How much to fix my aircon

Laurelii

Ive been told it might need regassing... how much will this cost? (UK)

The car currently blows the air from in the car or outside so in the summer its awful. its a 2016 Vauxhall Astra

ratrace

If it just needs gassing it ill be about £50 - £80 depending where you go

ps: DONT go to kwik fit, as you will walk out bankrupt

user1977

Not much, if that's all it needs. It's a fairly standard fixed price option if you look at garages' websites. 

daveyjp

You need to find out why it needs a regas.  

Could be a pipe leak, failed condenser, compresser problem.  Until you know what the problem is estimating a cost is difficult.

The gas on mine escaped due to a poor condenser weld.  Changed under warranty, but it would have been a few hundred pounds work.

motorguy

daveyjp said:

You need to find out why it needs a regas.  

Could be a pipe leak, failed condenser, compresser problem.  Until you know what the problem is estimating a cost is difficult.

The gas on mine escaped due to a poor condenser weld.  Changed under warranty, but it would have been a few hundred pounds work.

^^^^
This

It does sound like the gas is escaping somewhere.  

molerat

You need to find a proper aircon specialist to diagnose why it is not working.  The rapid fit sheds and main dealers will just put it on a machine for a vacuum check (on a pressurised system - go figure) and re-gas it.  It will only fail their test if it has a massive leak and they will only be able to fix it if the hole is obvious to the eye.  The only saving grace of the sheds is that if they can't fix it they generally won't charge.  On the other hand a specialist will charge to diagnose but there is every likelihood they will deduct that fee from the repair and re-gas cost. And no point buying the DIY can from Halfords as that costs about the same as letting one of the sheds do it.

daivid

My car is much older so when the aircon started to play up I didn't deem it worth spending to much to try to fix so I went straight to kwik fit. The first time it did the trick, 2 years later it needed redoing so I went back but my car failed their test. As they could't complete the re-gas that second time there was no charge, so all I 'lost' was my time. On neither occasion did kwik fit try to upsell or in anyway get more money from me (this may well vary by branch and indeed how likely they think you will be convinced). As your car is newer maybe you do have something to lose if there is a problem with the aircon that needs to be diagnosed and fixed perhaps?? Though I think I would probably still give the re-gas a go if it is still no fix no fee.

Carrot007

All depnds on what is wrong and the age of the car.

Under 4 years, may be worth  a try/

Over that probably not unless you kniow the aircon has never been switched off (you should never do that, just set an appropriate temp).

Of course it does not work in my car (it is nearly 10), but did when I got it. Was all of a sudden. Not in any way worth it really.

In the summer turn the blowers down and open windows, it will reduce the MPG by (near) the same amount as using aircon anyway. Just not as effective.

[Deleted User]

Carrot007 said:

All depnds on what is wrong and the age of the car.

Under 4 years, may be worth  a try/

Over that probably not unless you kniow the aircon has never been switched off (you should never do that, just set an appropriate temp).

Of course it does not work in my car (it is nearly 10), but did when I got it. Was all of a sudden. Not in any way worth it really.

In the summer turn the blowers down and open windows, it will reduce the MPG by (near) the same amount as using aircon anyway. Just not as effective.

Sorry to interrupt your thread OP.
@Carrot007 , would you just tell me why that is - i don't know about such things.

VFR

If the aircon is switched off “for long periods” it can cause the seals in the system to start leaking as the gas has a lubricant to stop that happening, but leaving it on “all” the time will take a toll on fuel consumption.
If you can remember it is fine to just run it for sometime say every couple of weeks but of course many do forget & hence they have an issue when they do a couple of years later.

Re-Halfords took my Honda there for a gas check a year or so back and that they did, found it to be OK and left with no charge.

Grey_Critic

VFR said:

If the aircon is switched off “for long periods” it can cause the seals in the system to start leaking as the gas has a lubricant to stop that happening,

Which is the reason on some cars Aircon comes on automatically when you start the car and have to switch it off.