Air conditioning

stickytape

stickytape

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So annoyed - the air conditioning was not working so I took t for a Re- gas and they've deemed it has a hole in the radiator/compressor. With then it will cost about 250-300... my usual garage is going to charge about 140.

Cars can be absolute nightmares! There is always something!

Added to the fact I discoveee idve been ripped off with the main dealer (they put new rear discs and pads on as they said it needed them; upon checking paperwork later, I discovered that at the MOT a month earlier they're were deemed as fine and new pads were put in then too!)

Not a good week for cars!
 
That's a tough one, especially regarding brakes. I'd go back with proof and demand a refund for the pads and labour cost at the very least.
 
brakes and discs are an odd one, i had this chat with a local garage who looks after my car and he said when a car comes for service they need to ask will they go to the next service 12k-18k miles up the road?
when at MOT it is are they fit at the time of the MOT.

food for thought.
 
Well that was your decision to use dealership. I would find a good trusted indy. It is surprising how many people opt for rubbish job for lots of ££££ and a stamp over a less shiny reliable outlet

P.S. Air con can fail due to bad pressure sensor (£17 on ebay) or just a seal. You want this located with a pressure test.
 
Is there any evidence of a hole in the condenser? You should be able to see some damage, a stone going through it isn't that uncommon tbh. You won't get "a hole" in the compressor, it's far more likely to have a faulty seal where the gas can leak out.
 
Biggest cause of gas loss is as mentioned already the seals drying out due to lack of use in colder weather.
They should pressure test first to find the leak,before attempting to recharge it.
 
Pressure testing doesn't help (much) in finding any leaks, it just tells you that there is/are one/some. Most rechargers use a fluorescent dye in the lubricant that gets pumped round with the refrigerant and this can help pinpoint the leak(s). Usually seals after a period of non use (best bet is to run the AC for a few minutes every drive - helps clear the windscreen as well as cooling things down.)
 
Nod said:
Pressure testing doesn't help (much) in finding any leaks, it just tells you that there is/are one/some. Most rechargers use a fluorescent dye in the lubricant that gets pumped round with the refrigerant and this can help pinpoint the leak(s). Usually seals after a period of non use (best bet is to run the AC for a few minutes every drive - helps clear the windscreen as well as cooling things down.)
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Brother is Toyota tech and not allowed to recharge a system with gas and add dye as it is illegal to do this on a known leaking system.
Compressed air is now used along with a soapy solution,most decent garages also use a self contained system that evacuates the system then pressure tests it,it will then only add the gas and oil preset by the operator if the pressure is constant over 15 minutes.
As normal there will no doubt be back street bucket banging garages flouting the law on this.
 
Had mine checked by the main dealer (under warranty) 3 years ago and Mrs Nod's by another, reputable garage more recently - both used dye. Not sure when the no-dye legislation was introduced.
 
Nod said:
Had mine checked by the main dealer (under warranty) 3 years ago and Mrs Nod's by another, reputable garage more recently - both used dye. Not sure when the no-dye legislation was introduced.
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I know when I had my wife's car checked / re-gassed few years ago, the garage plugged the machine in, sucked everything out, pressure tested (-ve pressure so create a vacuum) and when all was okay, then re gassed and re-oiled - the oil was a fluorescent green, so if there were any leaks at any time, hopefully this made it easier to see...
 
That could be the answer - if the oil's fluorescent itself, it obviates the need for a separate dye. That is probably what both the places we've used relatively recently use. Thanks for that, Andy.
 
LongLensPhotography said:
Well that was your decision to use dealership. I would find a good trusted indy. It is surprising how many people opt for rubbish job for lots of ££££ and a stamp over a less shiny reliable outlet

P.S. Air con can fail due to bad pressure sensor (£17 on ebay) or just a seal. You want this located with a pressure test.
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Yes going to source a local independent! My bad decision! Lesson learns!
 
