Aircon recharge- safe to go to kwik fit?

butterfly72

My aircon has stopped blowing out cold air. I'm hoping its something to do with gas pressures and just requires a recharge. (hope ive got that right!).

Am I safe to get this done at kwikfit or should I go to a proper garage even though it will be more expensive. I am planning to sell the car in the few weeks so dont want to spend too much.

Thanks

facade

Id sell it and knock £100 off the advertised price because "the air con needs regassing"

They don't suddenly stop working unless something has failed, usually a leaky and expensive pipe. What happens is they work less and less well over a period of time

If this has happened, a £50 Kwick-Fit regas should do the trick, they leak test at the time they fill it up.

Didn't work with my Vauxhall, The expansion valve was blocked I think, but where the debris had come from to block it I don't know, so I sold the car (thus proving that there is always something wrong with a second hand car)

Stooby2

I'd say just about anywhere else. Most places charge around the £50-60 mark and won't tell you need a new exhaust, brakes, brake discs, suspension units and a service.

KaiserBill

I had mine done recently by them,this was when it was on special offer - £29 instead of the usual £ 49.

It was fine, no problem at all. I understand that if they can`t do it - if they find a leak or other problem, then they do not charge.



Edit, and they did not try to sell me any other goods or services.

UncleZen

I notice quick fit advertising a regass for £49, they guarantee it will be 10% colder.
Wow 10%, take it in blowing 20deg on a warm day come out blowing 18deg That's £49 please.

johnfarquhar74

I took my car to Kwik Fit on Tuesday this week, noticed the aircon was non-existent Monday so thought I'd chance their offer of the 'colder or free' promotion they do.
Guy at reception said they would hook it up to their system where any residual gas & oil would be sucked out and then a vacuum would be held for around 20 minutes to ensure there was no leaks. If all was OK they would re-gas. My car has just turned 2 yrs old so was not too concerned if it didn't work as apart from the gas, the rest is covered under warranty.
An hour later and all seemed to go well, Kwik Fit bloke said there was next to no gas left in the system but after asking how I use the auto A/C he wasn't surprised, he said most people don't, but if using A/C try and use the recycle air option most modern cars have, puts less strain on the A/C and can even lead to modest fuel savings.
I only had a short drive home so never got to test the frigid air properly but I did notice quite a difference in the cooler air, albeit for a short journey.

KaiserBill

UncleZen wrote: »

I notice quick fit advertising a regass for £49, they guarantee it will be 10% colder.
Wow 10%, take it in blowing 20deg on a warm day come out blowing 18deg That's £49 please.

Erm, I think that might refer to the temperature inside the car, not the ambient temperature.

Henzo

Hope "op" , U don't mind me squeezing a question into your thread , thanks I too have a question regarding Air con . Mine giving off odour smell . Thinking off buying a product from halfords and doing it myself . Or shall i just hand it into a garage let them clean rid the bacteria smell ?

vikingaero

I think Kwik Fit is brilliant for the air con service. If they can't do it or get it cold there's no charge - can't get fairer than that.

I took my Mums Merc to KF and they didn't charge because the condenser was holed.

kfw_2

Kwik fit use a very good fully automated machine first out sucks out all old gas then refills new refrigerant. You should be given 2 print outs from the machine 1 how much oil 2 how much gas has been put in.

The cans and sprays to clean and regas are a waste of money, dont work. You need a regas and new filters to get rid of the smells

rev_henry

I was quite impressed when I took mine in, booked online for £29. Fairly new car to me, no record of it having been done, came out blowing significantly colder I thought. No attempt to sell me anything else whatsoever.

Someone asked regarding the bad odour. I have read a couple of DIY fixes for this.
1. The bacteria responsible prefer colder air and don't like hot air. Thus to kill them off run your aircon as hot as it will go, recirculate on, for 15 mins, remembering to keep doors and windows closed. Of course you'll either have to sit in the car during this time being uncomfortable or have somewhere secure to leave it.

2. Use dettol/neutradol room spray instead of the expensive cans of Halfords stuff. After all its just bactericidal spray. Fill the car with the stuff and run the system on recirculate for a while as above.