TVR-capable aircon specialists?
Discussion
I have a '99 Chimaera with the very rare factory-fitted aircon. Unfortunately it stopped working a few weeks ago, and there is a green oily residue on the side of the heat exchanger.
The car is currently at a TVR specialist due to a non-starting issue, and they've told me they can't work on the aircon and I should find an a/c specialist. I've phoned another TVR specialist this evening and they said the same thing.
Does anyone know a decent aircon specialist who would have the capability to work on a TVR? I'm guessing the run-of-the-mill re-gassing people don't necessarily have the necessary expertise, and I suspect I have a leak that needs more than just a re-fill.
I'm in Woking, so ideally somewhere in Surrey or west of London.
And please don't just say "take the roof off" - that's not very comfortable when cruising at high motorway speeds for a couple of hours. I use my car for a mixture of long-distance journeys and roof-off blasts. Aircon is actually very useful, so I want to get it working again.
Any suggestions gratefully received!
The car is currently at a TVR specialist due to a non-starting issue, and they've told me they can't work on the aircon and I should find an a/c specialist. I've phoned another TVR specialist this evening and they said the same thing.
Does anyone know a decent aircon specialist who would have the capability to work on a TVR? I'm guessing the run-of-the-mill re-gassing people don't necessarily have the necessary expertise, and I suspect I have a leak that needs more than just a re-fill.
I'm in Woking, so ideally somewhere in Surrey or west of London.
And please don't just say "take the roof off" - that's not very comfortable when cruising at high motorway speeds for a couple of hours. I use my car for a mixture of long-distance journeys and roof-off blasts. Aircon is actually very useful, so I want to get it working again.
Any suggestions gratefully received!
These guys do TVR's and air-con and sorted cooling in my Sag out: http://www.wilton-morgan.co.uk/
Great - thanks for all the suggestions guys - I'll be doing a bit of phoning around today.
I also found this company: http://www.alpinair.co.uk who seem to do nothing else but install aircon and refrigeration systems into all kinds of vehicles (including classic cars), and they're based in west London near a tube station so reasonably accessible to me.
I also found this company: http://www.alpinair.co.uk who seem to do nothing else but install aircon and refrigeration systems into all kinds of vehicles (including classic cars), and they're based in west London near a tube station so reasonably accessible to me.
Dave,
From your original post, I'd say the a/c condenser at the front of the car is u/s.
I'd say that the system is broadly similar to the later T cars...so I reckon a new condenser should be relatively easy to find and if necessary, adapted to mount in a Chim.
For all previous posters, I too had Chim 450 with a/c. After 2-3 yrs the compressor would not clutch in.
My mates dad had it around to his garage, did a full check over and then re-gassed. What a difference ICY, ICY air coming out of the vents. So, it can be done!
Nick
From your original post, I'd say the a/c condenser at the front of the car is u/s.
I'd say that the system is broadly similar to the later T cars...so I reckon a new condenser should be relatively easy to find and if necessary, adapted to mount in a Chim.
For all previous posters, I too had Chim 450 with a/c. After 2-3 yrs the compressor would not clutch in.
My mates dad had it around to his garage, did a full check over and then re-gassed. What a difference ICY, ICY air coming out of the vents. So, it can be done!
Nick
Yes, the problem is in the vicinity of a large nut that forms a union where a metal pipe goes into the top corner of the condenser. There is green oily residue around that union and down the side of the condenser.
I am now planning to get Str8Six to deliver the car direct to Alpinair, who will hopefully be able to look at it later this week.
I am now planning to get Str8Six to deliver the car direct to Alpinair, who will hopefully be able to look at it later this week.
I can't help with a direct solution but what I would say is that the air con units in Tivs work fine in regards to generating cold air but it is how this air is then routed in the cars that lead to bugger all cooling out of the vents.
If you are having work done its well worth adding relevant heat shielding and proper heat shielded ducting to ensure you get cool air put of the vents. I did this with the Typhon on now get a good product.
If you are having work done its well worth adding relevant heat shielding and proper heat shielded ducting to ensure you get cool air put of the vents. I did this with the Typhon on now get a good product.
