Halfords DIY air con recharge kit

Yes, a vacuum test is only one of the tests you do. If the vacuum test fails, you know you have a leak. If it passes, then you need to do a test under pressure, usually you'd put a dye into the system.

Either way it makes sense to find out why the gas level has dropped.

It can happen. However, it's generally recommended now that the system should be evacuated and refilled avery 2-3 years.

Nope.

What happens to the refrigerant once it is vacuumed out by the specialists?

Just wondering? - Presumably it is recycled?

Tom

I think Halfords will sooner or later stop stocking these kits. Either they will get a stream of motorists claiming that the product ruined their car's aircon system, or they simply won't sell enough to justify the shelf space, because most consumers are scared of air conditioning and regard it as a specialist job.

I haven't seen the kit but I'd guess it would have to say fairly prominently No Guarantees!

pressure is dependant on temperature , too much gas is as bad as too little gas

specialists?

yes, filtered, oil extracted and weighed. Vacuuming also removes water from the system

ISTR the A/C on my Volvo 480, and other cars perhaps, shut the A/C system off below a certain ambient temperature.

Richard

That could certainly be the case.

Anything under 7c would be expected as car A/C only normally works to that anyway.

My understanding, but I haven't seen it done, is that your R134a will be sucked into a recovery cylinder which may have some other R134a still in it. Depending on the quality of the kit, there may be filters to remove muck and any water. You also have to hope that the previous chap's refrigerant wasn't contaminated with propane, R12, R22 or any of the so-called 'drop in' blends. Again, the cautious garage will test everyone's refrigerant to make sure it's pure R134a. But what happens if it's not? I guess a proportion of your new fill could be contaminated when it's put back into your vehicle, perhaps with a squirt of brand new R134a to top it up.

Regards George

My 323f switches it on automatically as any demist configuration is selected. A bit annoying since I believe I can remember to do this for myself if in a hurry to demist, and really don't want the aircon later on in the drive if I revert back to demist for some reason - I'd much prefer the extra 2-3mpg thanks v. much.

Yes, a lot of cars do that now, I find it somewhat annoying too.

£29.95!!!!!!, wow in the usa these kits (presumably the same) retail nearer £5-£10!!!!

The message from "Chris" contains these words:

Yeah, but then we're used to having prices transferred from the states by changing the dollar sign to a pound sign but leaving the digits alone.

Gouging, it's called.

That's rip off Britain for us. I hate Halfords and other over-priced, fat-cat managed high street stores, and only shop there when I'm desperate.

Yeah but iirc they were $10-$15 not $30!!!!

In message , George Bray writes

I walked into my local Halfords last week and was pleased to see that the Kenwood head unit I had bought for my son for £85 at an online retailer was selling for £150. When I saw a couple enquiring about the same unit, I waited until the staff member had gone and I gave the couple the web address :)

I bet your are an aircon suppler.....

You'd lose your money.