Kwik fit aircon regass

[steve333]

As my cls is over 3 years old & hadn't had an aircon re-gass i decided to pop it in to my local kwik fit on friday as they were doing it for £29.The centre manager took my keys & said "be ready in just over an hour sir",90 minutes later he comes into the waiting area & says 2we've sucked all the old gas out the system but are having trouble re-gassing,give us 30 minutes & it should be ok,45 minutes later & you've guessed it "sorry sir,it's just not having it(why did i let these people touch my pride & joy)i asked so you've drained my system of refrigerant & now can't refill it?to which the centre manager replied "yes,theres a problem with our machine,give me your details & i will call you when it's fixed for a free re-gass".Question is,should i wait for the call & hope kwik fit get it sorted ok or just take the car to someone that knows what there doing?

 

[Oli]

I've always taken my car to Chessington Tyres in Guildford, the E55 hasn't needed doing yet as the A/C is working fine but they did both my TVR and my CLK in the past, I can't see a newer Merc system being any different to most others to top up, from what I've seen it's mostly automated, however I would try to take it back there if it's going to be free from them.

Slightly off topic but I heard R134a is getting phased out over the next few years, what will happen when cars need to recharge their systems then?, and does anyone know what new systems will use instead?.

 

[renault12ts]

Wait until they call you and then they will put it right.

Or we could have another knock Kwik Fit thread. Even a main dealer's equipment can develop a fault.

 

[steve333]

Wait until they call you and then they will put it right.

Or we could have another knock Kwik Fit thread. Even a main dealer's equipment can develop a fault.

I'm hoping thats the case, so will give them the chance to sort it second time around when i get the call(as long as it's in the next week or two).

 

[Oli]

I'm hoping thats the case, so will give them the chance to sort it second time around when i get the call(as long as it's in the next week or two).

If you need it working, maybe suggest getting it done free at another branch?.

 

[steve333]

If you need it working, maybe suggest getting it done free at another branch?.

I don't mind waiting if it's only a week or two(i never turn the a/c off &. never have a problem that way).

 

[Alps]

ive had it done twice on two cars and its pretty simple process, the machine does it all really, id wait.

 

[Markedes]

Have had all my cars done by kwik fit and the new machine is very good and had no problems, I would give them a chance to put it right, much the same as the other posts.

It's a plug in and wait , with a paper readout.

Regards.

 

[steve333]

Feel much happier now other forum members have had kwik fit sucessfully re-gass there cars aircon,sounds like theres not a lot they can get wrong if it's just a case of connecting up & the machine doing the rest-i think i'll wait for the call,thanks for all the feedback

 

[Will]

Could you take it to another Kwik-Fit?

I used the Weybridge branch back in the summer for my E320 and got it done FOC, but I couldn't really fault the branch, equipment or their service.

£29 is a great deal

Will

 

[Markedes]

They also offer a seal repair if it does not re gas and check the whole system to establish why and where it is not charging, even this is not over the top on price, it's a dye which they used on my trusty old cherokee dog wagon.

 

[steve333]

Could you take it to another Kwik-Fit?

I used the Weybridge branch back in the summer for my E320 and got it done FOC, but I couldn't really fault the branch, equipment or their service.

£29 is a great deal

Will

It was Weybridge i took it to Will,just bad luck the equipment wasn't functioning properly friday!

 

[steve333]

They also offer a seal repair if it does not re gas and check the whole system to establish why and where it is not charging, even this is not over the top on price, it's a dye which they used on my trusty old cherokee dog wagon.

Nice to know but the ac/climate control has worked perfectly without any probs/leaks,just needed a re-gass as over 3 years old with original refrigerant in.

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
Though never had mine refilled at kwik-fit, I would use them as others have said the machines they use are fool proof. But I might be slightly concerned as they have managed to drain your system,ok the compressor has a low pressure cut out so it won,t run and cause damage, but the system may need resetting once refilled.

 

[steve333]

Hi,
Though never had mine refilled at kwik-fit, I would use them as others have said the machines they use are fool proof. But I might be slightly concerned as they have managed to drain your system,ok the compressor has a low pressure cut out so it won,t run and cause damage, but the system may need resetting once refilled.

Hi Andy,i switched the a/c off before leaving kwik fit friday & hopefully they should be able to re-gass within a week or two would the system still need resetting & if so are kwik fit likely to know this/able to do it?

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
My understanding is as long as the engine hasn't run with the A/C switched on it won,t have logged a fault.
As far as Kwik-fit resetting it I very much doubt it as I believe it needs to be plugged into diagnostic equipment.

 

[Kam]

Had my E320 gassed from kiwi fit in the summer! Left the car there as Ethel had asked and popped a few hours later and they tell me they have not been able to finish the job! As ethe machine says it has filled it but the light on the dash was still flashing so they would not charge me.

Went straight to a friends garage and told him, he could not stop laughing as he told me that as my gas had run low to the point the EC button was flashing after a refill it will need reseting on the system? So of he goes plugs in his daignosis and a simple reset and the ac is working fine.
So basically i got a free regs due to kwikfits incompetent techicians.

I'm not knocking Kwik fit but they are not the best choice to touch prestige cars

 

[neilz]

I mean, for heaven's sake, what are so many people afraid for Kwik-Fit? I know it's fashionable to slag off every franchise/chain you can think of but this panic about someone who specialises in cars touching your car...

I'd say wait and let them do what they've done several times before. These cowboy indies can be far worse than a franchise who have to work at certain standards and do know what they are doing.

 

[Kam]

Nothing to do with fashion of slagging, I'm stating my personel experience with them, if they work for you then all is good, but stating my experience which is not good......simples

 

[neilz]

I posted at the same time as you, I was more talking about the OP's question of if he should "take the car to someone that knows what there doing?". That suggests Kwik-Fit don't, when all that's happened is that their machine has broken down (not their fault)