After a new tyre fitting at ATS Euromaster got offered a 'free' air conditioning check on the Yeti.

The fitter left the car running with A/C on max and coldest setting

with a long temp probe inserted into the air vent. The result was 5C

after no longer than 2 mins running with all doors/windows closed.

He offered a re-gas on the basis it should read a temp of 2C. Outside temp

was about 12C. I seem to recall the measured temp should be min'm 10C below

outside ambient temp.

Is this a load of cods wallop? I said I would get it checked under warranty

and he lost interest.

What are the rough and ready rules for A/C checks? Obviously the outlet temp must be related to the outside temp so a single outlet fig cannot be right.

I had a check done in the summer on my Honda and the quoted fig for outlet temp was 8C with the outside temp being aroung 19C. I declined the offer of a re-gas as again I was not sure if it was a 'nice little earner' (again offered at a new tyre fit occasion). The A/C felt resonably cold at the time if not ice cold.

Any advice on what rules to use when offered this 'free' advice?

Does A/C need re-gassing occasionally to replace lubricant as well as any lost gas?

Air con does somehow loose gas, and does occasionally need topping up or re-gassing. But a new car 'should' be okay, but yes get the dealer to check, if it is covered under warranty.

I had to have my previous BMW's re-gassed on a regular (yearly) basis, and my previous Octavia lost all its gas when the air con unit stopped working (on the hottest day of the year and the longest journey of the year - was not impressed....nor was I at the £1300 bill.......which warranty direct only paid about £300 towards.

Sounds like cobblers to me. After all, when did you last "re-gas" your fridge? I guess it's a modern version of "you need your tracking done" - even though the tyres you've just had replaced were evenly worn after a long and happy life. Like you, I use the "I'll get the dealer to check it" response, and take my custom elsewhere in future.

Mark

Cobblers, if you can get a Yeti or in fact any Skoda system, below 5 degrees your doing well.

Sounds like cobblers to me. After all, when did you last "re-gas" your fridge? I guess it's a modern version of "you need your tracking done" - even though the tyres you've just had replaced were evenly worn after a long and happy life. Like you, I use the "I'll get the dealer to check it" response, and take my custom elsewhere in future.

Mark

You don't however drive you fridge to work and it doesn't have flexible lines between it's compressor and other components that move about. Two years is recomended to regas the system.

2C??? I think his pulling your leg.

Tech1e is more knowledgable than me on this but I do believe that Skoda advise to re-gas every 2 years.

With both the Yeti and a 7yr old Honda (Never re-gassed) I'm of the

opinion if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Only concern would be if lacking in lubrication would it lead to a major costly failure? A little concerned the automatic process that Tyre outfits

use..."we hook it up and the m/c / computer does the rest" procedure could potentially cause more damage than it solves.

Can these people be trusted? What if they have no noticable effect?

Any recommendations based on experience?

In the case I mentioned above if the re-gassed car didn't reach 2C could you

refuse to pay? Is it best to approach an A/C Specialist for this work

with the probable higher costs involved?

I've luckily never needed to have my cars regassed excluding the octy vrs 2 as it had a fault where a part needed to be replaced on the AC system. This was done under warranty however. I find the Yeti system very capable indeed (proven in 43 degree heat during the last two August's around the Costa Blanca) but was wondering; would there be an advantage in paying a Skoda dealer to maintain the system as opposed to a (cheaper) local garage or aftermarket specialist. I guess I'm asking if the equipment they would have would differ and be better in some way?

...I find the Yeti system very capable indeed ...

Indeed didn't the Mr Clarkson TG Yeti test find the aircon more than satisfactory?

I've luckily never needed to have my cars regassed excluding the octy vrs 2 as it had a fault where a part needed to be replaced on the AC system. This was done under warranty however. I find the Yeti system very capable indeed (proven in 43 degree heat during the last two August's around the Costa Blanca) but was wondering; would there be an advantage in paying a Skoda dealer to maintain the system as opposed to a (cheaper) local garage or aftermarket specialist. I guess I'm asking if the equipment they would have would differ and be better in some way?

Varies.....

One local independent had a unit that emptied the system, then pressurised it, checking for leaks, and then recharged the system if no leaks found. It did find some leaks on one car, but the other was fine, just not enough gas in it.

Other people just top it up without changing the gas - I was shown what came out and what went back in. one was dirty the other was clear on the car that leaked, and on the car that didn't leak it was all clean......

I would not use a tyre fitter to do the air con, get it done by a dealer or someone who knows what they are doing, the system needs a set amount of gas so the only way to get it right is to take out the gas and put back the right amount with new oil, you only usually pay a set price or for the extra gas, have my van done every 3 years and it has never let me down.

