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Can any one recommend an expert aircon fixer in Dorset or nearby, or a reliable trade body for such people please?
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Dont know what the quality of work is like, but I gather kwik fit now do this. I think its all computerised and they just hook the machine up, key in the details and leave it to run. They also offer some kind of guarante that if its not X degrees colder then its free.
I might be simplistic, but cant really see they have much scope to either con you or cock it up (although dont be surprised if you find all your tyres are bold and you would be breaking the law to leave without changing thm plus the brakes and shocks...:-) )
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Kwik-fit don't do any work on air-con systems-they just have machines that drain and refill the system.
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>> Kwik-fit don't do any work on air-con systems-they just have machines that drain and refill the system.
And if you just need a regas, you'd be nuts to pay £20-£50 more for the same service elsewhere.
Aircon specialists have their place, and i'd go to one if there was any hint of a serious problem with the AC's function. For a simple regas though?
Can't get kwiker than a kwik fit fitter :-P (that was the motto right? I only barely remember it from when i was wee).
It helps that my (not so local now i've moved, Baillieston) Kwik Fit is staffed by A-1 guys!
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Some years ago I dealt with an excellent firm in Weymouth when I wanted a re-gas and check over. Sorry I can't recall the name but I think it was the only specialist company in the Yellow Pages locally at that time! I think it might have been something like 'Express Refrigeration.
Update: I've just done a search and Express Refrigeration comes up with an address at Crossways, just outside Dorchester. I guess it's the same firm. They did commercial refrigeration and car air-con.
Good Luck.
Last edited by: Mike Hannon on Sat 26 Jun 10 at 14:22
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>> Can any one recommend an expert aircon fixer in Dorset or nearby, or a reliable trade body for such people please?
>>
Something to start with
www.ac4cars.co.uk/ac4v10p12.html#outarea
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I had a Kwik Fit regas done on the Scenic. Can't recommend it highly enough. Detailed report at the end, and most importantly icy cold air-con which stayed that way until we sold the car. Paid about £35 IIRC.
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I took adavntage of KF's winter offer. They recharged Yaris aircon for £25. Took over one hour..
VERY highly recommended...
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Does anybody ever get the receiver/dryer changed?
I've seen it suggested that it should be changed when the system is regassed but never heard of it being done in practice.
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>> Does anybody ever get the receiver/dryer changed?
>> I've seen it suggested that it should be changed when the system is regassed but never heard of it being done in practice.
>>
Yes I had a new one when my compressor was changed.
It was not very expensive.
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If the system ever fully runs out of gas, the dryer will be attepting to dry the atmosphere, and rapidly becomes saturated. In these circumstances, I fit a new dryer. If there's still some gas pressure in the system, there's usually no real need to fit a new dryer.
Happily, on SWMBO's Astra, the dryer is incorporated in the condensor, so, you end up renewing both together anyway.
I would imagine - although I've never actually tried it - that it would be impossible to draw a really hard vacuum on the system while there's lots of moisture held in the dryer.
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NC>>draw a really hard vacuum
Lost for words! ;)
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>> I would imagine - although I've never actually tried it - that it would be
>> impossible to draw a really hard vacuum on the system while there's lots of moisture
>> held in the dryer.
Wouldn't the water simply turn to gas, and continued pumping remove all "bar" "a few" molecules (eventually)?
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>>(eventually)?
Yes, that's exactly what I think would happen - it's a question of how long it would take!
Using a standard pressure / vacuum gauge, the pressure looks to reduce quickly when you begin to evacuate the system, but, it's only when you also use another vacuum gauge that is sensitive at very low pressures that you begin to see a completely different, and much more interesting picture.
I use a thermistor gauge, and I aim to get the pressure down to less than 200 microns Hg - water boils at about -30C at this pressure, and should all be long gone if you hold vacuum at this level for a reasonable time. I usually find the vacuum sticks at the ~10000 micron level for quite a while, during pumping down, which I interpret as the water boiling out.
Usually, after switching the vac pump off, the pressure rises for a short while, to 1000 - 1500 microns, and, if all is well, levels out and holds for an hour. If there's a leak, the pressure continues to rise - as one might expect!
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Aircon Servicing - mikeyb
