KwikFit AirCon ReCharge £25

The Edge · 7 Jan 2009 at 18:14

Mine was only marginally colder that using the standard fan in the summer, but i'm hoping the fact it was colder than the air outside means that there is just hardly any gas left rather than a leak. I know the evaporaters are prone to going on 850s so i'm not holding my breath

.

Still, it's effectively a free test

Conscript · 8 Jan 2009 at 15:42

Given how cheap it is at the moment, and that my car is now over 9 years old and possibly never had it done, I thought I'd pop down this afternoon and gt it done. Took about an hour, Ill lsit the results from the printout.

TEST RESULT
REFRIGERANT: R134a

RECOVERED
00.635kg
RECOVERED OIL
0002ml
VACUUM TIME
020:00min
LEAK TEST
No Leak Detected
CHARGED 00.740kg
OIL CHARGED
0012ml

Not sure if the numbers are good or bad....I guess its lost 0.105kg of magical cooling gas. The vents felt bloody cold when I got back in but its hard to tell how much colder as Ive had them set to warm for the past few months and Im too much of a pussy to go and sit in the car in weather like this to see if it can get me any colder. The real test will be to see if it keeps mist on the glass at bay any better; it has had a bit of trouble demisting the windscreen lately. Still, for £25, any improvement is welcome.

Nor · 8 Jan 2009 at 15:46

No best waiting 'till it's warmer before spending money on aircon?

Conscript · 8 Jan 2009 at 15:49

Nor said:
No best waiting 'till it's warmer before spending money on aircon?

Given that the offer for it being only £25 runs out at the end of February, no.

Luke · 8 Jan 2009 at 16:09

I've said it before and I'll say it again- I'd not trust those monkeys to refill my washerbottle, let alone perform anything complex on my car. They couldn't even do up 4 wheelnuts after changing a tyre. When I got home and went to retighten them, two were missing and one was very loose

PhillyDee · 8 Jan 2009 at 16:13

The machine is fully automatic, Its just screw on and press a button.

YorkshirePadd26 · 8 Jan 2009 at 16:14

Bet the won't wana touch my 306''s aircon.

Don't think they work in any 306

.

Might give them a ring though.

Luke · 8 Jan 2009 at 16:33

PhillyDee said:
The machine is fully automatic, Its just screw on and press a button.

Pretty much like the impact gun they use to do up wheel bolts...

Conscript · 8 Jan 2009 at 16:37

emailiscrap said:
I've said it before and I'll say it again- I'd not trust those monkeys to refill my washerbottle, let alone perform anything complex on my car. They couldn't even do up 4 wheelnuts after changing a tyre. When I got home and went to retighten them, two were missing and one was very loose

This was at the back of my mind but as said, don't think they touched the car apart from plugging the machine into it. Nothing fell off when I got back in anyway.

BigglesPiP · 8 Jan 2009 at 19:37

PhillyDee said:
The machine is fully automatic, Its just screw on and press a button.

And adding the correct refrigerant has nothing to do with it?

They aren't all the same and more will often be required that what has been removed and cleaned.

Jonners · 8 Jan 2009 at 19:59

I might have a dabble with this tomorrow, as theres no real cold blowing when my aircon on, just a faint whistle/whine sound.

Halfords shown me that my canister is full, but perhaps the gas has gone off?

BigglesPiP · 8 Jan 2009 at 20:32

Tupac said:
I might have a dabble with this tomorrow, as theres no real cold blowing when my aircon on, just a faint whistle/whine sound.

Halfords shown me that my canister is full, but perhaps the gas has gone off?

Or maybe Halfrauds got the pressure wrong.

Kwik-fit are just as likely to do this mind.

The_Dark_Side · 9 Jan 2009 at 00:19

whatleytom said:
exactly my thoughts. Who is thinking about air con in this weather.

You should use it regularly, regardless of the type of weather we're having.
If you make a habit of leaving the system off for several months you are contributing to the premature failure os that system.

BigglesPiP · 9 Jan 2009 at 00:40

Air conditioning is designed to dry air, this clears mist off your screen very quickly, and keeps your car dry inside.

It's ability to make air cold is merely a side effect.

blueboy2001 · 9 Jan 2009 at 09:00

BigglesPiP said:
And adding the correct refrigerant has nothing to do with it?

They aren't all the same and more will often be required that what has been removed and cleaned.

Cars made in the last 15 years will all use R134a. The machines also check that the refrigerant is R134a before it drains the gas.

Coverting older cars to R134a is a job for a specialist.

PhillyDee · 9 Jan 2009 at 12:37

blueboy2001 said:
Cars made in the last 15 years will all use R134a. The machines also check that the refrigerant is R134a before it drains the gas.

Coverting older cars to R134a is a job for a specialist.

I was gonna post something like that . . . . I believe even the connection ports are different to stop mistakes. Im pretty sure you cannot top-up the old type of refrigerant either due to environmental laws. Though im not entirely sure.

The Edge · 9 Jan 2009 at 17:13

Apparantly my car needs a new compressor according to Kwik Fit, but it doesn't leak according to them.

I'm going to confirm this with my mate before I buy one though because he (my mate) said if the system is completely empty the compressor needs to be initialised manually.

At least i got a free pressure test and it seems won't have the lovely job of rpelacing the evaporator

JKD · 10 Jan 2009 at 21:15

Thanks for the hint - had mine done today for £25 and it seems to have made a huge difference. The focus is 5 years old this year and the air con has always been pants. Just seems to make sucking noises and slightly cool. Wished I had done this sooner - weird noises have gone and I now have a chilly cabin!!

Conscript · 10 Jan 2009 at 21:48

JKD said:
Thanks for the hint - had mine done today for £25 and it seems to have made a huge difference. The focus is 5 years old this year and the air con has always been pants. Just seems to make sucking noises and slightly cool. Wished I had done this sooner - weird noises have gone and I now have a chilly cabin!!

Was it a kind of popping clicking nosie very so often? Mine also used to do it, but I havent heard it since the recharge.

ShakenNstirred · 11 Jan 2009 at 12:55

Clarkey said:
probably less than there should be, considering AC is probably its most useful in the winter. Misted windows cleared in seconds and constant dehumidification means you won't get ice on the inside.

i thought most car A/C`s dont work if outside air temp is below 5c