I just got a mates Shogun done at Kwik Fit on Thursday, I don't use them for anything but this as it is just stuck on the machine and it does the rest so long as there isn't a leak. Now blowing very cold
 
Had the same thing with my brakes, passed MOT, 2 weeks later needed new pads and discs. Wasn't concerned about the cost, more concerned they hadn't picked up the pads were shot at MOT test, apparently they don't remove the wheels to check!
 
An MoT is purely a test to see if a vehicle is roadworthy at that point in time, not a complete inspection of all aspects of the vehicle. Indeed, very new pads and disks could fail an MoT until they're bedded in after a few applications.
 
MatBin said:
Had the same thing with my brakes, passed MOT, 2 weeks later needed new pads and discs. Wasn't concerned about the cost, more concerned they hadn't picked up the pads were shot at MOT test, apparently they don't remove the wheels to check!
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I also recently found out that if you've got a child seat fitted using isofix points and it prevents the seat belt from being clicked in then they won't remove the child seat to test but simply put an advisory comment.
 
MatBin said:
Had the same thing with my brakes, passed MOT, 2 weeks later needed new pads and discs. Wasn't concerned about the cost, more concerned they hadn't picked up the pads were shot at MOT test, apparently they don't remove the wheels to check!
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Hmm this interesting! So in this case it may even be the other way round, the MOT failed to pick up these things! Oh well its all paid for and done now, just a rather annoying state of affairs!
 
I think they just pop the car on the rollers to check the brakes and not an actual physical inspection.
 
gman said:
I also recently found out that if you've got a child seat fitted using isofix points and it prevents the seat belt from being clicked in then they won't remove the child seat to test but simply put an advisory comment.
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This is no surprise to me. It's the same if protective covers are fitted underneath the car they can't remove them to inspect what's underneath.

Main dealers really irritate me when it comes to servicing. I have used them in the past & lost confidence in them. The advisors often don't know their jobs properly! I had to explain once that my car was 4wd & needed the oil & filter changing on the diff. Plus they charge astronomical prices for the work they do!
 
I find they also just use the same grade oil typically 5W30 regardless of what your car specs. For example the 2.4 Accord is 0W20 but that's not what they'll put in. Also had a main dealer claim they changed the fuel filter on a Mondeo I had for a very short time, one of the full steel canister types of fuel filter, but afterwards I took them out and asked them how a brand new one was all rusty.

A good independent is always my choice for things I can't do myself.
 
gman said:
I think they just pop the car on the rollers to check the brakes and not an actual physical inspection.
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The MOT guidelines actually say they are supposed to measure it so as to conform to the test procedures, my guess is they do a short cut and so long as they work on the day then they pass, which is odd cos I did tell them I could hear the brakes grinding, dont use them anymore.
 
gman said:
I find they also just use the same grade oil typically 5W30 regardless of what your car specs. For example the 2.4 Accord is 0W20 but that's not what they'll put in. Also had a main dealer claim they changed the fuel filter on a Mondeo I had for a very short time, one of the full steel canister types of fuel filter, but afterwards I took them out and asked them how a brand new one was all rusty.

A good independent is always my choice for things I can't do myself.
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My guy tells me lots and lots cars come in with receipts and NO work done, or done very badly. It is probably time sticking go pro hidden cameras under the bonnet and catch the cheating mechanics that way.
 
LongLensPhotography said:
My guy tells me lots and lots cars come in with receipts and NO work done, or done very badly. It is probably time sticking go pro hidden cameras under the bonnet and catch the cheating mechanics that way.
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I decided to change my last service with the BMW from Harry Fairbairns to Douglas Park BMW because it's closer. Never again. Checked the dash cam footage and the first thing they did was search for my camera and turn it off. Then wasted a lot of my time with not even knowing what maintenence contracts they could still honour. Turns out they lost the BMW tyre maintenence contract earlier this year, can only imagine why...
 
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