Just saw a broken pipe in my car!

tintar

Well, here goes. I don't know much about cars, so I when noticed the coolant tank was empty I went to top it up & a week later it was nearly empty again, so I thought there may be a leak in there, somewhere & I looked around with a torch to see better (we have an underground car park), and I saw



and

.

Here's a closer look at it




A tube has broken off the fat little motor at the bottom of the engine.

It looks like its part of the aircon system, does anyone know what this part is called? And any idea on how much it would cost to have this replaced/fixed (can i just glue it back with Araldite)?

I just tested the aircon and it does not cool the car, I've only used the heater ever since I bought the car & that's worked fine, now I know there's no cooling, just warm air.

Thanks in advance

Sids Not

Looks like the AC alright...if you dont use it just leave it, it'll cost you for a new pipe, re-gas and labour...prob not wort it....;)

tintar

the way the weather is going these days, i may just have to do it! or maybe i should give up the wanderlust & read some more books in the park :-)

any rough idea on how much the new pipe, gas & labour would be?

Del2005

tintar wrote: »

the way the weather is going these days, i may just have to do it! or maybe i should give up the wanderlust & read some more books in the park :-)

any rough idea on how much the new pipe, gas & labour would be?

It all depends on the car and how old it is.

Fixing the air con could be a big job if it's an old break. All the seals could have perished and would need to be replaced. But if it only happened recently the seals could be OK.

stratos

The bulge in the pipe I think is the aircon drier it dries moisture out of the aircon gases.
If the system has been like that for a while, dirt and other nasties will have found there way into the pipework. You could replace the pipe and use a diy can to recharge the system minimal cost but it may not work.

The compressor may be damaged. Cans of refrigerant cost about 40 quid if I remember and it worked for me. The gas contains an oil lubricant and if the compressor has been running without the oil/gas it may have become rumbly or noisy. Though there is an electric clutch which engages/disengages it so this may not be the case.

tintar

thanks for the replies, its a Nissan Primera late 2002 model. i think i'll ring a few garages tomorrow to see what they say about it.

Pkiernan

The broken pipe doesnt explain the low coolant however, and since this could be a potentially engine killing propble, I would get that checked out first!!