Hi,

I'm looking for a recommendation for an auto air conditioning specialist (Not the Land Rover dealer, I know where that is and they are not specialist)

The reason for this request is that I have replaced the condenser myself (yes I did get it drained of gas first). I have 2 reasons for wanting specialist resource:
1. I fitted new o-rings from a packet in Migros because that was all I could find. The are the right size but unsure regarding specific material suitability
2. I had to bend a pipe manifold on the replacement condenser to match the old one/make fit and there's a change that area will want metal brazing.

Thanks for your help

Andy

I know one but he is in Lausanne, if you have a few days off?

If the O-rings aren't suitable for A/C use then they'll stop being o-rings in very short order. Who knows if the Migros o-rings are Viton, NBR, PNBR, or cross linked monkey snot? I don't.

Good luck finding an automotive A/C shop that would braze a crack. You might have better luck taking the condenser to a regular HVAC shop. Few garages even rebuild brake calipers nowadays - they'll have a smoke axe for getting bearings off and loosening rusted fasteners, and possibly a MIG for patching exhausts, but paying one for Al brazing/TIG welding a cracked condensor pipe will probably cost as much as a new evaporator.

__________________
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Hi,

Thanks JagWaugh you have actually been able to set my mind at rest.

First there are no visible cracks. Bending an aluminium manifold was the last thing in the world I wanted to do but there was no choice. I have since been advised by the parts supplier that other customers had reported the pipe difference and bent them in the same way without issue.

Second, regard o-ring rubber compound I have fished out the Migro packet, noted the contents were made in Germany and looked up the part number/manufacturer. The o-rings are NBR and have high suitability for R134a.

With this in mind I am off for a refill tomorrow morning.

Thanks,

Andy

They'll be able to tell if the pipe was cracked as soon as they put a vacuum on the system. Tell them that you might have cracked a pipe up front, and leave covers and such off when you bring the vehicle in. They can add a UV dye (to check for leaks) to the oil on charging and if they know that there might be a crack at the condenser then they'll start looking there.

Quick update,

I found these guys just over the border in Germany who do a nitrogen gas pressure test and are open all day on a Saturday. FYI this is a much more reliable method of checking for leaks by comparison with a standard vacuum check because the system is pressurised in excess of operating pressure.

http://www.autofullservice-danner.de/

Total cost was about EUR150 and the pressure test was EUR60.

The guy shook his head when I said I had changed the condenser myself, so it was a great feeling to be told it didn't leak! Plus I now have glorious cold air in my car!