VR V6 Comm, Due to re Gas the Air Con

[VFSV6FORME]

Well I have been in QLD for over 10 years from NSW and I have used 5 mobs to do my re-gasing of all our cars and in all circumstances 4 out of 5 have done the wrong thing to me trying to extract more money out of me via shady methods. The best was I went there with the VR Comm, air con was working but not as cold, I was recommend to go there by my neighbour that know nothing about cars as he went there a day before of me and got his car (VS Comm) done so I went the day after he said his air con is very very COLD. Now after going there I was happy as the air con was cold on our VR Comm but a two days later ran out of gas. Now in the receipt it was written you possible have a leak so this was written also in my neighbours receipt. See I went to get the Vr Comm done that same day my Neighbour went for holiday to Townsville and when he go there from Brisbane he also run out off gas so he went to local air con mob and also found the filter drier the left nut (he was told this) was totally lose. I also found my my Filter driers the left side nut (17mm) was very lose to a point that I can take it off with my fingers. The next day after I found the filter/drier nut lose I rang this mob and they told me what was written to me what was written on my receipt (Skillfully had it ready and waiting) and quoted me $1600 to fix it. I wont go any more because I gave him a ear full. Out of the 4 from 5 the one that was good went out of business (maybe he was honest) and today I will take the Old Aging 1993 Vr Commodore as it not cold enough to a new place that was recommended to me and surprise surprise its only $99 Hummmmmmmmm!!!!! Now that cheep or are they looking to get EXTRA WORK From me. Yes one of the other Air con Mobs I call them mobs they Spent more time shaking the wheels, look anywhere to find problems, when they were finished they reported that I need a new lower ball joint and since that ball joint is gone you might as well replace the driver side too and we will give you a discount price because you getting the air conn done too. Told them to FUkc off. Paid for the Re-gas went home Cheaked the car , checked the ball joint and all we very good, I shocked the SHI.T out of them and they had no play at ALL.

Well tomorrow I will let you know how this new Air con mob is and a re gas just for $ 99 and I find that very good price wise but like I said before I dont believe it (yes its $99) and lets see if any other things come up.

 

[rambunctious]

Accellerate Auto Elect up here had a special for the past 6 months at $97 for memory.
Big RACQ Approved sign outside so they need to do things right.
Did the partners ASX for $97 but prior they did my VZ and charged me for extra 2 valves another $44
Both cars nice and cold.

 

[vs-lover]

Most AC repair places are a license to print money as no one has the ability to do this type of work at home. Also the Government regulations around the gas also makes it really hard not to be extorted by most of these pricks.

 

[woteva]

AC place near Port Adelaide cracked my friends windscreen when removing the cowl panel. They said sorry when he went to pick it up and was just about to pay. He left it there and picked it up the next day after they replaced the windscreen for free and only paid for the AC work that was done.

 

[Trevor loves holden.]

By law you cant fill a leaking A/C unit, they would of tested the system for vacuum leak first to find out if its leaking, the place I went to charged me 160 in Victoria its the going price for service, I say they loosened your nuts to make more money they would of spotted those leaks as the same as when I got mine done but mine was the compressor seal rooted you could see the oil trothing out with the dye.
As for your ball joint well I had my car checked some years ago and change out the link arm bushes the prick didn't even retighten the nuts on that sway bar on one side, he also said my steering rack was shot, took it for a wheel alignment after that and they said its fine, hard to find a descent mechanic these days that are trust worthy and honest. I do all my own work if I can.

Some of those cheap dodgy places use chill air gas not the 134a gas which can give the incorrect fill, found that out but it was much colder than the 134a though until it all leaked out lucky it was only 60 bucks.

 

[VFSV6FORME]

I just came back from the Air Con Mob at Caboolture (CFI Automotive) and they, for me had not tricks and I got a cold car for $99. After I paid the both of us spoke about cars and the some dodgy greedy shops that give all a bad name. I also told him about what happened year ago where a Air Con specialist left the left side of the filter Drier totally lose on my car also my friend car and on the receipt they had Possible leaking Evaporator.
Now for me $99 is the cheapest in 10 years for the old Vr comm and because I paid $198 for the Re Born Cheap VE I want to know if the other Shop the shop that Charged me for the Filter/drier on the VE and he did not touch the filter drier because I came back early. I will add more on this early next year as The guy that did the Air Con on the VE I came back early considering he told me COME BACK IN 2 HOURS and I was back in 50-55 Minutes and the car was fully finished.

 

[VFSV6FORME]

By law you cant fill a leaking A/C unit, they would of tested the system for vacuum leak

Most do this to see if the car holds Vacumm and they should do this just in case the system was disturbed 'Eg" replaced Engine or have a major leak.

 

[losh1971]

By law you cant fill a leaking A/C unit, they would of tested the system for vacuum leak first to find out if its leaking.

