no access the the pipes ,only the wiper motor.So it appears the only access is from within the car ,which i was dreading as it looks a real hassle.

VOLVOBOY · Jul 16th, 2021, 22:31

Hi.
You asked if the pipes are accessible from the engine bay and the answer is yes.
They are removed by taking off the small cover ON THE BULKHEAD and not by removing the scuttle panel.
Look to the right of the Brake Servo and you will see the two pipes passing through a plate secured by two nut-type fixings. Remove that plate and you will see the two pipes attached to the Expansion Valve.
You will also need to raise up and move aside the Coolant and Steering Reservoirs to give access to the rest of the pipework.

The only pipework the other side of the Expansion Valve is on the Evaporator itself and you won`t want to go there.

woodways3 · Jul 27th, 2021, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodways3

Thats great news,for a moment i thought the only access was from within the car.I guess the skuttle cover clips will all break upon removal?

Appologies,I was convinced the two air con pipes could only be accessed from inside the car .The two bolt threads sticking out in the engine bay threw me .I now see the two strange looking hollow nuts undo. One pi of a job to replace the bigger of the two pipes,without taking any other pipes apart,but im getting there.

VOLVOBOY · Jul 27th, 2021, 15:35

" Good on you for having a go !! "

Jun 4th, 2021, 15:56	#1
woodways3 Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2024 15:00 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London	Metal Air Con pipes.? I found the bigger of the two metal pipes going into the car has been leaking ,no gas in it now.I have a good used pipe.The slim pipe is Alloy . Question can the pipe be accessed from the cover at the bottom of the windscreen ,or is it what looks like a nightmare from within the car ??????? If so im wondering maybe to cut the old pipe insitue and join the better pipe with maybe a compression joint .Anyone done similar ?? I know where the old is leaking.

Jun 5th, 2021, 19:31	#2
VOLVOBOY Lazy Member Last Online: Today 12:53 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: HORLEY	Hi. If i understand you correctly by removing the cover plate on the bulkhead you will see the Expansion Valve. Both large and small aircon pipes are connected to this by a holding plate and O-rings. Very simple to remove both pipes and worth changing the Expansion Valve at the same time.

Jun 6th, 2021, 09:25	#4
VOLVOBOY Lazy Member Last Online: Today 12:53 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: HORLEY	No , if you treat them like nuts and go carefull then they will spin off without breaking anything.

Jun 6th, 2021, 09:53	#5
woodways3 Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2024 15:00 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London	[QUOTE=VOLVOBOY;2743042]No , if you treat them like nuts and go carefull the n they will spin off without breaking anything.[/QUO Hi i have no knowledge of the expansion valve ,does the two pipes fit into this unit? Is it easy to fit,and does it need any other gaskets ? Thanks for your help.

Jun 6th, 2021, 17:19	#6
VOLVOBOY Lazy Member Last Online: Today 12:53 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: HORLEY	Hi. Expansion Valve is fixed by 2 cap head screws. A new part will come with new O-Rings. Two Rings seal under the valve against the Evaporator and two rings seat against your pipes. This job is simple but just a bit fiddly making sure not to drop anything. There are two more O-Rings ( one on each pipe) that you need to inspect. They should be replaced usually but you can re-use if they are not deformed or hardened. The main reason why these systems leak (apart from punctured condensers) is the ageing of the sealing rings so it makes sense to change what you can whilst you can. As the system is open to air you should really replace the Receiver/Drier as a service item and put some lubricant in. I don`t want to over blow any of this and put you off but the more you do now the better the system will be once you have it re-gassed. All the parts are simple bolt-on , bolt-off items.

Jul 16th, 2021, 22:31	#8
VOLVOBOY Lazy Member Last Online: Today 12:53 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: HORLEY	Hi. You asked if the pipes are accessible from the engine bay and the answer is yes. They are removed by taking off the small cover ON THE BULKHEAD and not by removing the scuttle panel. Look to the right of the Brake Servo and you will see the two pipes passing through a plate secured by two nut-type fixings. Remove that plate and you will see the two pipes attached to the Expansion Valve. You will also need to raise up and move aside the Coolant and Steering Reservoirs to give access to the rest of the pipework. The only pipework the other side of the Expansion Valve is on the Evaporator itself and you won`t want to go there.

Jul 27th, 2021, 15:35	#10
VOLVOBOY Lazy Member Last Online: Today 12:53 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: HORLEY	" Good on you for having a go !! "

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