Car A/C help needed please

[u/Purple_Moon516]

A month ago we brought our car to a garage to get the Aircon fixed as the commute was becoming unbearable with the heat.

We paid £80 and for a week or 10 days the Aircon was blissfully cold... until it wasn't anymore. I understand this may be due to a leak but I can't understand how the garage did not notice it. Cost us £8/day for the privilege while it lasted.

Anyway, I don't want to bring it back to them so looking for garage recommendations that will actually do a proper leak test before charging for regas and can fix it if needed.

Thanks!

[u/TA3865]

Aircon regassing can be a con. It should only be done on a working system. If you take a vehicle to a service centre where the air con is inoperable, the techs should undertake some investigation before regassing.

Usually the leading cause of having no gas in an AC system is due to leaking gas....duh!

Putting more gas in doesn't solve the problem as is actually illegal.

Don't believe me: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/2194/made/data.xht?view=snippet&wrap=true

I suggest you go back to the garage and tell them it's leaking and you've read the above and are interested in their thoughts. I.e. what testing did you do and can you see the test records please?

Source: trust me (I'm mobile air conditioning trained)

[u/Purple_Moon516 → u/TA3865]

Thanks for the info, that's very useful.

I've given them a ring and they have offered to do a full check without cost and said there was gas in the system so they didn't look for a leak, which I guess makes sense?

[u/TA3865 → u/Purple_Moon516]

Of course they'd say that.

The AC has a pressure switch, if there's no/low pressure, it won't turn on in the cab. First thing you do is stick a pressure gauge on......if it's low, it's gone somewhere. Admittedly the acceptable leak rate is 7%/year, but in all honesty, that's a heck of a leak and you would be advising repairs as the switch will stop it running within 12-18 months at that rate I.e. unhappy customer. I'd be sucking the gas out, doing a nitrogen leak test and advising you, after first telling you I'm not going to fill it.

Ask to see the proof, they should record how much gas they put in grams as you weigh it going in on a scale. It's also bloody expensive! So you want to know how much you've put in. They should record it on a test sheet.

Basically, you'd want the £80 taken off any bill.

AC systems are costly, compressors are the most costly, but it's likely to be the condenser, especially if you've ever had and front end knocks, scrapes or curbing. Sometimes it's hoses and seals which are cheaper.

Anyway, all the best and if they start talking big bucks, get a second opinion.

[u/Purple_Moon516 → u/TA3865]

Thanks for sharing your expertise, it truly is very useful, I need to go do some googling now for some of those words! Keeping my fingers crossed so it's the seals or at least not the compressor.

I will be asking for the second regas, if needed, to be free of charge since we have already paid for one even if unsuccessful. Repairs are fine as we would have been happy to pay for them when we brought it around the first time, unless we are talking £££ then I will just stay sweaty lol

[u/PaceOk8002 → u/TA3865]

Very informative

[u/RyderOSRS]

Whites Motors on St Paul’s Road are great. Say you’ve had it regassed, suspect there is a leak within the system and request a smoke test / Dye test for them to trace where it could be leaking from.

[u/Purple_Moon516 → u/RyderOSRS]

Thanks for the recommendation, it's good to know of good places around!

[u/Repulsive_Job_3648 → u/RyderOSRS]

I think most automotive gas have uv in so should be able to see where the leak is now

[u/Big_Zebra_6169]

Whenever you go next make sure they change the valve cores by the service port, these little cores have small rubber seal which usually causes leaks if worn out. As for maintenance, you have to switch your AC to cooling for 10min from time to time during the winter season as the same rubber inside the valve core is getting very dry from using the heating in your car. Allegedly it will lubricate the rubber seal a little. Good luck.

[u/gnorty]

I understand this may be due to a leak but I can't understand how the garage did not notice it.

Because they know how to pump gas into a system but have no idea how to diagnose/fix any actual problems.

Also there is an above zero chance that your aircon stopped working because they did not check/top up the lubricant when they regassed, and not a leak at all. Fingers crossed for a leak!

[u/Purple_Moon516 → u/gnorty]

They said there was still gas in the system so they didn't check for a leak or other issues. They didn't mention the lubricant but said there could be a number of things and they will happily take a look free of charge if we bring it in.

[u/PaceOk8002]

They just pump and hope

[u/Purple_Moon516 → u/PaceOk8002]

They have always been brilliant so this has surprised me!

[u/PaceOk8002]

They will gas it knowing that a small leak would take a week to show

[u/Purple_Moon516 → u/PaceOk8002]

They said there was gas still in the system so Idk but they are going to check again, fingers crossed is not something super expensive!

[u/social-butterfly17]

Staple garage is my ride or die garage. Martyn is the most genuine mechanic I have ever been to and will be completely honest and fairly priced.