Anyone ever topped up thier own aircon

[Harpic]

Just wondered if anyone had ever used the stuff they sell in Halfords to recharge your aircon and if so where do you attach it to as there seems to be two possibilities either at the front or at the rear bulkhead where there seems to be pipes that have a bleed nipple affair once you unscrew the covers?

 

[kewe]

Was wondering the same and if they work? Mines is cold but not freezing so the kids end up with the windows down in the back defeating the whole purpose of the aircon system.

 

[777cupra]

guys.... DO NOT use that stuff! I attempted it yself and bought a duff can, so I went back and MR KNOW IT ALL HALFORDS assisstant said that he would do it for me. However when he finished he said "ah thats strange your compressor has stopped working" which was working absolutly fine before he touched the car, as it was the first thing he checked.

To cut a long story short took it to a garage and the fault was diagnosed as the muppet from halfords over filling my aircon system, and as a safety feature the compressor won't kick in.

Cost me approx £70-90 for a aircon clean check and regas at the garage.

When chatting to the air con tech he told me that those cans are a bad idea, and verging on illeagal as you have to be licenced to handle refridgerants and disposal etc.

In my opinion it's a massive rip off and I'd steer well clear, it's well worth gettin the job done properly doesnt cost much more

 

[LEE69]

Kwik Fit do it for £45

 

[kewe]

Yeah agreed for an extra £5 worth getting Kwikfit to do it.

 

[jwfcms]

used the can once, but stay clear as said as they are going to be banned/stopped soon.

 

[Faisal]

i hear you need an air con service every so often...what does that entail?is it just topping up the gas? is it worth doing?

 

[LEE69]

Mine was done nearly a year ago, still gives it out freezing, i was told you need to use it about 20minutes a week.

 

[Markyboyt]

As others have said, soon legislation is coming in that anybody discharging or charging air con systems must have done adequate training courses.

Personally I wouldnt use a top up can as they can in no way carry out the full procedure plus I believe they work off the pressure as opposed to the quantity of gas.

 

[Robb1990]

kwik-fit say you get your money back if it's not 10% cooler or something like that too

 

[tomek113]

Does anyone know what should temp of the air coming from central vents when AC is set at LOW?

Thanks

 

[kewe]

Does anyone know what should temp of the air coming from central vents when AC is set at LOW?

Thanks

Think it should be about 5 degrees C.

 

[Muttley]

The Seat cooling check is as follows:

Set climate control to Auto, Lo temperature and recirculation.
Set revs to 2000 rpm
Wait five minutes
Measure temperature at central dashboard air vents

If outside air temp is less than 30°C, the air conditioning system should be delivering air between 3°C and 6°C. If it's 40°C outside, then expect air between 5°C and 8°C

 

[Faisal]

The Seat cooling check is as follows:

Set climate control to Auto, Lo temperature and recirculation.
Set revs to 2000 rpm
Wait five minutes
Measure temperature at central dashboard air vents

If outside air temp is less than 30°C, the air conditioning system should be delivering air between 3°C and 6°C. If it's 40°C outside, then expect air between 5°C and 8°C

i doubt itl ever be 40°C here lol

 

[BCM]

kwik-fit say you get your money back if it's not 10% cooler or something like that too

Went there yesterday as mine has been playing up.
They pluged it in said come back in an hour, so did that and they said there A/C machine aborted it because it detected a leak!
Just my bloody luck!
Anyone know how to find/fix leaks on A/C?

 

[kewe]

The Seat cooling check is as follows:

Set climate control to Auto, Lo temperature and recirculation.
Set revs to 2000 rpm
Wait five minutes
Measure temperature at central dashboard air vents

If outside air temp is less than 30°C, the air conditioning system should be delivering air between 3°C and 6°C. If it's 40°C outside, then expect air between 5°C and 8°C

Just tested mines 8.3°C

Went there yesterday as mine has been playing up.
They pluged it in said come back in an hour, so did that and they said there A/C machine aborted it because it detected a leak!
Just my bloody luck!
Anyone know how to find/fix leaks on A/C?

I thought they might have done the leak fix? I'm sure they use a coloured liquid/gas to find the leak, might have to go to an aircon specialist though to get that checked.

 

[Markyboyt]

yeah as kewe said, you need the system gassing and tracer dye adding, then wherever it comes out will be covered with flourescent dye. You could have a look around the aircon system for any signs of oil residue though or even if your lucky tracer dye in case its been put in previously.

 

[LEE69]

Think you need an ultra violet light to trace it....might be wrong.

 

[UncleFester]

As an example .. mine is an 04 car, last week was its first regas ... it had lost just under half the pressure in the refrigerant, it was still blowing coldish.


I would take that as needing a regas every 4 years or so

 

[Markyboyt]

Think you need an ultra violet light to trace it....might be wrong.

it shows best under ultraviolet and with the yellow glasses that come with the light, but it is visible to the naked eye just not as bright