A lot of places don't have the equipment required to pressure test the system prior to filling. Many workshops still fill and add dye in the hope it doesn't leak. My bloke doesn't pressure test but he runs over it with a sniffer after the job is done. Some but not all have nitrogen they fill the system with and see if it leaks out prior to gassing. So in reality no they are not allowed to fill a known leaking system but limted workshops have the $20k machine that tests for pressure before allowing it to fill. Even then those specialised machines don't always work. Mine leak out within 12 months of having been regassed with the specialised equipment.

 

[StephenM]

Been while since I had any air con done, but the place I went too in Nambour years ago always checked for leaks with a sniffer and also used ultra violet, as some use a UV dye.

 

[shane_3800]

There is so much mis information in this thread.
If a shop lossened nuts to try and get work you can report them to arctick after getting a reputable shop to asses the system.
Vac testing is not the same as pressure testing but both methods can miss slow leaks which is why you dye.
A pressure tester is a cheap piece of equipment but will add extra to your bill if used. The reason is you have to vac the system down twice and you should vac it down for 10-30mins the longer the better to remove moisture.
Like I said any dodgy workshop can be reproted to Arctick.org

 

[losh1971]

Shane the equipment used to pressure test and fill mine automatically was over $20k. If you want to question this then call the autoelectrician at Aldinga and have a chat to the bloke who owns the workshop. If you like i can find out the number for you. $20k is probably conservative. While you may have a fair amount of knowledge. You don't know everything, just saying.

 

[shane_3800]

Shane the equipment used to pressure test and fill mine automatically was over $20k. If you want to question this then call the autoelectrician at Aldinga and have a chat to the bloke who owns the workshop. If you like i can find out the number for you. $20k is probably conservative. While you may have a fair amount of knowledge. You don't know everything, just saying.

Yea the automated machines are expensive and they don't just do pressure testing they recover, vaccume down the system and pressure test. But these automated machines are not nessacery and are not worth the money. At work we've been through many machines and now we have a package from cooldrive where we have a manual manifold a seperate vac pump and a recovery unit with a scale and recovery bottle all on a trolly we built. So far it's done about 3 and a half years without issue and costs about 4k all up then you just have a nitrogen bottle to pressure test the system.
I live this every day.

We probably have 300k of broken or unused machinery at my work between 3 work shops. We are a local private company not a big chain but the boss is rich.

 

[Trevor loves holden.]

State laws ant doing their job then, because no gas emissions are allowed to be escaped from the system, if a leak is detected they are not to go ahead filling the system, those return bottles of waste gas have to be sent back there a lot more involved todays, those machines that reuse your old gas and others cars gas and oil should be banned they the high chill units that recycle the stuff, well that what I was told by Auto plus.
U can buy those cans on ebay that claim to seal leaks and fill your system but even then you got to be careful to add the right amount of gas and oil or risk damage to your compressor, one of the reasons you vacuum out the system for about 20min to remove any moisture and oil.

 

[VFSV6FORME]

Shane the equipment used to pressure test and fill mine automatically was over $20k. If you want to question this then call the autoelectrician at Aldinga and have a chat to the bloke who owns the workshop. If you like i can find out the number for you. $20k is probably conservative. While you may have a fair amount of knowledge. You don't know everything, just saying.

The owner told me he has a new machine and it cost around $20 but with weather we are having lately than wont tank to many years to pay for it.
By the way I used my black light to see evidence of GREEN on both in and out points.
Question!! What do they call those two connections where they connect the machine on.

 

[woteva]

Question!! What do they call those two connections where they connect the machine on.

Schrader valve ?

 

[shane_3800]

The owner told me he has a new machine and it cost around $20 but with weather we are having lately than wont tank to many years to pay for it.
By the way I used my black light to see evidence of GREEN on both in and out points.
Question!! What do they call those two connections where they connect the machine on.

Service ports.

 

[shane_3800]

State laws ant doing their job then, because no gas emissions are allowed to be escaped from the system, if a leak is detected they are not to go ahead filling the system, those return bottles of waste gas have to be sent back there a lot more involved todays, those machines that reuse your old gas and others cars gas and oil should be banned they the high chill units that recycle the stuff, well that what I was told by Auto plus.
U can buy those cans on ebay that claim to seal leaks and fill your system but even then you got to be careful to add the right amount of gas and oil or risk damage to your compressor, one of the reasons you vacuum out the system for about 20min to remove any moisture and oil.

You don't vac the oil out ffs. The gas is synthetic and does not deteriorate so it can be reused. Logs have to be kept.

 

[Trevor loves holden.]

You don't vac the oil out ffs. The gas is synthetic and does not deteriorate so it can be reused. Logs have to be kept.

So how do they remove the old oil then? Of cause it all gets vacuumed out so they put the correct weight of oil and gas according to specs. I prefer new gas over recycled gas which could be many different gases as who knows what people put in them.

 

[VFSV6FORME]

Service ports.

I would say that better of calling them thingy things as I have told about 4 times what they call them and this time I might write then down.

 

[VFSV6FORME]

So how do they remove the old oil then? Of cause it all gets vacuumed out so they put the correct weight of oil and gas according to specs. I prefer new gas over recycled gas which could be many different gases as who knows what people put in them.

I would say So!