Air Conditioning Re-gassing

I’ve got a 1991 Mk 1 Eunos Roadster (J Llimited) with non-functioning aircon. The pump works so I assume a re-gas is needed. However, I cannot find anywhere to do this - local Mazda dealer/Kwikfit/etc all say that their equipment fits different (ie newer) valves. I’ve read the article about the necessary gas, but it begs the question of how to do it!

I live on the North Worcestershire/West Midlands border, just south of Stourbridge - any advice or help greatly appreciated (except for ‘don’t bother’ - I took it to France last summer and when we had to have the hood up, we needed it! And this summer, it’s Spain!)

Thanks in advance to you if you take the trouble to reply

 

 

Graham

Definately worth sorting. My aircon works great & comes in very useful.

Some useful info on this thread or contact Gary H for more info on where to get it done.

http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=16730

Good luck [Y]

Are you sure that the A/C compressor is working OK? My car is a bit younger than yours and I found that the clutch had started to disintegrate and it was that which was not working. When you switch the a/c on you should look at the clutch to make sure it is turning. If it isn’t the clutch is nackered. If it is then you need to take the clutch off to identify the make as two different makes were used

 My pump, clutch and everything else worked - except it didn’t get cold.
 I presumed that it just needed re-gassing, until we started ripping the aircon out. One of the pipes to the radiator was fractured and all of the gas must have gone years ago.
 

Hi Polyanna

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply.

I think my system is different! the pulley shown in your photo is rotating all the time the engine is running - when I press in the aircon button, this activates the fan immediately in front of this pulley. (I have two fans - I assume they all have!). Does this mean I have an ‘electrical’ system rather than mechanical? Any help out there?

Best wishes

Graham

Hi Dave

Thanks for the reply - I’m trying to make contact with the guy mentioned in the link, although he operates a bit too far south of me. Anybody out there know of anybody in the West Midlands?

Thanks again

Graham

I’ve used Mazcare in Wolverhampton by New Cross Hospital. They have sorted out my Eunos air conditioning leak problems a few times & regas (Like you MK1 early type valves I believe) - Regas I think is £49.99.

Number 01902 456300
www.mazcare.co.uk

Thanks for that information - I’ll be in touch with them!

Best wishes

Graham

 I used Mazcare today - excellent! Sorted it all out for £70 including converter valves so that I can now have it regassed anywhere.

Thanks for taking the trouble to pass me the information

Best wishes

Graham

 I have found a place in Kings Norton Chap seams very knowledgable ie gave the right answers. He suggested that i have a new Dryer unit but as it is a eunos he is not sure of the part. Uk cars only had aircon from 1993 mine is a 1991 import with aircon. He suggested that I try a specialist so went to MX5 parts who said the 1993 dryer looks the same on their diagrams but could not be 100%.

Has anyone fitted this part a eunos made before 1993? Thanks for your comments

 Hi All

Just had my air con done. Had a second hand compressor fitted new drive belt (£60+Vat) Ester Oil 2.5 oz (£8 +Vat) Retro oil conversion (£30+Vat) vac down regas with R134a and ultra violet Dye (£48+Vat) Total cost inc Vat £171.55. NB I supplied the second hand compressor and new belt.

When my car went in it was mainly to deal with a failed clutch that was creeching like a banshee. Unfortunatly when I took my car in I was unsure if the 93 dryer would fit plus MX5 parts said it would be two weeks before they had any in stock. As I could not live with the noise Robin agreed to fit the second hand compressor and leave the system empty until I had sourced the right part. However, In answer to my previous post it appears that the dryer unit is a general mazda part ie used in a range of cars not just the MX 5/Eunos. Robin the chap who did the above work had a general mazda dryer in stock that was an extact match to the one on the car that he kindly fitted. It is advisable to fit a new one if the system has been exposed to air. On investigating replacement compressors some remanufactured compressor sellers instisted on evidence of a new dryer being fitted if you wanted to maintain their warranty.

His business is called Auto & Agric Air Conditioning based at Blackgraves Farm, Clewshaw lane Headley Heath Kings Norton, Birmingham B38 0EE. Tel 01564 822254 Mob 07947575770. I found Robin most helpful and honest, he answered all my questions, did not try to sell me one route he suggested cheapest option but when pressed quoted for a full conversion at a lot less than other people have said they were quoted in their bloggs. Allowed me to drop car off early and collect late. He accepts cash or cheque but has no facilities for debit cards.

Sytem now fully functional kept the originality of my car am I happy. Would I use this person again definitly

Hmmm.

Ive just had my air-con regassed today… and i have a feeling that my clutch is crackered… now when i hit the button, the revs rise to about 1500 for a few seconds before settling down to around 1000rpm… and it still doesnt get any colder!

 - before the re-gas nothing happened so one would assume the pressure switch was stopping it coming on.

Im sure i saw a compressor-clutch repair kit on the net somewhere, but cant find it now :frowning:

 

 The good news is the compressor clutch can be changed without have to evacuate the A/C gas. The bad news is that there are two different “makes” of compressor so you need to find out off the compressor which yours is. The difficult bit is finding a clutch that is in good condition. When I tried to get mine refurbished from someone on the web the cost was about £400 in 2006, as against a clutch that I found and bought for £30.00.

Cheers…

Do you know if the same applies to the 1.8? - i think the compressor on the 1.8 (all R134a refrigerant) is different to the 1.6 one…

 

 

No sorry I don’t know.

 Why not look for a second hand compressor then if you cannot change the clutch (using the one of the secondhand unit) you can fit the whole unit. I found my second hand unit on ebay £30 plus postage.

 Yes it’s fine to do this but I think you will lose all your refrigerant if you replace the whole compressor and this could cost you £80 to £100 to refill the system.

 not if you take the clutch of the second hand compressor and fit to the compressor in the car. Hence not disturbing your system you could then sell the compressor minus the clutch to reduce the overal cost.

I believe the clutch change is discribed in the technical section and appears to consist of releasing the center nut and using a screwdrive to slide the clutch unit off the compressor shaft. Fitting being the opposite. Sorry its earlier in this thread didi not realise til after intial post

Hope this helps

Cheers, thats what i plan to do, once i get round to double checking the electrical connection to the compressor as it look like its been disturbed at some point… ive already checked the relays and they are ok.