“AS A FAIL-SAFE UPGRADE MARK SUGGESTED A SECOND PRESSURE SWITCH”

re-fitting. With the equipment out of the engine bay it was easy to flush the condenser (the radiatorlike component at the front of the car) and the evaporator (the cold-giving part under the dash) to remove any old lubricant and check for internal corrosion.

With those two components checking-out OK and the replacement compressor installed, Mark measured and made the new hoses using all-new pipe and end-fittings to almost replicate the factory original system. A new filter unit was installed, too, and by hotwiring it to the battery, I checked that the front-mounted electric assist fan was working.

As a fail-safe upgrade, Mark also suggested a second pressure switch to better protect the system (especially the compressor) in the case of a leak and a new service port was pipedin, too.

Thankfully, with the system rebuilt and recharged with modern enviro-friendly refrigerant, my classic Commodore’s air-con system now pumps out icy cold air at the twist of its dash-mounted dial, just as Holden’s engineers intended.

Cool!

01 The final phase of the project, re-gassing the air con. 02 After the rebuild, my Commodore wagon’s factory-fit air-conditioning pumps plenty of cold air into the cabin. Less than 5C is almost unbelievably cool!