You don't however drive you fridge to work and it doesn't have flexible lines between it's compressor and other components that move about. Two years is recomended to regas the system.

Recommended by? People who regas a/c systems? I agree that the environment is a bit harsher than a domestic fridge - however most of the experts I have spoken to have been of the view that unless something isn't working, then the system is best left alone as long as possible to reduce the risk of moisture or dirt ingress. Our old Peugeot 306 helpfully had a window on the dryer so you could detect the former. There does seem to be a huge industry built around a/c servicing though and - having had a/c equipped cars for over 25 years - the servicing requirement seems to be a recent phenomenon.

_{Sounds like cobblers to me. After all, when did you last "re-gas" your fridge? I guess it's a modern version of "you need your tracking done" - even though the tyres you've just had replaced were evenly worn after a long and happy life. Like you, I use the "I'll get the dealer to check it" response, and take my custom elsewhere in future.}

_Mark

_{I had my Audi for 9 years and 110, 000 miles and it pumped out cold air on the day I sold it like there was not tomorrow. I never once filled it with gas. So as stated above: if it works, leave well alone.}

You don't however drive you fridge to work and it doesn't have flexible lines between it's compressor and other components that move about. Two years is recomended to regas the system.

Apart from flexible lines car compressors are driven externally and therefore need to be sealed in a different (not so reliable) way than fridge compressors.

Edited 12 March, 201214 yr by briskycat

My wifes 5 year old Suzuki had poor A/C last year, you could feel it was only cool, not cold. (I told her to keep it on for a minutes every week in winter, she never listens )

I just bought a self refill canister and gauge from Halfords, £30 quid and sorted it out easily. Cold again.

My wifes 5 year old Suzuki had poor A/C last year, you could feel it was only cool, not cold. (I told her to keep it on for a minutes every week in winter, she never listens )

I just bought a self refill canister and gauge from Halfords, £30 quid and sorted it out easily. Cold again.

The problem with these are, the ac system is filled by weight ( sticker on slam panel) not pressure. If you google ac refill tins, they don't get a good name. Also the correct amount of oil needs to be added, which you have no control over using a can. Yes they may give results, but much as I hate to say this , I would rather visit Kwik Fit, because for £45 as long as the monkey can read the sticker and enter the correct weight into the machine, the machine then removes all gas/oil from your system, weighs it,cleans it and removes any moisture, carries out a vacuum test on system to check for leaks, then refills the system with the correct amount of gas. And if it doesn't cool by more than 10% you don't pay.

where is the weight of gas to add sticker located on a Yeti?

This is an issue that puts me off using the likes of Kwikfit as if they get

it wrong could do more damage (and expensive bills in the future) and you would have very little chance of restitution sometime in the future.

Sounds like cobblers to me. After all, when did you last "re-gas" your fridge? I guess it's a modern version of "you need your tracking done" - even though the tyres you've just had replaced were evenly worn after a long and happy life. Like you, I use the "I'll get the dealer to check it" response, and take my custom elsewhere in future.

Mark

Fridges have an ingenious solution to refrigeration -the compressor and motor is housed in a'sump', flooded with refrigerant. This avoids the need for seals in the syste, no weeping of gas past seals. The liquid refrigerant also serves to lubricate bearings.

In case you were wondering, the heat exchanger in the back of the fridge (or in the car for that matter) is fed with liquid refrigerant which is allowed to expand, the pressure drops and the refrigerant is allowed to boil. Boiling takes energy in the form of heat from around the heat exchanger. The loss of energy lowers the temperature of the fridge (or car). The hot gas which has boiled off is cooled in an external heat exchanger to condense much of the gas back into liquid before fridge/ac compressor/pump fully compresses the mixture into liquid form, circulating around the system again.

The problem with these are, the ac system is filled by weight ( sticker on slam panel) not pressure. If you google ac refill tins, they don't get a good name. Also the correct amount of oil needs to be added, which you have no control over using a can. Yes they may give results, but much as I hate to say this , I would rather visit Kwik Fit, because for £45 as long as the monkey can read the sticker and enter the correct weight into the machine, the machine then removes all gas/oil from your system, weighs it,cleans it and removes any moisture, carries out a vacuum test on system to check for leaks, then refills the system with the correct amount of gas. And if it doesn't cool by more than 10% you don't pay.

Interesting - but I also heard that these Kwikfit systems (and others. let's be fair) then refill using a mix of recycled/new gas whereas at least a canister is new gas?

In case you were wondering...

Er, no, I wasn't.