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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: mullermn on 01 April 2016, 14:04
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Hi,
After I had the car serviced in November the VW dealer started a campaign of harassment (I'm kidding, but they were damn persistent) to get my to have my air conditioning serviced at a charge of £79.
If the dealer is so keen to do it I'm assuming it's a simple job with a big markup on it - is there any reason to go for VW for this rather than Kwik Fit/local garage?
Thanks,
Andy
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Don't go to Kwikfit for anything unless you want to be ripped off and your car damaged.
£79 is steep, get a price from and indie or Seat dealer (they tend to be cheaper) and get your garage to price match. My local, Peter Cooper normally offer an aircon service for £39.99.
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Air con systems can breed germs I think so it could be beneficial on that score getting it done, but as for the dealer, tell him you can get it done for a lower amount elsewhere and if they price match they can do the job, might be worthwhile getting done for £40-£50
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I would be surprised if a MK7 needs it yet.
On what basis did they suggest a "service"? What I mean is, what was the criteria that led them to that conclusion? I doubt it was stipulated by VW after xxxx miles/years so I guess the service desk just like to make quick easy money. Unless they confirmed a leak (which should be covered by warranty anyway) I can't see a reason for a service, but I could be wrong
I would list these as the basics
1: Do you use the AC frequently?
2: Does it get to the required temp quickly,
3: Does it blow cold when required?
If the answer is yes, I would save the money.
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Go onto YouTube and search "car air on service" .Simple home job unless you need a regass of course !
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I would be surprised if a MK7 needs it yet.
I'm sure they claim its every 2 years!
Certainly when I took our Audi in for its 2 year service I was asked if I wanted it done.
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If the output doesn't have a funny smell and is cold then save your money. They used to recommend every 3 years, now it's 2. Why fix something that isn't broken?
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I would be surprised if a MK7 needs it yet.
I'm sure they claim its every 2 years!
Certainly when I took our Audi in for its 2 year service I was asked if I wanted it done.
I bet you were! its a great money spinner for the dealers
It doesn't mean it needed it though. If it works, and you can answer yes to the 3 basic questions I would leave it alone. If they are asking you whether you want it done, they are relying on customers to just say "yes" its a service, it must need it!
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If the output doesn't have a funny smell and is cold then save your money. They used to recommend every 3 years, now it's 2. Why fix something that isn't broken?
Would it have anything to do with most people changing their cars every 3 years? If it is every 3 years and you change your car after 3 years then they have to do it before they sell the car again. If it is every 2 years then they make money.
The worst thing you can do with aircon is not use it. A lot of people don't use their aircon in the winter because they think it has no use. That is when bacteria can build up in the system and you get a bad smell from it.
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If the output doesn't have a funny smell and is cold then save your money. They used to recommend every 3 years, now it's 2. Why fix something that isn't broken?
Would it have anything to do with most people changing their cars every 3 years? If it is every 3 years and you change your car after 3 years then they have to do it before they sell the car again. If it is every 2 years then they make money.
The worst thing you can do with aircon is not use it. A lot of people don't use their aircon in the winter because they think it has no use. That is when bacteria can build up in the system and you get a bad smell from it.
I leave mine on 24/7. Leaving it on all the time also reduces the risk of the seals drying out and getting leaks.
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The air conditioning engineer stuck a thermometer in my air vent stuck it on cold and waited about 30 seconds and it came to the required temperature..think it was 5 degrees C and said i didn't need it serviced. That was on a 3 1/2 year old MK6
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The worst thing you can do with aircon is not use it. A lot of people don't use their aircon in the winter because they think it has no use. That is when bacteria can build up in the system and you get a bad smell from it.
That's me. I never use it.
I just find its a catch 22 with the window misting up.
I never have misted up windows but the very odd time I have tried out the AC, it is guaranteed when I leave the car and come back to it the windows will be misted.
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I wouldn't be concerned about using kwik fit, the process is automated they plug the car into the vacuum and refill module and it basically goes through the motions. I would expect VW would use a similar method?
I had an old 911 system checked and refilled last year, after 8 years since the last service it still had 92% of the required weight of refrigerant. You can get an idea how tight the system is, by how much refrigerant is in the system.
I would only have the a/c serviced after a significant time period or more importantly of you feel the system is less effective. On the basis of don't mend it, if it is not broken!
Kwik fit, do the occasional promotion, mine was £30, as I said I only had it done as a considerable period of time had passed.
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Wouldn't even trust Quickfit to get that right!
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Would it not be covered by the warranty if you don't follow the recommended servicing?
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It's not in the recommended servicing schedule though.
If it was that important it would be included and the price of the servicing would increase to cover it.
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I had a 10 year old Mondeo that I got of the original owner and he had never has the air con service and it worked perfectly. I keep getting emails from the dealer that sold my car saying it needs urgent work. Apparently it is the air-con service that I declined as the only time it will be done it when the performance of it reduces.
Literally a money maker for the dealer, same as the paint protection and tyre insurance that the salesman try to sell you.
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The worst thing you can do with aircon is not use it. A lot of people don't use their aircon in the winter because they think it has no use. That is when bacteria can build up in the system and you get a bad smell from it.
That's me. I never use it.
I just find its a catch 22 with the window misting up.
I never have misted up windows but the very odd time I have tried out the AC, it is guaranteed when I leave the car and come back to it the windows will be misted.
I find that if it is wet outside and I'm in shopping or something when I come back to the car sometimes the windows are fogged up but by the time I have started the car and ate my small box of nuts(cashew nuts) the windows are clear. Granted I do put it on windscreen and rear window de-mist but it is also a really small box of nuts.
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I just find it a vicious circle. If I never use it, I can guarantee the windows aren't misted up when I come back to it. If I have used it I can guarantee they are misted up.
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Thanks for the replies. Sounds like I should just check if it's still kicking out cold air first.
I do leave mine on all the time, but I spend most the winter having my feet blasted with hot air to defrost them so the refrigeration components don't get much of a workout.
Somebody in the thread mentioned 5 degrees - is that right temperature the system should kick out if it's all working OK? I'll stick a thermometer in the vent and check it out.
Cheers
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I always have mine on also, the only time mine is off is when the dealers turn it off when it is being serviced. I don't see the need to not have it running as it uses next to no fuel compared to older cars with huge compressors.
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I just find it a vicious circle. If I never use it, I can guarantee the windows aren't misted up when I come back to it. If I have used it I can guarantee they are misted up.
Agreed.
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Had a VW Bora many years ago and you definitely notice it when there is something wrong, old socks!
Best way to avoid that we were told at time was to use it all year around and so if ice cold and no smell = no need for maintenance.
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VW do a service and a "refresh"
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/what-we-check-and-why/air-conditioning-refresh#details
The refresh uses an atomizer machine to "clean" the insides.
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You can do this yourself, an aerosol in the car with the engine on for 10 mins with the ac on full sorts it out. No need to pay the dealer.
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Do they do it for under £10 as that is what you can do it for yourself in as said 10minutes. Carplan and Comma are both ones I have used in the past with excellent results.
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Hi.
Thanks for all the feedback. Thought I'd update the thread in case anyone else has the same question in future or is trying to work out if their AC is still OK.
My GTI is 2.5 years old, has done 35k (ish) and I leave the climate control on permanently, though over winter it's doing more warming than chilling obviously. I've just measured the temperature coming out the vents at 4.8 degrees with the AC on full after it's had a minute or two to spin up.
So, all is well and I'm going to save myself the £79 on that service from VW. Thanks all.