Is it a good idea for a 'non-handy' person to try doing this?

 

Seems to be plenty of directions on t'internet.  Read about how you have to be ultra careful not to contaminate system etc.

 

Looks like there is a bit of an outlay buying the recharge, hose etc ... but this would pay for itself after a couple of years?

 

Or anyone have horror stories / is this best avoided by a very much non-mechanic?

 

Cheers

Edited 7 April, 201412 yr by teutonic

I think the better option would be to get it done by a professional... It's really not that expensive, and as long as you use the air con regularly (not leave it off all winter until summer for a few hours then off for the next winter), it should last a very long time on one charge.

 

Last year my Mk1 air con didn't actually work, took it to a local garage who tried recharging it, only to find it had actually only lost about 2% of the gas and the problem was elsewhere. A couple of days and new wiring for the compressor later, another convenience recharge and it was good to go. Charged me £40, worked perfectly for the rest of my ownership.

 

Is it a good idea for a non-handy person? IMHO, not really.

Will it recover its own outlay? IMHO, you shouldn't need to use it that often. So again, not really.

Is this best avoided by a non-mechanic? IMHO, yeah. Even the workers of kwik-fit and the like use expensive fool-proof machines that do it all automatically after being plugged in and told to "go".

 

However if you really wanna give it a go, go ahead!

Fair enough.

 

It is 'working' and running 'cold' but not 'really cold'.  i.e. feels noticeably colder than the ambient temperature, but not 'ooh thats cold' cold.

 

(I do run the air con quite regularly cos it seems to help clear the screen faster etc.)

 

Not sure how sophisticated the system is.  Is it reasonable to expect it to be 'icy cold' in the little Fabia?

Best to get it done properly, ie all gas removed, dried, system vacuum tested for leaks refilled with correct weight of gas, with the correct amount of oil as well and usually not that expensive.

As above, also remember that a/c is sensitive to the ambient temps outside and will only really give you the significant drop you seem to want in a certain temp range.

For the cost of the self-refill cans, its no more expensive to pay someone else to do it. As above, if you need to do it more than once in a few years, something is broken and the mechanic should be able to find it.

 

I didn't think you can get them anymore though, due to a change in the regulations.

You can't do a leak test, which is a compulsory pre-requesite to a regas (unless you want to lose the gas in about 3 months) so no IMO.

 

Kwik-Fit will do it on a "no fix no fee" basis. (and this is about the only time I'll recommend them as anything other than a distress purchase)

As above, also remember that a/c is sensitive to the ambient temps outside and will only really give you the significant drop you seem to want in a certain temp range.

 

Ah, so I would only see 'how low it can go' on a hot day?

You can't do a leak test, which is a compulsory pre-requesite to a regas (unless you want to lose the gas in about 3 months) so no IMO.

 

Kwik-Fit will do it on a "no fix no fee" basis. (and this is about the only time I'll recommend them as anything other than a distress purchase)

 

Yeah I knew they offer that.

 

I've never been keen on Kwik Fit since (years ago) I took a car in to replace (not patch) a back box with a hole in it.  Didn't trust them, so put a tiny mark with permanent marker in an unobtrusive place (and took pictures).  Went to pick up the car with it's 'new back box' - which was actually my old back box, patched, cleaned up and stuck back in.  The young offender behind the till stood there with a straight face, looked me in the eye and said 'yes, we've replaced it', that's £100 or whatever it was back then. 

 

When I refused to pay, he says he'll call the police.  Then I showed him the pictures, and told him to call the police.  He didn't.

 

So i'm not mad keen on Kwik Fit ...

Edited 7 April, 201412 yr by teutonic

Think ats or similar do the same as kwikfit ie no drop in temp no charge. Search on the net shows they often have deals to do it for around 25 depending on the time of year

Ah, so I would only see 'how low it can go' on a hot day?

 

You should manage around 18*c but one of the main ways that air conditioning increases comfort is by reducing the humidity, 23*c at 85% relative humidity would not be so nice but at lower humidities it wouldl be perfectly comfortable especially when the temperature is a lot higher outside. If you set the temperature dial to full cold the system will contiuosly cool and will not work to achieve a set temperature so depending on how warm it is outside you could get very cold! There are other variables though such as the amount of solar heat gain

Edited 7 April, 201412 yr by Midlands95

As above, also remember that a/c is sensitive to the ambient temps outside and will only really give you the significant drop you seem to want in a certain temp range.

 

Remember that the system relies on air passing over the aircon radiator thing in the front of the car too, so it will only work at its best when moving relatively fast in clean air. Even after a regas and a service, mine has never been great in traffic. Comes into it's own on long A road/Motorway trips though.

Those aircon gas cans from halfords are a waste of time.   In the past me and my friend tried all of the ones they did.

 

limited success,  and lots of wasted product and money.

 

 

Pay £50 and get it done at kwik fit or a local garage that has one of those aircon machines.    All they do is hook up the machine to your car and let the machine do it's preset thing.    U really can't go wrong

So answer = 'there's a reason why there's a market of providers offering to do this for you"

 

Thanks for the useful observations about outside temperature and being on the move - will try those out.