The Air-Cond Saga Done...

It was just exactly a month later after I pump-in refrigerant after no-cold aircond as per explained in previous posts, and the air-cond started to acted up back. Luckily, it happened while I am at home, so I can just go to my favourite air-cond man rather than the air-cond guy near my campus.

I told the air-cond man that it was just 1 month time before all gas leaked out. He asked if I have something 'smelly' from the air-cond vent, the answer is NO. If there was some 'smelly' stuff, it may indicate that the cooling coil have leakages. However he insisted that this Volvo 240 cooling coil rarely leaks, but due to old age, nothing is impossible.

He and his assistant proceed to conduct some sort of compression test by putting gas on the system. They read from the pressure gauge that there was a leak. Theay used some soapy foam, apply them all over the hoses to find the leakage but to no avail. The air-cond man then decided to just run the compression test on the compressor only. Confirmed! Compressor got leakages. He recommended me to overhaul the compressor, change all seals, gaskets, and o-rings. They did it in about 2 hours and everything settled.

The main symptom of leaking compressor is that you can always see oil on the magnetic clutch area, and also some oil residue in the engine bay nearby the compressor. Actually this is a recond-unit compressor which I just changed slightly about a year ago, and I know now that the compressor supplied to me is not that good. However, am happy with the air-cond system now! :))






p/s - this is not my real compressor..ehehehhe...

My Steering/Front Tyres Chattering While Braking At High Speed

OK, the symptom is simple and could mislead to other problem. The main symptom is when the car is moving at high speed, range from 70km/h and above, and sudden brake is needed, the steering wheel chatters. It was obviously felt that front tyres vibrate vigorously. Brought the car to a mechanic, he test drive the car and insist if nothing is wrong with the brake lines, or anything of the front tyres, then it may be the brake disc itself. However upon checking, he jacked up the car and we found out that the front tyre have some freeplay (when you try to push in and out at the same time, show loseness). Then he suspected it was the tie-rod assembly, both sides. The tie rod assembly is covered under the black protection boot. See figures below. Got them changed, and test drive, YAHOO!! Solved. The logic behind this troubleshooting is that, the other end of the rod is connected to the tyres while the other part (with bearings) connected to the main rod. When we brake, the other end will have to stop while the other end have numerous freeplay that enable it to move vigourously due to the braking force/shock. And remember that an alignment work is needed after tie rod works done.