Leaky Aircon System...

[lestermester]

Hello,

My wife took our Avensis Verso (02 plate) to get the aircon re-gased.

Next day she switched the aircon on and it was empty. Took it back to the garage and the mechanic pointed out that one of the parts on the aircon system was letting all the gas leak out.

I'll have to ask wife which part the mechanic was pointing to. See it just needs tightening up?.

In the meantime, has this ever happened to anyone else? Where is the likely cause of the leak?

Thanks in advance

Maz

[FROSTYBALLS]

Garages should test for leaks first before re-gassing,otherwise it is just a waste of money if there is already a leak.

One of the common causes of leaks is that the air con isn't used regularly, the seals don't get lubricated, and gas escapes via the seals.

Air con thus needs to be used throughout the year, preferably at least weekly. In winter in combination with heat, air con will demist quicker than just using the fan and heat

[lestermester]

I'll have to ask the wife if the mechanic tested for leaks first.

To be honest, we never use the aircon in winter, only in summer time. I didn't know about the advice of using the aircon in cold/cooler months.

[BigLiam]

We have a 2002 avensis verso with aircon.

We bought it last September (2014) and paid KwikFit to regas. It seemed fine, but we didn't really use it too much as it was the end of the year.

When spring 2015 came it wasn't cold again. so when I saw a good offer on groupon for a regas with another garage I thought I'd give it another go.

The other garage (mr clutch) said the system had loads of major leaks and quoted above £500 to replace the broken parts.

The car is only worth about £1500 so we will live without aircon!!

He did say that because the gasses are very damaging to the environment every garage should test for leaks before re gassing.

I wonder whether KwikFit did test first though??

[plasma99]

_{I had this bother a few years ago. The garage which did the recharge said that they always do a leak test before recharging the system (legal requirement) but it obviously cannot detect a very small leak - one which takes months to lose pressure. Only a UV inspection found mine.}