I just removed the fuel cooler to compressor aircon pipe to pour some ester into the compressor at the cooler and there is some copper windings poking out of the cooler, I don't remember seeing this before is this normal or does it indicate something has gone wrong in the cooler? it can push back in.

 

Oh my.

Never seen that before, but I have had most of those coolers leaking, either fuel or a/c gas, and I systematically remove that item from the car/s.

I would NOT be reusing that one, that is for sure. It is on the "suction side", and those bits coming away and going thru the compressor is really going to test your sense of humour.

 

do you remove the cooler altogether? I have been running with no aircon for a few years and not having a working cooler has made no difference to the car as I have a proper breather system fitted to the tank, what do you think?

 

On some I simply by-pass the fuel section, by connecting the fuel hoses together.

When the a/c is serviced, as most are not working due to leaks etc, I remove that cooler unit and re-hose the suction side.

If you are not using, and have no forseable use of the a/c, then leave it be, but remove the fuel hoses and connect them to maintain the return to the tank.

I also, have had NO issues with not running that cooler, and we get 47+C summers here.

 

that copper inside the cooler is part of the cooling process and whether its tight or loose is neither here nor there evidently as it cant go anywhere so I will leave it as it is as its not, or wont, be a problem in the future, thank goodness
thanks for your input Grant