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Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:28 am
by torchard
I'm not having much luck finding someone to work on the A/C in victoria. A couple of shops outright refused. Another looked this morning, but claimed the fittings were oddball so they were unwilling to crack it open because they can't get their gear to connect.
There is one other shop in town willing to take a look to see if they can work with it. Will try them.
I know people have discussed recharge kits, but one shop warned me off saying that no one would work on the unit if it had been contaminated via one of these kits.
Currently I have no A/C - I suspect it has leaked dry because it was cycling something fierce when last used.
Suggestions?
Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:09 pm
by Green1
I'm not sure if this is much help or not, I'm in Calgary, and my A/C still doesn't work either, however the shop that has been working on it has had no trouble with fittings and such, and did a retrofit to the newer (R134) coolant without any difficulty... My current A/C issue appears to be electrical more than coolant though...
Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:24 pm
by torchard
Thanks Brett, was referred to a shop in town that works on RHDs (although I dunno whether that really matters) and is happy to have a look. Seems though like 400-500+ bucks is the going rate for a test, recharge, disposal, seals etc. Not cheap. I could spend that money in many other places on this van...
--T
Green1 wrote:I'm not sure if this is much help or not, I'm in Calgary, and my A/C still doesn't work either, however the shop that has been working on it has had no trouble with fittings and such, and did a retrofit to the newer (R134) coolant without any difficulty... My current A/C issue appears to be electrical more than coolant though...
Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:46 pm
by sahdot
Call Jack at Five Star (250) 248 8311 - he told me he has a guy who will work on these van's AC reasonably.
-jim
Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:57 pm
by Adam
I got my failed compressor replaced by CC Auto for around $200, but the recharge of the AC was another $200. Worth it considering how hot the kids can get with all crystal-lite windows.
Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:35 pm
by kb&2dogs
pm sent
Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:01 pm
by mararmeisto
One underlying reason for the reluctance to work on your A/C could be because the shops don't 'recognise' your van, therefore they don't know what to do or don't think they can work on it.
Another part of the reluctance was identified in the one shop's reference to the 'odd-ball fittings' - they have to recover all the refrigerant from the system (none is supposed to leak or they become liable) when they hook up and flush. If they can't connect properly, they might have a discharge.
Just a couple of cents, before we get rid of the penny... (
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story ... 36&k=65582)
Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:21 pm
by coaxial
Good luck with this. Let me know what ends up happening, my A/C worked excellent last year but this year it magically does not even turn on at all. Checked all the fuses including the hidden ones behind the glovebox...
Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:51 pm
by coaxial
wow I was just now out looking for something else under the "hood"... and in the battery compartment I spotted an unplugged wire connector. I had a sneaky feeling it was the A/C.. reconnected and taped it (broken clip), tried A/C = success!
Very large amount of vehicle stress relief, considering I've already got road trips planned for july

Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:14 am
by torchard
Awesome. Like pennies from heaven when that happens!
--T
coaxial wrote:wow I was just now out looking for something else under the "hood"... and in the battery compartment I spotted an unplugged wire connector. I had a sneaky feeling it was the A/C.. reconnected and taped it (broken clip), tried A/C = success!
Very large amount of vehicle stress relief, considering I've already got road trips planned for july

Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:23 am
by torchard
So it seems... It has a little to do with it being a Delica. But more to do with the tight restrictions around the recovery of the refrigerant. It gets even more complicated if the refrigerant has been mixed i.e old and new. there's also a leak test, seal replacement if needed and so forth.
mararmeisto wrote:One underlying reason for the reluctance to work on your A/C could be because the shops don't 'recognise' your van, therefore they don't know what to do or don't think they can work on it.
Another part of the reluctance was identified in the one shop's reference to the 'odd-ball fittings' - they have to recover all the refrigerant from the system (none is supposed to leak or they become liable) when they hook up and flush. If they can't connect properly, they might have a discharge.
Just a couple of cents, before we get rid of the penny... (
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story ... 36&k=65582)
Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:05 am
by Green1
Another part of the reluctance was identified in the one shop's reference to the 'odd-ball fittings' -
I don't see where they get this part though... from what the shop working on mine said, the fittings are pretty standard...
Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:47 pm
by torchard
Yes, the other shop I've been in touch w/ was also surprised. I'd doubt they are anything too different. The way some shops react, you'd think these things were from mars.
--T
Green1 wrote:Another part of the reluctance was identified in the one shop's reference to the 'odd-ball fittings' -
I don't see where they get this part though... from what the shop working on mine said, the fittings are pretty standard...
Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:49 am
by binder
I've evacuated, retrofitted, and recharged my own 93 delica. It,s working great now, even the ice box. I have found a line on reasonably priced retro kits. I work for Sooke Harbour Motors as an auto tech. call the shop @ (250) 642-4700, say Shane gave you this number.
Re: Nobody want to touch my A/C - ideas?
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:40 pm
by mararmeisto
binder wrote:I've evacuated, retrofitted, and recharged my own 93 delica. It,s working great now, even the ice box. I have found a line on reasonably priced retro kits. I work for Sooke Harbour Motors as an auto tech. call the shop @ (250) 642-4700, say Shane gave you this number.
What was the price for that? Did you do it in your driveway or at the shop?