truman Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 I have had a new condenser fitted 3 weeks ago to make my A/C work again- £500 is what it cost but I thought well, at least it's all fixed. I have just come back from a holiday and noticed a green puddle under my car. Went back to to the garage who told me that the old pipe has been 'disturbed' and has split. Cost of pipe+ labour will be £335 which I simply can't afford. One of the mechanics suggested I could try finding someone who could weld aluminium. Can anyone recommend a company in Sheffield with the ability to do this? Many thanks If anyone can weld it for you can they do it while it's still on the car? Is it accessible? If not then you'll still have to pay for the labour required to remove/refit it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sony Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 Yes it is accessible- it's leaking right under the car. Just needs to be put on axel stands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidley Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 Can you weld aluminium? ---------- Post added 20-05-2015 at 09:59 ---------- Google says yes,factor in your air con will need regarding after too about 30 quid I think. Most certainly, i think its done with a mig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffty_500 Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 If anyone needs anything welding ever that's specialist and precision go to JNC off woodbourn road, that's all they do, wheels, surgical instruments etc. They will want you to bring them the pipe but this will also allow them to do a better job. Doing it upside down on your back whilst trying to guide a welding rod forget it it'l just be a mess and fail again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sony Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 In that case its wouldn't be worth it as the major cost is removing the pipe- everything is in its way- which is why I have been quoted 3 hours labour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffty_500 Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 Best bet is a new pipe then. Alloy welding isnt the same as steel with a mig, the crack has to be properly exorcised and then filled, if someone just blobs a load of weld on top of the crack it will hold for a bit but the existing crack will get longer and it'll just split again hence costing more in the long run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidley Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 If anyone needs anything welding ever that's specialist and precision go to JNC off woodbourn road, that's all they do, wheels, surgical instruments etc. They will want you to bring them the pipe but this will also allow them to do a better job. Doing it upside down on your back whilst trying to guide a welding rod forget it it'l just be a mess and fail again With respect Huffty, if they cant weld above there head (upside down) they would not get my custom, its basic skilled welding, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffty_500 Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 They're not going to move a welder that's the size of a small substation outside for someone, and for two its not like welding an exhaust where the wire is fed in, you need to hold the rod with your other hand hence why you use a TIG welder not a MIG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Ritus Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 I reckon it will be quite a thin walled pipe and so very tricky with mig/tig (really should be done with tig to ensure gastight as the mig can leave channels in the weld the gas could escape through). I would go down the low temperature aluminium "welding" (not really welding more of soldering) path- less likely to damage/ distort pipe and easier to get good seal. I have had some good results with the stuff from frosts http://www.frost.co.uk/auto-bodywork-welding-metalworking-machine/automotive-welding-tools/lumiweld-kits.html (can be purchased else where but beware of some inferior stuff), its quite expensive and really is best to use oxy/fuel gear (propane fine). It will need a really good cleaning out afterwards to prevent contamination of the refrigerant so definitely needs doing off the vehicle. Whilst the pipe is off seal up the open pipes of the rest of the system to reduce contamination. The air con people should have tested the system with nitrogen after fitting the new condenser (legally bound not to allow the refrigerant purposely to escape into the atmosphere i.e. should not fill a system unless no leak is proven). A vacuum test at least, although it is possible (but unlikely if the system leaked straight away) the system was gastight when tested and struck a leak when driven away (that is no doubt what will be claimed) ---------- Post added 20-05-2015 at 12:05 ---------- Probably new pipe best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcoblog Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 I might not be the best way to repair the pipe, but I get the impression the OP doesn't want to spend very much, and would prefer the repair to be made in-situ. Maybe something like this would do the job for the time being? Only trying to help ... personally, I'd replace the corroded/split part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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