Auris hybrid 2014 air con issue

[Matt85uk]

Hello everyone 

I will need a help please

My air con is not cold enough. Over the weekend was a nice weather so I was using it but air con “just “managed to keep cooling on high blast and it only was 22 degrees (Celsius)I had air con checked by useless Toyota main dealer three times within 12 months. Every time I was told that there is no leak just needs recharging and once was charged radiculous £90.

Well based on my experience in all my previous cars I never needed to recharge or top up air con 3(three) times within 12 months. 

I never turn air con button off even during winter 

 

I know that the gas is 134a as most cars but hybrid uses different oil , I think that it’s dielectric non conducive oil

Can anyone please help or recommend a good garage in North West London or maybe you could suggest what I need to do or is it me doing something wrong?

 

Thank You

 

 

[furtula]

I would  have a leak test done, the system is charged with fluid that shines bright under UV light, after it sits in the car a bit, they would check with UV lamp and find the actual leak.

I don't know about pricing, but it should not be that expensive to get it done.

[Matt85uk]

Thanks 

would you recommend anyone? Or shall I make an complaint to toyota as car is still under warranty

thanks

[Catlover]

Are you saying Toyota garage checked the air con system or did a recharge 3 times in 12 months.?  If they done 3 recharges I would be asking why? And why is it still not working.

[furtula]

You should use the warranty while you still have it, as Catlover said, 3x in 12 months is not normal, there is obviously a leak.

The UV leak test is nothing new, my guess is they are just buying time until warranty expires, so you take it back to them and insist that a leak test is done and car properly fixed.

[Mooly]

When I've had Toyota recharge my air con (preventative maintenance at say 4yrs old) they add UV dye as a matter of course in case there are problems in the future.

3 recharges in 12 months is obviously indicative of a leak although tbh, its a very small leak in the scheme of things, perhaps just 1 gram per day or less of refrigerant.

As the car is under warranty you should both complain to the dealer doing the work and also write to Toyota so that you have a formal copy of your complaint. Inform the dealer that you will be contacting Toyota in this way as you are not satisfied. What you don't want is the dealer to just recharge it so that lasts for just the remaining part of the warranty.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

 

[Matt85uk]

Thanks guys

yes they keep saying that there is no leak but obviously the leak is there.

I agree that they waiting for warranty to expire so then they charge me.

I could go to specialist garage but why should I pay for it if car is still under warranty. Thanks for encouraging me😀

 

Thank You

I will update

[Catlover]

Re Warranty.... surely if, like in this case, a problem has been "serviced" by a Toy dealer within the warranty, not solved so continues beyond the warranty end date, then Toyota/dealer as still legally obligated to repairing the fault, no matter what it is.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Why not use another Toyota dealer to see whether they can find the issue.

[mrfixer]

Your AC is fairly conventional apart from the use of ND11 compressor oil rather than conventional PAG oil. ND11 is non-conductive for electrical safety.

If you go to a general AC repairer they are unlikely to have a separate set of equipment for ND11 so there is a risk of contamination of your system with PAG oil.  A large Toyota dealer should have separate kit for hybrids, but whether they have an experienced technician is another matter.

If its lost most of its gas over 4 months then you should be able to see compressor oil at the site of the leak. Use a good torch to inspect all the pipe joints and look for oily residue. With a newish car I'd suspect a leaking O-ring as opposed to corrosion or fracture of the evaporator or condenser. A stone impact on the condenser is a possibility.  A favourite place for leaks on most cars is the pipe joints to the evaporator behind the dash. There are three sets of joints (two O-rings in each) because the expansion valve is sandwiched between the evap and the pipes to it and then there is a joint at the firewall.  I imagine its the devil's own job to get access to this area on an Auris Hybrid. 

Sometimes the evap drain water (under the car) will look oily and/or have dye in it if there is a leak in the evap area.   Dealers usually hate aircon work on warranty because it can be labour intensive and they get only a low hourly rate for it.  Also many new car warranties don't cover AC gas, its considered a consumable - not sure with Toyota - check their T&C's.

With AC problems a lot of it is down to having an experienced tech on the job.  These days the dealers tend to buy a fully-automatic regassing machine and send someone on a three-day course - which may not help much in the case of an obscure leak.

[Matt85uk]

Hi all

I did a complaint to Toyota UK regarding my issue.

next day I had an call from my local dealer and was asked to bring it for warranty repair.

Today got update that allegedly they traced the leak and it leaks from condenser. According to my service adviser car should be fixed and ready by Friday.

will update then

 

thanks

[Matt85uk]

Hi all

I collected my car today. The garage claims that it was leaky condenser and no other leaks. All replaced. 

Hopefully the air con is fixed now.

I will let you know in the next few months or next year to see if that was a permanent fix

thank you for your kind help👍🏻

[Mooly]

Thanks for the update. The garage sound pretty confident they found the cause.

[Andypfc1]

On 6/3/2019 at 8:04 AM, furtula said:

You should use the warranty while you still have it, as Catlover said, 3x in 12 months is not normal, there is obviously a leak.

The UV leak test is nothing new, my guess is they are just buying time until warranty expires, so you take it back to them and insist that a leak test is done and car properly fixed.