Why is air con not covered by service or warranty in this day and age.

niktheguru

EssexExile said:

niktheguru said:
What the hell is a service for then? Its to ensure the car is running smoothly. The whole car! The filter is changed, the oil is changed, so why is the air con gas not "topped up" if this is what is needed.

A service is for doing things on the service schedule. If during a service they find the brake pads need replacing they will charge for the pads and fitting.

Repairs and servicing are two different things. I've never encountered problems with air conditioning so I can't comment on whether it would be fixed under warranty.

Yes i'm aware of all this, but how is the "service schedule" composed, why shouldn't topping up air con gas be on the "service schedule" seeing as air filter, engine oil, brake fluid etc is all on this "schedule". The schedule is governed by what the manufacturer wants to include, and it looks like the garages are making a quick buck out of "regassing"

Brake pads, tyres etc are different. These vary depending upon how much you drive the car and vary with use. If i decide not to drive my car for a year the tyres and brake pads should be fine and wont need replacing. If i do 100000 miles, they'll be worn and need replacing. Its obvious and reproducible.
However if i decide not to use aircon for months apparently the seals "might" leak and the aircon gas "might" plummet and may need refilling, if i use it "as described" then potentially i may not need a regas for years. Its all very non descript and variable isn't it. It just doesnt sit easy with me that someone can say "yeah you need to pay £150" for something they dont quite know why it has leaked or not functioned.

BOWFER

niktheguru said:

Yes i'm aware of all this, but how is the "service schedule" composed, why shouldn't topping up air con gas be on the "service schedule" seeing as air filter, engine oil, brake fluid etc is all on this "schedule". 

I'm not sure 'topping up' air con gas is possible.

coffeehound

BOWFER said:

niktheguru said:

Yes i'm aware of all this, but how is the "service schedule" composed, why shouldn't topping up air con gas be on the "service schedule" seeing as air filter, engine oil, brake fluid etc is all on this "schedule". 

I'm not sure 'topping up' air con gas is possible.

You can even buy DIY top-up cans

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-and-fluids/air-con/ez-chill-auto-air-conditioning-recharge---gas-r134a-264627.html

niktheguru

BOWFER said:

niktheguru said:

Yes i'm aware of all this, but how is the "service schedule" composed, why shouldn't topping up air con gas be on the "service schedule" seeing as air filter, engine oil, brake fluid etc is all on this "schedule". 

I'm not sure 'topping up' air con gas is possible.

it is emptied and refilled apparently, but they all describe it as "topping up/refilling the gas"

BOWFER

coffeehound said:

BOWFER said:

niktheguru said:

Yes i'm aware of all this, but how is the "service schedule" composed, why shouldn't topping up air con gas be on the "service schedule" seeing as air filter, engine oil, brake fluid etc is all on this "schedule". 

I'm not sure 'topping up' air con gas is possible.

You can even buy DIY top-up cans

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-and-fluids/air-con/ez-chill-auto-air-conditioning-recharge---gas-r134a-264627.html

That's not 'topping up' 
Topping up is when a small amount is added to take it up to a required level.
That's what was suggested, that a small amount of gas is added at services so the cost is (example) £20 every service rather than waiting until it's not working and being charged £180 fior a whole refill.
That isn't possible with aircon, you have to completely empty it and completely fill it again..

BOWFER

niktheguru said:

BOWFER said:

niktheguru said:

Yes i'm aware of all this, but how is the "service schedule" composed, why shouldn't topping up air con gas be on the "service schedule" seeing as air filter, engine oil, brake fluid etc is all on this "schedule". 

I'm not sure 'topping up' air con gas is possible.

it is emptied and refilled apparently, but they all describe it as "topping up/refilling the gas"

Topping up is clearly a misleading phrase to use.

niktheguru

BOWFER said:

niktheguru said:

BOWFER said:

niktheguru said:

Yes i'm aware of all this, but how is the "service schedule" composed, why shouldn't topping up air con gas be on the "service schedule" seeing as air filter, engine oil, brake fluid etc is all on this "schedule". 

I'm not sure 'topping up' air con gas is possible.

it is emptied and refilled apparently, but they all describe it as "topping up/refilling the gas"

Topping up is clearly a misleading phrase to use.

Of course it is, as is everything used when it comes to AC. Thats my whole point.

coffeehound

BOWFER said:

That's not 'topping up' 
Topping up is when a small amount is added to take it up to a required level.
That's what was suggested, that a small amount of gas is added at services so the cost is (example) £20 every service rather than waiting until it's not working and being charged £180 fior a whole refill.
That isn't possible with aircon, you have to completely empty it and completely fill it again..

The words in that link say

Please Note: The Recharge is able to top up 2-3 cars based on inadvertent refrigerant loss based on low refrigerant in car

Isn't the a/c connection a schrader valve, so it can be topped up and removed without (much) loss or contamination.

niktheguru

BOWFER said:

coffeehound said:

BOWFER said:

niktheguru said:

Yes i'm aware of all this, but how is the "service schedule" composed, why shouldn't topping up air con gas be on the "service schedule" seeing as air filter, engine oil, brake fluid etc is all on this "schedule". 

I'm not sure 'topping up' air con gas is possible.

You can even buy DIY top-up cans

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-and-fluids/air-con/ez-chill-auto-air-conditioning-recharge---gas-r134a-264627.html

That's not 'topping up' 
Topping up is when a small amount is added to take it up to a required level.
That's what was suggested, that a small amount of gas is added at services so the cost is (example) £20 every service rather than waiting until it's not working and being charged £180 fior a whole refill.
That isn't possible with aircon, you have to completely empty it and completely fill it again..

What I was told at the garage, was a full regas was £150 and minimum charge was £60, but they wouldn't know how much i'd be charged until they started the process.
I found this unacceptable as my car had this problem after only 15 months of ownership from new, i have been using the car properly during covid, and they gave me no indication as to why the aircon was only getting slightly cool and not as cold as it should, other than "needs a regas." (If they said it was damaged due to a stone chip and there was a leak, i'd have been irritated but would have accepted it, but to just be told "needs a regas" is not an adequate answer for a customer, so are they expecting I fork out £150 every year to get it regassed? thats more than a service!)

This was at my regular dealer garage I have been using for over 10 years as a loyal customer.  I had taken the care there for a service asked them to take a look. I then took it to my local dealer garage (as i have moved house a few years ago, but still took it to my previous garage as a loyal customer) and they looked at it, treated the problem and didn't charge me. Now that is service, and I will now be taking all my custom to this dealer in future.

BOWFER

coffeehound said:

BOWFER said:

That's not 'topping up' 
Topping up is when a small amount is added to take it up to a required level.
That's what was suggested, that a small amount of gas is added at services so the cost is (example) £20 every service rather than waiting until it's not working and being charged £180 fior a whole refill.
That isn't possible with aircon, you have to completely empty it and completely fill it again..

The words in that link say

Please Note: The Recharge is able to top up 2-3 cars based on inadvertent refrigerant loss based on low refrigerant in car

Isn't the a/c connection a schrader valve, so it can be topped up and removed without (much) loss or contamination.

I've personally never heard of aircon being 'topped up'.
It's usually a case of the gas getting to point it stops working, then is just completely replaced (if there's even any left in it).
We tend to only keep cars 3 years at a time and have only had one car need any gas attention (Kia sportage)