Air con regas - dealer?

[tomjj]

Hi just a quick question.

Is it best for the dealer to do the air con regas when it is needed (around £100?).

Or is it OK to get a local garage to do it for around half that price?

Just wondering you see what's best - any difference in what they use or anything?

Thanks.

[stuart]

I would use an reputable independent or AC specilist, the machine and the gas used will be the same specification.

They should remove all the existing gas/oil from the system, check the system for leaks, refill with the correct amount of gas/oil, and maybe change the cabin filter.

Save yourself the money

[GarJE]

Kwik fit charged me about £50.

[CMcK]

If the air con system needs regassed there is some kind of problem with it, most likely a leak. Get a local air con specialist to look at before wasting money on gas that'll just leak out again over time.

[GarJE]

If the air con system needs regassed there is some kind of problem with it, most likely a leak. Get a local air con specialist to look at before wasting money on gas that'll just leak out again over time.

Sorry mate. Think your wrong on that one. Aircon systems naturally de-gas over time. The rubber hoses are ever so slightly permeable, which leads to losses over time. A recharge machine will test the system for leaks before filling it with new refriegerant.

[stuart]

Sorry mate. Think your wrong on that one. Aircon systems naturally de-gas over time. The rubber hoses are ever so slightly permeable, which leads to losses over time. A recharge machine will test the system for leaks before filling it with new refriegerant.

This statement is correct there is always natural leakage from the system. This is why almost all manufactures recommend an air con service every 2 years.

A car of mine lost about 40% over 2 years.

[smokey0123]

An A/C specialist is best, Avoid places like halfords and quickfit they only top it up.

An A/C specialist will recover any gas (R134a tetrafloroethane) and oil , pull a vacuum on the system and hold it to test for big leaks, weigh the correct amount of the correct oil back in, add some UV dye (normaly about 5-10ml) in then weigh in the correct amount of gas in.

Then after that is complete they will run the system (car running with A/C turned on) for a while then check the system with a UV light to check there are no minor leaks the vacuum test missed.

If there is no gas in the system it is common practice to pressure test the system with OFN (oxygen free nitrogen) and if a leak is found to also replace the reciever/ dryer aswell as the leaking part (Normally the condensor or 1 of the rubber O-rings).

If you go to the dealer check there procedure is the same as stated above.

As you might of guessed air con is 1 of the many thing I specilise in

[CMcK]

This statement is correct there is always natural leakage from the system. This is why almost all manufactures recommend an air con service every 2 years.

A car of mine lost about 40% over 2 years.

That's surprising as my 10 year old A6 never required a top up and neither did my old Cordoba SX which was six years old when I sold it.

Must bear it in mind when my Mk V finally arrives.

[ScouseNinja]

R-134a is also made up of very very small particles , much smaller than the old R-12 gas , Making it notoriously difficult to contain. not that R-12 could not leak , it just buggerd the atmosphere quicker.


Well thats what my independant a/c guy told me when I asked why my new cars needed recharging more often than my old 91 vx cavelier.