Aircon gas/leak issue Hyundai i30

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I brought my May 2011, Hyundai i30 (still under warranty) to the dealership about 2-3 weeks ago to get the aircon gas recharged.
I had noticed over the winter that the aircon no longer was chilling the air.
I decided to wait until summer to bring it in for a recharge.

The service guys had it for over 1.5hrs and they apparently refilled the gas and pressure checked for leaks.
They said that it passed the pressure test and held pressure when they tested.
However, they mentioned in passing that a visual inspecting of the front rad/condenser showed some potential damage from loose stone chippings so just to keep an eye on things.

However, I noticed within a day or so that the cabin wasn't being chilled much at all by the A/C so I phone the dealer about getting it re-checked.
The cost of the gas refill was 95 Euro or so.
They confirmed today that the aircon is out of gas again and an estimate of about 395Euro for a new condenser would be what I would be looking at assuming the leak is there and assuming it *is* damaged.
My neighbour is a mechanic and he peered into the condenser through the front grille and could only see accumulation of flies and no obvious damage.

My question is - is this reasonable for the dealer to charge me the fee for refilling and yet say they performed leak checks and found nothing (on first visit ?)

Should a proper leak test using dye and UV (?) show any leaks ?

Also I am being told that replacement of the condenser if damaged due to external factors (eg stone chippings) wouldn't be covered within terms of 5yr warranty.

Tony Beetroot

That is a disaster story, they must not have vacuam tested the system at all only horsed in gas and oil and said it be grand. Vacuam the system, leak test with oxygen free nitrogen if it fails.
Filling a system like that and releasing them gases is very bad for the environment, bet they aren't even qualified to be doing air con.

B00056718

Tony Beetroot wrote: »

That is a disaster story, they must not have vacuam tested the system at all only horsed in gas and oil and said it be grand. Vacuam the system, leak test with oxygen free nitrogen if it fails.
Filling a system like that and releasing them gases is very bad for the environment, bet they aren't even qualified to be doing air con.

This bit I don't get. Remember my car being tested for leaks, using the vacuum method. When filled, it leaked out even no leaks during the test.

The thing is. Something that holds vacuum doesn't necessarily hold pressure. The force is reversed. Don't think I'll ever get it.

Tony Beetroot

Sorry my last post was all over the place there, a system should be emptied, pressurised with oxygen free nitrogen, then a deep vacuam before filling.

Like you and op they must not be pressure checking system at all.

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OP here.

Anyone else on this ?
I am inclined to agree with the other replies - it seems odd to me that they could let it back out to me charging for gas refill and pressure test (which they say passed) and it lost gasses in a *very* short time.
What come back do I have on this.

It is the dealer who refilled it.

ifconfig

Just to rephrase :

What are the chances of a garage taking in a car , refilling it with gas and doing a thorough empty /pressure test and not finding a leak and then to find subsequently that the car runs out of refrigerant gases in a matter of days ?

Does it sound like they did a thorough pressure test ?

My beef is that they let the car out with a clean bill of health, charged me the 95Euro for the refill and just mentioned in passing that they saw a bit of potential damage to the front condenser and to keep an eye on it.

Tony Beetroot

I would contest that payment of that gas charging, whoever did it hasn't a clue. Probably watched a few you tube videos and got info on some air con forum some where and think they are air con engineers.