Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I drove a friend's Shogun for a while. They are big lumps and fairly agricultural driving experience but tough and fit for purpose. This one was new at the time, but over 15 years ago now...

I bought a 2015 Shogun in January with 30k miles in January, 3.2 TDi. I live in a fairly rural area and the vehicle needs to do everything from towing trailers, tip runs, shifting 4 people and 2 dogs around, etc etc. Unless you spend megabucks on a V8 range rover then any option will be diesel, and will remain so for a long time I reckon.

Just buy an L200, it's essentially a Shogun pickup, so you don't have to share your space with the shit you're hauling. The old ones last forever, mine did 13 years of hard work and I still see it around. I've had the new one for 4 years, it's a nice place to be and better to drive, it hasn't missed a beat despite not having an easy life.

My mate's got an L200, she's a gardener, I'm well jealous... It isn't even black!?!

I had an outlander and now have a L200. Outlander much nice to drive, and also available as a hybrid, was nice and comfortable to drive, and could fit a decent amount in. I traded it for a L200 barbarian x (great name). Its actually not that much less comfortable, and I throw loads of crap in the back of it, including a full IBC tank last week, which weighs a fair bit...

London / Hertfordshire border.

Dammit's comment about a regas working if the aircon is still cold is interesting as it is still cold, just not icy. In particular after leaving our car in the sun half of Monday and then driving on a motorway without shade in 30° it couldn't get it down.

Oh yes, that very much so.

So you've done that too?

I keep meaning to take mine in for a regas, but haven't yet. For the Panda, I just went to Halfords as it was about the same price as buying a canister myself (about £40 IIRC). Seems like a really hard thing to fuck up. New canisrter, attach hose, connect hose to port on the car, release gas until pressure reading is about right, stop. And if they do, I'm sure it would be easy enough to get a refund or have it redone as it's a big chain. Just keep your receipt until you know it's working.

Now £50

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-and-fluids/air-con/free-air-con-check-694050.html

VW want £119 for diagnosis.

These guys look thorough on a check list basis
https://www.wechillanycar.com/

We offer the most extensive Air Conditioning service available which includes:
​
Check operation of air conditioning system
Full visual inspection
Temperature checks
Recovery of refrigerant
Evacuation of air and moisture from system
System vacuum
System pressure test to check for leaks
Adding fresh system oil
Adding Ultra Violet dye to aid with future leak detection​
Recharging refrigerant to recommended levels
Removal of bacteria and odours​
Full A/C report and print out

Has anyone used them?

It would be very convenient, but my folks used kwick fit for their car and it didn't last so I'm weary.

I'd like them to remove the oil before adding new oil ;)

But it is common to remove the old refrigerant and vacuum the system to 'dry' out the system to remove any fluid.

I imagine it didn't last because of what kwik fit didn't do rather than what they did. That is, not diagnosing a fault.

I'd say that as the Halfords check (whatever that entails) is free and a regas is £50, that's cheaper than the VW diagnosis. If a regas does it, great. If not, you're not out much.

Asking for advise.
Who do people use for MOT’s around the N1 area?

https://thecarsurgeryltd.co.uk/ used them for repairs and were very reasonably priced, NW5

Why did you not just DM me?

Is there no love between us anymore ;)

My mechanic is always replacing a certain part in VAG cars AC systems. Can't remember exactly but a pressure switch or diverter valve? Apparently it cracks and slowly leaks the gas. He said it's like 90% of the time responsible for cool, but not icy AC.

Mind you, in both my old A3 and my current A4 the AC never gets icy once the ambient temp is over 35. My dads mid 90s Toyota corolla however, well, that a basically a fridge. And it's never had an AC regas or service.

Have experience of older pajero diesels, both the short and long wheelbase tho at least 15 years ago.

Didn't off road with them as they had road tyres and were to be sold on. The diesels were a bit thirsty, but comfortable. Some had freehubs to become 2 wheel drive and other didn't. Some had air con and other didn't. Aircon made no difference to fuel consumption.

Cheers.

I think I'm going to give that AC guy with the shit website a ring to see if he knows anyone near me. Then speak to we ChillAnyCar. Hopefully given how common Golfs are, and if it's a common issue they'll know what to do.

I've got terrible AC in my '06 Focus - in the past 18 months it's been refilled twice, and mobile 'serviced' once, can't remember by who. I suspect it's leaking somewhere (or was AC just much crapper 15 years ago?). It's coolish, and kind of works on cold days but gets overwhelmed by warmer weather.

I, too, was going to use the bad website guy, but didn't realise he wasn't mobile - anyone got any recomendations for West London for someone who will actually look and find the problem?

HTFU.com or openthewindow.co.uk

Polo 6r that I borrowed with essentially zero miles on it, AC doesn't work either, computer shows a fault code stored some years ago when it dropped below min plausible pressure.
Just done 300 miles in it and now it has a manifold gasket blowing a little, nice little tick tick sound at light load.

For doing AC right, 100% take it to someone who does it regular, it is kinda hard to mess up, as the machine is semi-automated, it draws down a vacuum first to ensure no obvious leaks, which evacuates the old PAG oil (goes crystalline over time, or just gets nasty TBH), then if it holds the pressure for a given time, pumps in refrigerant and PAG oil in the right quantities. Then run the system and whether its a single fill valve or a high + low valve system the machine monitors the two and makes sure its in range, then gives you a print out. So long as nothing mechanically wrong with the system should be fine. Will leak bright green dye if there is any leaks.

Those refrigerant in a can jobs are only a bandaid type job, they contain a bit of oil.

There must be someone along Wadsworth Road just across the A40 from you in Perivale.
(Get my Espace MOT'ed/serviced/repaired along there, and I'm certain I've seen signs for AC re-gassing).

Just a quick bit of love for our ratty e46 that continues to serve without complaint

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Any recommendations for a car security / electrical engineer based in and around SE London? The immobiliser on my defender is taking its job very seriously. Willingness to do home call outs would be a dream. Thanks