[GTiJohn]

GTi John will be your 'method of removal' man............I was a mere spectator when he stripped everything out of my breaker (I was busy removing various body and trim items at the time).

Your job may be easier than his regarding the wiring, as the two cars you are working with are of similar age. For example, the foglamp and electric mirror wiring is already incorporated in the main harness so there is a possibility that a lot of the aircon wiring is already there waiting to have the various components plugged in.

I did have a good run at it...





I'm not so sure about the A/C wiring being in a non-A/C car, especially a RHD car. Whereas front foglamps and electric mirrors were either standard on higher trim levels or reasonably high-take options, A/C wouldn't be. I'd take the full engine bay harness out of the donor and get the few necessary wires out of the cabin one.

email sent to Richard already

[richard moss]

Thanks to John for the email and to the other guys for tips and guidance.

I'll check the recipient car later to see if it has the wiring in place already.

[Roverlike]

A/C wiring would not be there if the car did not leyve the factory with A/C installed, since there are a lot of additional wiring needed.

Since I do not know your email address Richard, I could not send you details. Obviously John already knew your address.

[GTiJohn]

Bit of an update....

I now have all the necessary parts and have a workshop ramp booked for mid-Aug and I was very lucky to have found that the local company who are willing to leak check and fill the system once fitted, are also able to check compressors.

And I do mean 'lucky' as they found it to be leaking - it would have been so frustrating to have fitted it only to find that

This is the compressor, alternator and FEAD assy stack before I took it to them



And this is the compressor after I picked it up today - I'm struggling to believe it's the same part as it looks new



The company is MotorClimate UK ( http://www.motorclimate.co.uk ) of Warwick. I cannot recommend them highly enough

[richard moss]

I'll check the recipient car later to see if it has the wiring in place already.

It definitely did not have the wiring in place. Being tight for time on my last trip back I only managed to get the compressor and it's mount in place, along with the extended wiring for the relocated (higher mounted) alternator

[richard moss]

Since I do not know your email address Richard, I could not send you details. Obviously John already knew your address.

I'll send a PM with my email address. Any advice would be gratefully received, thanks

[Roverlike]

I replied to email address you provided to me in PM.

[GTiJohn]

Progress on the mechanical and electrical installation was made a few weeks ago, with the fitment of the compressor, wiring and relays.









Earlier this week I plucked up courage to insert the pins into the engine ECU



Finally, I took the car to Motorclimate in Warwick who pressure tested the system, which held, and then filled it with refrigerant but on pressing the A/C button, nothing happened



We checked the pressure switch which was getting 12v and James, the technician, used his years of experience and tapped the switch which brought the system to life

Oh, it's lovely and cool

I'll do a better fitting guide and a costing later on, maybe in the winter

[GTiJohn]

Article written for possible inclusion in a future edition of The Viking

So, how much has it cost me to retrofit air conditioning?

Donor parts: Free (Thank you Paul V)
New receiver/drier: £200
ECU pins: £10
Wiring harness/relay (mate’s rates): £50
New engine cooling radiator: £100
Ramp time: £120 (avoidable if compressor fitted when the rads were out)
Compressor overhaul: £300
Re-gassing: £120
Total: £900

So, it is possible but it’s neither easy, nor cheap, but it is cool!

[ROVER Cabby]

Just had an enjoyable read with this, well done.

I find the AC and the 25s to be prone to leaking, I recommend pressure testing it once a year,
if you get a minor drop, then throw a can of this in.


LINK: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283574157770


I had an issue on my ASTRA J, paid for a pressure check as the AC didn't work, they told me it
was fine and re-gassed it, 12 months later it was not working again, took it back, they still
couldn't find an issue.

They put a can of that STP in and charged me £50 for the efforts and re-gassed for free, 4 years
on and it works mint.

Looking forward to doing my AC conversion, I have a slight advantage, the interior and dash will
be out and i'll be doing a full MEMS3 loom swap from the AC donor car.

I will document it too.