A/C in my car not getting cold.....

[aphex]

Brought it in for service today, what do ya think it is?

It takes a good 10-15 minutes before it gets cold....

 

[minendo]

Probably needs to be recharged.

 

[rh71]

how much is a recharge - $85 ? Need to do it also... been putting it off a couple summers now.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: minendo
Probably needs to be recharged.

Does a Bumper-Bumper cover that?

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: minendo
Probably needs to be recharged.

Does a Bumper-Bumper cover that?

Sure should.

The cost of a recharge depends on the refrigerant. R12 (older systems) is at least $60 a pound (average car requires at least 2 pounds). R134 (94+) is about $5-$10 a pound Also, it doesn't just disappear. A recharge will be a waste of money if it just leaks out again.

 

[thomsbrain]

if it leaked out they need to fix the leak before they recharge. especially if it's under warrenty.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

could also be a bad heater core.....thats what mine was.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Uhhh, there is no such thing as a "recharge" with newer freon. It simply does not exist. The only way more freon would need put in is if there is a leak.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
Uhhh, there is no such thing as a "recharge" with newer freon. It simply does not exist. The only way more freon would need put in is if there is a leak.

That's exactly what a recharge is; putting more in after some has leaked out...

ZV

 

[rh71]

My mechanic told me there was a leak... yet the stuff he put in (I was paying for it anyway - I told him to top it off) lasted me 3 summers still... which is exactly how long the original load lasted me when I bought the car new.

Strange huh ? I think he said it would cost $200-$300 to fix the root cause.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Is that after sitting in the sun? Do you have a black interior?

My mother has a '98 Maxima that is black on black. It takes forever to get even lukewarm air from the vents because the dash absorbs so much heat that the cooled air never has a chance. Usually if the system has leaked down, it just never gets cold at all.

ZV

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

for the record,

leaks=bitch to find

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
for the record,

leaks=bitch to find

Can't they use some kind of colored liquid to find it ?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
for the record,

leaks=bitch to find

Fill system with dye. Run system. Inspect hoses. Pretty easy. At least, traching the A/C hoses on the cars I've worked on hasn't been difficult.

ZV

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
for the record,

leaks=bitch to find

Can't they use some kind of colored liquid to find it ?

Yeah, but it still takes a lot of time even if you do that, and the equipment to do it isn't cheap.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
for the record,

leaks=bitch to find

Fill system with dye. Run system. Inspect hoses. Pretty easy. At least, traching the A/C hoses on the cars I've worked on hasn't been difficult.

ZV

There's also freon sniffers. Only thing with those is the cooling fans make them less then accurate. IIRC my friend used a dye'd oil before recharging the system.

 

[sillymofo]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: minendo Probably needs to be recharged.

Does a Bumper-Bumper cover that?

Sure should. The cost of a recharge depends on the refrigerant. R12 (older systems) is at least $60 a pound (average car requires at least 2 pounds). R134 (94+) is about $5-$10 a pound Also, it doesn't just disappear. A recharge will be a waste of money if it just leaks out again.

Eh... bumper to bumper never cover consumables... much like your gas, your oil changes, or anything of that matter. Now, if you neglect to put oil in your engine and destroy it, bumper to bumper wont even cover that.

 

[NutBucket]

AC is not a consumable IMHO. Its meant to be a sealed system that ideally should never need service.

 

[sillymofo]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
AC is not a consumable IMHO. Its meant to be a sealed system that ideally should never need service.

Go tell that to the dealer.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: cr4zymofo

Originally posted by: NutBucket
AC is not a consumable IMHO. Its meant to be a sealed system that ideally should never need service.

Go tell that to the dealer.

I would, my system was only down .5 lbs after 13 years.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
for the record,

leaks=bitch to find

Fill system with dye. Run system. Inspect hoses. Pretty easy. At least, traching the A/C hoses on the cars I've worked on hasn't been difficult.

ZV

There's also freon sniffers. Only thing with those is the cooling fans make them less then accurate. IIRC my friend used a dye'd oil before recharging the system.

On many newer cars though, you can just unplug the cooling fans for the short time the system is on to leak-check. Just have someone watch the temp guage.

ZV

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
for the record,

leaks=bitch to find

Fill system with dye. Run system. Inspect hoses. Pretty easy. At least, traching the A/C hoses on the cars I've worked on hasn't been difficult.

ZV

There's also freon sniffers. Only thing with those is the cooling fans make them less then accurate. IIRC my friend used a dye'd oil before recharging the system.

On many newer cars though, you can just unplug the cooling fans for the short time the system is on to leak-check. Just have someone watch the temp guage.

ZV

Yeah, that's true. That's also my next project. I wish they'd figure out some better valves to use. I had to spend $100+ on hardlines since my valves were/are leaking.

 

[aphex]

Doh, it was supposed to be done in 2 hours. They never even got to my car today, damn VW.

Hopefully tommorow.

 

[NutBucket]

So is it being fixed under warranty?