The AC seems to have stopped working on my 2008 Mini. The climate control goes through the motions (ramping up the fan, closing/opening vents), but the air coming out is warm, about the same as the outside air temperature.
Might this just be recharging? Any diagnostic ideas?
Take it to Kwik Fit and get them to do a drain down and re-gas.
I wouldn't usually recommend them, but they offer a guarantee of lower vent temperatures, or they won't charge you. So nothing to lose - and you'll find out if it's something more serious or not.
What measuring technique do they use to assess vent temperatures? I can see all sorts of ways in which the technique could be manipulated to achieve a desired result.
What measuring technique do they use to assess vent temperatures? I can see all sorts of ways in which the technique could be manipulated to achieve a desired result.
I suspect they would use a thermometer inside the car. That's a thing that measures temperature.
I would further suspect they use another thermometer outside the car. That's a thing that also measures temperature.
Then I suspect they might subtract the internal temperature reading from the external one, to determine how much of a difference the AC has made.
What sort of skulduggery are you hoping exists here?
Not hoping, only wishing to have thought about and identified. I can't imagine that Kwikfit won't already have done so.
Issues like: Rate of air flow. How many vents are open fully. Whether it is based literally on "lower vent temperatures" or enhanced temperature difference. Precise thermometer positioning (e.g. slightly out of main airflow for the "before" and dead centre for "after").
I think it was on here a few years ago that someone had taken their car to KwakFut under this offer and was left with a severely overgassed system in an attempt to get it X degrees colder. Bizarre creaks and groans were the symptoms (if anyone wants to try and find it.)
I think that counts as manipulating results so someone pass Steve the bakofoil, please :-)
£50. I also had them look at a slow puncture - couldn't fix that either. Too near the sidewall, and no comparable replacement in stock or available (I did specify same make - they don't do Avon). So not a good day for either of us!
In the end it was a 'pump' and some pipe that fell apart during dismantling.
I sort of had to take it Halfords(1) in the end, as that's where the 3rd party warranty (2) works with relative ease. So I'm not sure what they did exactly - the invoice just lists pump and pipe. The net cost to me was £170. The gross cost was £260 for the pump, £60 for the pipe and £50 for the AC service.
(1) I quite like my local Halfords for simple bolt on type repairs, MOTs etc. The issue with a non-warranty approved garage is that they introduce a burden of proof on the claim - at least they did a while ago with a DM flywheel. They wanted proof that the flywheel was at fault, which was of course impossible without dismantling. I wouldn't have that hassle at a WD garage. I realise of course my opinion is not widely shared on the NG!
(2) Warrant Direct - costs about £350pa, with a £50 excess and a required 20% contribution. Car is 6 years old, 65k miles.
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