Cost of regassing aircon?

[paul jacobs]

My X5 has lost its' cold air, and I'm guessing that the compressor needs some more gas. I've always fancied that the prices quoted for regassing, [£40 - £80] are a bit of a rip off, as it would appear to be a pretty easy job. Kwik Fit will do it for £49, but I wouldn't trust them for a minute, they are bound to say they've found something serious which needs doing, like a new compresser, "and it will be only £500 to you sir".

 

Anybody got any recomendations and an idea of a fair price, as long as there is genuinely nothing else wrong?

 

Paul J.

 

[Mick Day]

Firstly A/C units should be used frequently to ensure the lubricant gets circulated & seals don't dry out - I leave mine on all the time.

 

Secondly A/C units don't need regular re-gassing: there is usually a leak somewhere if it wont work.

 

Main cause of a leak is a hole in the condenser or less commonly the dryer or evaporator.

 

Compressors are pretty reliable but check that the A/C clutch is working & the drive belt hasn't gone AWOL.

 

Kwik Fit often have a deal where if it won't hold the gas then there is no charge.

 

What they should do is evacuate the system, determine if it will sustain a vacuum then introduce lubricant/gas to either a predetermined weight or pressure. If it wont sustain a vacuum then they can introduce dyes to see where the leak is

 

Alternatively find a small specialist company that does mobile.

[Dave B]

I had this problem with an old Skoda Fabia. Bought a can of top up gas from Halfrauds for about £25 worked a treat.

 

Dave B

[rj]

Nag nag nag...

 

You don't know what you're talking about!

 

Due to taxes I have to pay 50£ for 600 grams of gas - if I buy 13kg canisters.

 

Imagine how much I'd have to pay if I didn't have my own re-gassing equipment.

 

[Martin J]

Our local independant garage (Kings Hill) was very fair. They regassed our mondeo & did a check for any leaks for £59inc vat.

[Tangerine Dream]

£50 seems to be the going rate. I got my Golf done at Bridgewater VW for that. Some cars work well with the Halfrauds kit but some need to have the stuff weighed in and out rather than checking pressure. Something like that anyway. An air con expert advised me to have it done by someone with the right kit ..

 

(Oh, and I will be able to make this Thursday 😬)

 

==================================

R400SV in orange - so far unmodified!

[FunkySon]

Just on to my third re-gas of the year and, touch wood, the place it's at now thinks they've found the leak. Car is currently being deconstructed into a thousand pieces to get to the evaporator.

 

As has been said above £50 to 60 seems the going rate and having watched mobile guys do it in the past it does seem pretty good value to me.

 

I steered clear of the Halfords cans. I guess it could work out ok if you only need a top up but if you've got a leak (and you probably have if its stopped working) then one can is probably not enough and two cans costs as much as you'll pay someone else to come out and re-gas it for you.

 

Duncan

[paul jacobs]

Thanks for the advice all, I may even chance Kwikfit, and see what they come up with. Look forward to seeing you on Thursday TD

 

Paul J.

 

[gin-fizz-whizz]

Took our tin-top to Kwik Fit in Caterham and Hove. No problems and very fair service and price. If they find a leak they won't even charge you the £49 so you've nothing to loose.