Air Con: Kwik Fit air con regas

[capt jack]

My aircon (97 V70 auto, 180,000 miles) had all but died, and so I looked round for a way to revive it.

The Kwik Fit local to where I work claimed to be able to re-gas for £45 in 45 minutes, using an automated machine, which first drains the remnants of the old, checks for leaks, and then re-gases the system.

The tech was very knowledgeable, and explained that the process is usually successful, but that if there was a fatal leak within the system, I would get my money back.

One hour and £45 later, the job was done, aircon as chilly as you could want. The re-gassing machine provided a diagnostic printout, and confirmed the quantities of oil and refrigerant removed and then replaced.

Kwik-Fit often get a panning on here - and I don't doubt that they ain't perfect, but when they get things right it seems only fair to register the fact. In this instance it's thumbs-up and well done Kwik-Fit!

Cheers

Jack

[tykey]

They don't get panned by me, they have done an excellent job for me.

I suspect they often get panned by people who have never used them for the air-cons!!!

[malcolmk]

i got my air con donw at kwick fit, after an hour they said there must be something wrong with the system and said no charge,really helpfull and didn`t earn a penny,air con still not working!malcolmk

[ahal]

I don't know about the U.K., but over here it varies from one branch to another. I've been to one Kwik fit where the staff and work quality was borderline contemptible, and another where they practically made me a sandwich. I guess it's a bit like car dealerships ...

[Matthews 855 T5]

Originally Posted by capt jack

The tech was very knowledgeable, and explained that the process is usually successful, but that if there was a fatal leak within the system, I would get my money back.

Jack, glad you had a good experience. The above information was not passed on to me last year when I enquired, they also weren't able to provide any information as to how much r134a or whether oil was pag or not. So I didn't pursue their offer last year. I was also told that it only took 10-15mins not the minimum 1 hour that specialists use. It is better to take longer as it removes moisture from the system.

I will give them another call as the service you were given seems very good and their method seems to have changed.

It is good to hear positive experiences, glad you posted.
Matt

[4 forty]

is it not because anyone touching air conditioning systems, must now have the appropiate qualification to do so.
i must admit, im rather tempted to have mine done at kwik fit,on the strength of previous recomendations about this service.

[Danneh]

They, in fairness, did a good job on topping up mine.

Gave me refund, because the thermostat was bust. When clearly, it was not. So I got a free re-charge. In fairness it was good.

[davew]

Took mine to kwick fit, and they spent half an hour trying to connect one of the hoses and mashing up the connector on the car then they gave up.

I then took it to a local indie guy and he did it no probs.

[monkeh]

Aircon has to be brought down to vacuum for at least 60 minutes so that the particles that are in the oil have time to evaporate and evacuate the aircon system, Kwikfit dont do that.
The reason why they dont charge you if its colder, because there is normally a serious problem with the system, and if they did energise the system they would be liable if the system goes bang with a full load of refrigerant in it- this is high pressure and dangerous stuff!!
1- Big fine from Environment agency for releasing a load of r134a into the atmosphere,
2- a Sh!t scared customer whos lost a front end off their car due to the the receiver-dryer/pump/lines going bang with such force that it tears the shell of the car apart.
Kwik fit wont admit liability and therefor its cheaper to send a customer who is now peeved off that their aircon wont work and still has their £45, and doesnt know that their system is knackered.

[tt82]

had my air-con regassed by kwik-fit today, a lot colder now than it was before.

although i cant complain about the work done, the service left something to be desired. When being handed my keys back i asked for the before and after temps, and was told that he didnt know as the guy that started the job had left and it was finished by someone else. he did ring him though and i got before 11c and after 7.2c. I said that " i would of expected the regas machine to do a print out of the temps", his reply "it does but its broken. i then payed in cash and had to wait 5 min while ran around searching every employee, employee's cars and toolboxs for change before he finally asked the other customers if anyone could change 2 £5's for a £10.