Are the DIY air con rechargers any good?

[pcman_jh]

Are the DIY air conditioning recharge systems worth the money if its just a straight forward top up you're needing?

I see Halfords do the Measure and Charge unit for £40 (same one £30 on ebay) which comes with a charge pressure guage (that's reusable) and refrigerant (or whatever the proper name is) and other 'value added' additives.

Thought it might be worth it for £30, but anyone ever used one.

My car is a '99 E300TD, if this makes a difference to the answer.

 

[television]

Are the DIY air conditioning recharge systems worth the money if its just a straight forward top up you're needing?

I see Halfords do the Measure and Charge unit for £40 (same one £30 on ebay) which comes with a charge pressure guage (that's reusable) and refrigerant (or whatever the proper name is) and other 'value added' additives.

Thought it might be worth it for £30, but anyone ever used one.

My car is a '99 E300TD, if this makes a difference to the answer.

I would not chance it if it was me, plus you do not know whats in there. it cost about £55 to have it done correctly including drying out the system

 

[Andy Wr]

If your system has no gas in it now and you use one of the quick fix cans with leak seal, oil and gas in it, how are you going to vac out the system ensuring that it is perfectly dehydrated down to at least 4mbar, preferably 1 mbar? Do you know what hapens when you have air or moisture in your system, only a vac pump has a chance of removing this, I am not even going in to the legallity of putting gas in a system knowing that it has a leak.

 

[daveenty]

And bear in mind young pcman_jh, that Andy Wr works with these systems.

Get it taken in and make sure it's right.

(Sorry, but I'm wary of most things which have legislation attached to them)

 

[television]

And bear in mind young pcman_jh, that Andy Wr works with these systems.

Get it taken in and make sure it's right.

(Sorry, but I'm wary of most things which have legislation attached to them)

I am so pleased that I said the right thing in this case.

 

[daveenty]

I am so pleased that I said the right thing in this case.

As far as I'm concerned you usually do mate

Air Con is something that is better left to the experts, which Andy is (IMHO)

 

[carabind]

I didn't know Halfords were selling this stuff. I have seen similar for sale over the elast few years in the USA, but have never needed to top mine up. At £30 a shot, you need to find the leak first (assuming there is one), otherwise you may as well discharge the can into the atmosphere! That why it's best to use experts here IMHO - but find a reputable one . My peuget went in for 4 recharges under warranty before the lazy gits(sorry local dealer) realised that re-gassing wasn't the answer, and another dealer ended up doing a proper inspection and fitting a new condenser (orginla was leaking from new..........)

 

[Dosco]

I would not chance it if it was me, plus you do not know whats in there. it cost about £55 to have it done correctly including drying out the system

Is that price from your local AC specialist? Reason I ask is that I was charged £150 ish last year for a re-charge.

Roger

 

[Captain Flack]

National Aircon are good. They come to your home and also give you a discount if you have a second car which needs doing as well.

The service includes removing the old refridgerant, checking for leaks and recharging with a measure of lubricant.

Last year it cost £65 for the first car then £50 for the next but prices may have changed since then.

 

[television]

Is that price from your local AC specialist? Reason I ask is that I was charged £150 ish last year for a re-charge.

Roger

Thats what they charge around here, as Captain Flack say as well