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
Yes, the problem is in the vicinity of a large nut that forms a union where a metal pipe goes into the top corner of the condenser. There is green oily residue around that union and down the side of the condenser.
I am now planning to get Str8Six to deliver the car direct to Alpinair, who will hopefully be able to look at it later this week.
OK,I am now planning to get Str8Six to deliver the car direct to Alpinair, who will hopefully be able to look at it later this week.
Might be that the union is the source of the leak, but, the condensers do get a bit of a beating and can/often rust out - I'd say the green residue is the lubricant contained within the system/re-frig' gas.
A decent a/c garage should be able to re-make the union joint, then evacuate whatever gas remains, hold the vacuum for ~ 30 mins to test circuit for leaks and then re-gas.
The vac' test will identify any leaks so that they can replace any suspect components. My Chim delivered cold air to all vents when a/c was operating.
Nick
Not a TVR, but I've used these guys for some work on an obsolete Alfa and I was very pleased with their knowledge and professionalism.
http://www.fenair.co.uk/
Ask for Pat. I know he does a lot of agricultural machinery cab aircon stuff so he's used to making up pipes and bits and pieces "on the job".
http://www.fenair.co.uk/
Ask for Pat. I know he does a lot of agricultural machinery cab aircon stuff so he's used to making up pipes and bits and pieces "on the job".
gruffalo said:
+1 STR8SIX always sort my aircon out no problems.
Er... Did you not get my hint?Okay, I'll be explicit: My car has been at Str8Six for a non-starting issue, and I asked them to look at the aircon as well as doing the MOT at the same time. Jason told me they can't do the aircon. Now whether that's the real reason, or whether they have a workshop full of more profitable jobs, I'm not sure.
I wasn't 100% impressed that a TVR specialist declined to work on the factory-fitted aircon, but then another specialist (HurnFerst) said exactly the same thing.
But Alpinair gave me the impression that it's no big deal. When I said the words "TVR Chimaera" and "aircon" in the same sentence, there wasn't the horrified pause that I got with FerstHurn.
I'll update this thread to let you know how I get on with Alpinair - fingers crossed!
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
gruffalo said:
+1 STR8SIX always sort my aircon out no problems.
Er... Did you not get my hint?Okay, I'll be explicit: My car has been at Str8Six for a non-starting issue, and I asked them to look at the aircon as well as doing the MOT at the same time. Jason told me they can't do the aircon. Now whether that's the real reason, or whether they have a workshop full of more profitable jobs, I'm not sure.
I wasn't 100% impressed that a TVR specialist declined to work on the factory-fitted aircon, but then another specialist (HurnFerst) said exactly the same thing.
But Alpinair gave me the impression that it's no big deal. When I said the words "TVR Chimaera" and "aircon" in the same sentence, there wasn't the horrified pause that I got with FerstHurn.
I'll update this thread to let you know how I get on with Alpinair - fingers crossed!
As promised, here's an update!
Alpinair have indeed got my aircon working again, and it's now working better than ever before.
They replaced the condenser and the receiver/dryer, and also a corroded pressure switch. The chap said he managed to do it without removing the rad, despite it being very tight access. That's a good thing, because it reduces the risk of any unwanted side-effects of draining and refilling the cooling system (e.g. not getting all the air out again).
So I think I can recommend Alpinair, just off the Hanger Lane gyratory system, as being a TVR-capable aircon specialist.
The aircon performance is now pretty decent, but if I can find time to replace the heater control valve, which is probably letting some hot water through the matrix even when closed, then the aircon would probably work even betterer!
Alpinair have indeed got my aircon working again, and it's now working better than ever before.
They replaced the condenser and the receiver/dryer, and also a corroded pressure switch. The chap said he managed to do it without removing the rad, despite it being very tight access. That's a good thing, because it reduces the risk of any unwanted side-effects of draining and refilling the cooling system (e.g. not getting all the air out again).
So I think I can recommend Alpinair, just off the Hanger Lane gyratory system, as being a TVR-capable aircon specialist.
The aircon performance is now pretty decent, but if I can find time to replace the heater control valve, which is probably letting some hot water through the matrix even when closed, then the aircon would probably work even betterer!
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