Is Kwikfit ok to use for an aircon regas?
- Thread starter saitrix
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My local independent reckons Kwikfit (or at least some Kwikfits) don't put UV dye in the mix - he has regassed customers' AC a proper mix (incl. UV dye) after Kwikfit jobs leaked without showing why. The machine should say if the AC can hold a vacuum, but a slow leak may beat the proof load...but you should be able to get your money back from Kwikfit the AC doesn't work again after a week or so.
Apparently Kwikfit are getting less stringent on what constitutes successful regassing now. 10% reduction is supposed to be a success. So what? 15'C down to 13.5'C?! Definitely check beforehand.
Apparently Kwikfit are getting less stringent on what constitutes successful regassing now. 10% reduction is supposed to be a success. So what? 15'C down to 13.5'C?! Definitely check beforehand.
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They don't because they can't / won't diagnose problems, they plug the machine in and regas only, if it leaks it's up to you to get a proper place to use UV dye and diagnose your problem
Not sure. Bought Octavia recently and the aircon wasn't cooling very well. Went to kwik fit for a regas and left it there for an hour. Was told that it 'hadn't worked' but some additional gas had been put into the system. They said there might be a problem with their machine but I was welcome to come back in a week or two and try again. They advised that the additional gas 'might' improve the cooling a bit and they hadn't found any leaks in the system. They didn't charge me so I didn't get a receipt. I gather that they're supposed to give you a print out but wasn't given one.
Found afterwards that there was a slight cooling effect that seemed to stop working after a few minutes but used it for a few days. Then the noises from the aux belt area started (clunking with aircon on and metallic grinding / tinkling with it off). Roll on a week and the noise was getting really worrying so I borrowed a trolley jack, and some axle stands, whipped off the undertray and was greeted with this:
That would be my aircon compressor's clutch pulley. Coincidence that it went just after a kwik fit regas? Maybe. There were a mix of new looking breaks and older rusty ones so it was perhaps on its way out anyway.
I have working aircon again now but it cost £414 to get me there with a full new OEM compressor, vacuum and regas from an aircon specialist. Could have tried just a clutch / pulley replacement but nobody that offered to do it was confident that it would work (and easy to make a mess of yourself apparrently). Due to the lack of paperwork I've not bothered trying any kind of claim from kwik fit. Anyone think it may be worth a letter at least?
I think Kwik fit is fine if you have working aircon, just need a regas and everything goes to plan. I think that if the brown stuff hits the fan the Kwik Fit guys don't even have the expertise to realise that there is a problem. I'll not be taking a car there for a regas again. Pretty sure that if I'd gone to an aircon specialist in the first place they'd have diagnosed the problem at an early stage and probably saved me a fair bit of cash.
Found afterwards that there was a slight cooling effect that seemed to stop working after a few minutes but used it for a few days. Then the noises from the aux belt area started (clunking with aircon on and metallic grinding / tinkling with it off). Roll on a week and the noise was getting really worrying so I borrowed a trolley jack, and some axle stands, whipped off the undertray and was greeted with this:
That would be my aircon compressor's clutch pulley. Coincidence that it went just after a kwik fit regas? Maybe. There were a mix of new looking breaks and older rusty ones so it was perhaps on its way out anyway.
I have working aircon again now but it cost £414 to get me there with a full new OEM compressor, vacuum and regas from an aircon specialist. Could have tried just a clutch / pulley replacement but nobody that offered to do it was confident that it would work (and easy to make a mess of yourself apparrently). Due to the lack of paperwork I've not bothered trying any kind of claim from kwik fit. Anyone think it may be worth a letter at least?
I think Kwik fit is fine if you have working aircon, just need a regas and everything goes to plan. I think that if the brown stuff hits the fan the Kwik Fit guys don't even have the expertise to realise that there is a problem. I'll not be taking a car there for a regas again. Pretty sure that if I'd gone to an aircon specialist in the first place they'd have diagnosed the problem at an early stage and probably saved me a fair bit of cash.
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They shouldn't be touching your working parts, the regas is a valve by the slam panel, it's either a coincidence or they tried to get it working and messed it up.
Well there's a lot that can go wrong without them touching moving parts. Just getting the refrigerant pressure wrong can take out a compressor - e.g:
http://www.danfoss.com/NR/rdonlyres/CA85447B-C096-459F-B861-3BFD680DBC28/0/FSN008web.pdf
Not saying that's what went wrong with mine though.
Edit: Many of the Sanden compressors used on most VAG cars have clutch pulleys designed to failsafe, rather than keep driving jammed internals. It stops loads of tiny metal shards getting sent through the rest of your aircon system.
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10% reduction in temperature hey, from 15C to -14C is pretty good I reckon
I doubt those monkeys are using Kelvin somehow!
e:
"Let Kwik Fit recharge your Air Con while-u-wait. We will replace and recharge lubricant and refrigerant levels in line with your manufacturer’s recommendation. If we cannot improve the coolest vent temperature from your car by more than 10% when measured in degrees Celsius - then you pay nothing at all.*
* Please note if the ambient temperature around the car is less than 9 degrees Celsius it may affect the results of the AirCon recharge test results. In these circumstances, it is at the managers discretion whether to offer a refund with results less than 10%."
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They failed twice as well for me once on my Mazda 6 which needed a £5 90 degree bend and once on the wifes Zafira which we never got fixed because she's from Manchester.
They are good for what they do, top up working air con or confirm yours is in need of work, that's all.
Not illegal to diagnose leaks with dye I think. I believe it is illegal to add refrigerant to a known leaky system.
Hence you can use nitrogen / dye but not R138 / dye if you know it's leaking somewhere.
I had my car regassed at quick fit a while ago and it was fine for a week or two but then all leaked and it stopped working. Apparently they only do a pressure test so can't tell if there's small leaks.
Anyone know any decent and reasonably priced air con specialist available in the Essex/Colchester area?
I probably have a small leak as the compressor does engage properly and there's no funny noises.
Anyone know any decent and reasonably priced air con specialist available in the Essex/Colchester area?
I probably have a small leak as the compressor does engage properly and there's no funny noises.
That is correct, you are not allowed to add charge to system which you knowingly has a leak, you would need to decant and repair then pressure test with OFN, vac and then recharge.
Ypu can add dye to assist with any future leak checks.
but is the machine proofed against kwik-fit trained idiot?