Seatkid Is A Happy Bunny

[seatkid]

The only problem I really have had with my car in 77000 miles and 9 years was the fiasco of the aircon which started playing up toward the end of the warranty period. The dealer pratted around for over 6 months charging me

[big_kev]

All you need now is for he sun to come out !

[Dave-G]

That sounds like a darnned good deal SK. Have you found that once you use it - the windows steam up shortly after you turn it off if it's been raining?

[Andrew T]

Amazing, and contradictory to the widely held belief that A/C systems need to be used regularly to prevent deterioration of the seals.

I had the opposite experience with diagnosis though, after two garages had failed to find the problem, I went to what was held to be one of the areas best specialists who after a days work (and lying that they had the correct diagnostic equipment) suggested I took it to a Ford dealer to get the fault codes read. Within the cost of doing this the dealer rectified a broken feed that had eluded three garages, and got the system running to identify the real fault which was a leaking condenser.

[El Dingo]

As I understand it, by using the air con regularly you keep the seals lubricated with the oil that is added to the refrigerant. The oil will eventually disperse/wash away/transport/warp factor six. Then the seal might not, well, seal. This doesn't mean that the rubber will necessarily deteriorate. So, if you never use the air con, I guess you can't really do any damage?

[tim-spam]

Is Lazarus still alive and kicking?

[seatkid]

Yes, after 9 weeks and 1 day its still alive. But in the last few days I've been hearing the telltale noise of low gas. So I have been thinking about paying another visit to Kwikfit and this time I'll ask for extra oil to be added and to wave their sniffer over the dryer.

 

I'm convinced the 3 times the dealer refilled my system, they didn't put any oil in as their system seemed pretty basic (2 bottles on a trolley with some pressure guages) only bucket loads of dye. If the extra oil doesn't "swell" the seals, then next next year I'll fit that dryer I bought 5 years ago as I think thats where the problem area is.

 

Anyway at

[adrianf.]

Ah yes but, that

[mumof4]

Ah yes but, that

[adrianf.]

Now whos being sarcastic ????

 

 

 

You little minx.

[mumof4]

Me????????!!! :rolleyes: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..... :D

[Steveenduro]

My aircon also packed up after 2 years (imported car so no 3 yr warranty). I automatically assumed it was dead and didn't even look at it. I used the car for another 3 years, and during a spell of hot weather (yes, we did have them), decided to get the local aircon man to regass etc.

[Paul B]

Sounds like you've had some real luck!! Glad to hear it! I drove my Galaxy (this is the 2nd I've had) for 2 years, just assuming Galaxy Air Con was crap, until it started frying me at 28C on my holiday!! Did Kwik-Fit, system looked ok but they could not get it any cooler than 28 either. Went elswhere, had it diagnosed as a Dead Compressor (much to my disbelief) and decided to fix the whole lot myself, rather than re-mortgage the house, and hey presto!! That was about 2 months ago, and it's absolute luxury!! Can't believe my luck.

 

Have I just jinxed it?? The Dryer on the Mark2 is an absolute pig to replace!

[seatkid]

Well decided to go to Kwikfit today......

 

Problem 1. I asked if he would add 20ml extra oil for me (other that the preprogrammed +10ml). He refused point blank! No matter how I pleaded with him, even if I offered to sign a disclaimer. He said they wouldnt do it as they can't take responsibilty for any subsequent failures/problems. OK.....he's sticking to the rules.

 

Problem 2. He wasn't to keen to proceed as the airvents were already down to 6.1 deg and the pressures looked OK. But I persuaded him anyway.

 

So......one hour later.

 

Problem 3. They don't give you access to the computer printout anymore! :P Company policy apparently, so I had to squeeze the vital statistics one by one out of him. - 490g recovered, 15ml oil - although I'm not at all certain those are indeed the true figures........ So I "lost" 485g in 64 days (~7.5g per day...)

 

Anyway, the airvents are now at 4.9 degrees and more importantly the noise gone (for now).

 

I asked him to check the dryer with his sniffer and he obliged - no leak found....... <_<

 

He was a fair guy, only charged

[Paul B]

If it costs you that each year, from what I've read on here, it will probably be cheaper than most people have paid!! Not really the answer though. You must obviously have a leak somewhere unfortunately. Don't know what this "noise" is you talk about? Where's it coming from? Glove Compartment side? They all make that even when working, well just when you switch it off.

 

The Air Con blokes moan like hell about Kwik-Fit, and usually say "why don't they stick to fitting tyres?". I'm quite impressed by it, though at the time it didn't work for me. With more and more cars having Air Con as standard, there is a need for this, and they're pretty helpful as a rule. So they aren't able to undertake major repairs, but if your systems working but not as efficiently as usual and you just need a top up, it's great. Though most people don't even think about having a top up until it stops!

[marinabrid]

is it, you cant get thicker than a kwik fit fitter or better than ?

i asked at 2 branches 3 miles apart, i said im fitting another compressor and need the system vacuuming out , does your machine do that,

one homer simpson ( no offence homer ) said der no mr, it just regasses, so i ring the other branch, the other branch manager, of course, it does sir, the machine is fully automated, we put it on, it vacuums out , re gasses if there are no leaks. takes 45 mins. one of them is right im sure. are kwik fit fitters not trained to the same standard , it appears not. you have to hope whichever branch you go to has got trained fitters who know about air con. maybe i got the sweeper up on the phone.

Edited August 16, 2007 by motorcareman

[Nick]

Well decided to go to Kwikfit today......

 

Problem 1. I asked if he would add 20ml extra oil for me (other that the preprogrammed +10ml). He refused point blank! No matter how I pleaded with him, even if I offered to sign a disclaimer. He said they wouldnt do it as they can't take responsibilty for any subsequent failures/problems. OK.....he's sticking to the rules.

 

Problem 2. He wasn't to keen to proceed as the airvents were already down to 6.1 deg and the pressures looked OK. But I persuaded him anyway.

 

So......one hour later.

 

Problem 3. They don't give you access to the computer printout anymore! :lol: Company policy apparently, so I had to squeeze the vital statistics one by one out of him. - 490g recovered, 15ml oil - although I'm not at all certain those are indeed the true figures........ So I "lost" 485g in 64 days (~7.5g per day...)

 

Anyway, the airvents are now at 4.9 degrees and more importantly the noise gone (for now).

 

I asked him to check the dryer with his sniffer and he obliged - no leak found....... :lol:

 

He was a fair guy, only charged

[Beyond Help?]

Oil can sit in the evaporator meaning it does not all get recovered with an evac, you really need to power flush the system to get most of it out.

[bigdaddy]

I am sure you can buy a regassing kit from halfords, save trips to kwikfit