Had my air con regassed today and serviced...(pics)

[PaulE230]

£40 for the service

apparently it only needed a bit of topping up but it is a lot colder

 

[BlackC55]

Did they do a complete service on it? £40 seems cheap.

The system needs to be recovered, then gas re-cycled (cleaned) then a vacuum applied to it (to aid moisture removal). Then re-gassed again.

Just making sure the bloke did a proper job!!!!

 

[PaulE230]

Did they do a complete service on it? £40 seems cheap.

The system needs to be recovered, then gas re-cycled (cleaned) then a vacuum applied to it (to aid moisture removal). Then re-gassed again.

Just making sure the bloke did a proper job!!!!

So he said

 

[Wezzel]

I had mine done recently. It was hooked up to a big machine (about the size of a portable air conditioning unit) which vaccummed out the moisture etc. All computer controlled.

£44.95 at Kwik-Fit.

 

[Satch]

Mobile service outfit near me charges £95 for this:

System Inspection & Report
Gas analysis with customer copy printout.
In-Car temperature versus time performance test with printout; records
pre-service air conditioning system performance.
De-Gas & Vacuum system to waste or recycling bottles.
Leak Test using OFN (Oxygen Free Nitrogen) pressure test.
Deep Vacuum system & Re-Charge with virgin or recycled customer gas.
Add correct amount & grade of compressor oil.
Final Leak Test using electronic sniffer.
Repeat In-Car temperature performance test; records post-service aircon system performance.

Anybody know how that stacks up with what Kwik-fit actually do? If they are sticking it on one of the newer generation of Aircon service machines should be much the same.

http://www.kwik-fit.com/air-conditioning.asp

 

[fredfloggle]

He didn't seem to use a charging still - ?

 

[stats007]

I paid £25 at KwikFit with an MoT.

 

[big x]

Mobile service outfit near me charges £95 for this:

System Inspection & Report
Gas analysis with customer copy printout.
In-Car temperature versus time performance test with printout; records
pre-service air conditioning system performance.
De-Gas & Vacuum system to waste or recycling bottles.
Leak Test using OFN (Oxygen Free Nitrogen) pressure test.
Deep Vacuum system & Re-Charge with virgin or recycled customer gas.
Add correct amount & grade of compressor oil.
Final Leak Test using electronic sniffer.
Repeat In-Car temperature performance test; records post-service aircon system performance.

Anybody know how that stacks up with what Kwik-fit actually do? If they are sticking it on one of the newer generation of Aircon service machines should be much the same.

http://www.kwik-fit.com/air-conditioning.asp

Kwik-fit use a fully automated machine.Takes 40mins to fully vacuum the system.They are however not aircon techs, any leaks and you have to go else where.

adam

 

[fredfloggle]

I paid £25 at KwikFit with an MoT.

When , 1978 ?

I just paid £55 for the ticket , I would expect that Kwikfit couldn't buy the gas for that , unless they are using propane .

 

[stats007]

Last week. The MoT was £45, the re-gas £25 with it.

 

[big x]

When , 1978 ?

I just paid £55 for the ticket , I would expect that Kwikfit couldn't buy the gas for that , .

I paid Kwikfit £25 in March. It's normally cheaper to get aircon done in Winter.
They are still making money the machines only cost £2500 at ECP or can be leased.

adam

 

[jaymanek]

Thats a very old method of recharging gas... nothing wrong with it but makes it more difficult to get spot on, also did he add the correct amount of oil to lubricate the sytem.
I dont see how he could have emptied the system first?

We have a fully automated machine which cost us £4500 and basically it removes everything from the system and tells you how much has been removed (gas and oil) and then recharges with the correct amounts...

 

[Wezzel]

This must be what Kwik-Fit use.

They gave me an initial print-out of the existing performance (temp). They then vaccummed the system, recovered and refilled the coolant and oil and gave me a second print out showing the new temp.

If you don't get a noticable improvement you don't pay for the service.

I must say mine took about an hour to do because it hadn't been done for a few years and had a lot of moisture in it.

 

[Glenn Smith]

When , 1978 ?

I just paid £55 for the ticket , I would expect that Kwikfit couldn't buy the gas for that , unless they are using propane .

Last time i looked our buying price for 134a was £133 for 12kilos so at around £10 a kilo it would cost about that to fill an average system, i'll have a look at the latest price as i'm off to get some this afternoon.
A full service will incude replacing the receiver/drier as well as a full vac down (around an hour) re-filling and testing, you can have the system topped up or a vac down and re-fill, the problem with automatic systems is that the people using them probably don't have a clue as to how the system works or even basic theory so if a problem exists they probably won't know what to do with it, i use an old unit called dial a charge, i fill using the refrigerant in liquid form on the high side with engine off, i use the pressure differentials between high and low sides to diagnose faullts within the system, probably the hardest thing is the control sytems used these days.

 

[Andy W]

Last time i looked our buying price for 134a was £133 for 12kilos so at around £10 a kilo

I recenty purchased 10 cylinders of R134a for £560 inc VAT, £56 each!

How come he never cleaned the condenser or advised you to get it cleaned?

It is not good to just top up a system, for all you know you could have a slight restriction in the system such as a partially blocked filter drier or expansion device and under normal gas charge it will under perform, squirt a load more gas in so the discharge pressure is raised and due to the higher pressur some cooling will happen, eventually the compressor valves / reeds will smash, use either a charging still, accurate electronic scales or a charging station, if using a charging station dont let them put any old gas back in from there on board recovery cylinder, I would also ask them to purge the lines first to blow out any old oil or leak sealer rubbish prior to attaching the gauges to your pride and joy, it is so easy to unintentionally introduce contaminents to a system.

 

[big x]

I've got a question about the automatic machines. The machine takes about 40 mins + to vacuum and do a pressure test. What happens if you just withdraw the refrigerant which seems to take the machine 10 mins or so, does the Pag oil remain in the compressor ?

adam

 

[Andy W]

I've got a question about the automatic machines. The machine takes about 40 mins + to vacuum and do a pressure test. What happens if you just withdraw the refrigerant which seems to take the machine 10 mins or so, does the Pag oil remain in the compressor ?

adam

Yes, you will not remove the oil from the compressor by reclaiming or vaccing out a system, also this vacuum pumping and pressure testing, are these guys just vaccing out and leaving the system for 20 mins to see if it holds a vacuum? If so this is not an accurate test, the proper test is to leave OFN in the system and monitor that for how ever long you feel is necessary.

I would also be very wary of the guys who kep adding 25ml of oil every time they recharge the system as well.

 

[BarryS]

Local Merc dealer, Tony Purslow, sent a mailshot last week offering full air con service. Cost was £150

 

[agriff]

Would an air con service cure the bad egg smell that I get , mainly when first started. I used one of the anti fungal sprays twice but the smell has come back.

 

[BlackC55]

Make sure the fungal spray goes right on the evaporator otherwise it won't work properly.