AC leaking in Avensis

Cat_M

Got my AC " repaired" last summer by Fast Fit via my own mechanic. Hadn't used it at all since til this Easter when it was hot and it was gone again. Went back to Fast Fit who have said there must
be a leak. Is this going to financially break me???

bazz26

A/C needs to be used frequently to keep the system lubricated, not just on the occasional warm day. Not saying it's the cause of your problem but it may well be a contributing factor.

And it sounds like Fast Fit saying "there must be a leak" means they don't actually know if there is on. I would suggest bringing it to an a/c specialist.

Atlantic Dawn

Why would you not use the AC in winter to clear condensation from the windows?

Cat_M

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Why would you not use the AC in winter to clear condensation from the windows?

I just use the fans. Have only used AC for cold air. I didn't realize you have to use it regularly. I never had AC in any of my car's til this one.

Cat_M

bazz26 wrote: »

A/C needs to be used frequently to keep the system lubricated, not just on the occasional warm day. Not saying it's the cause of your problem but it may well be a contributing factor.

And it sounds like Fast Fit saying "there must be a leak" means they don't actually know if there is on. I would suggest bringing it to an a/c specialist.

Do I not need to go to Toyota garage?

zilog_jones

Anyone competent at repairing an aircon leak will do, and there are specialists out there. i.e. not a tyre shop.

tommythecat

Mine stopped working a few years ago and it cost 950 to fix it. 2007 Avensis

colm_mcm

Cat_M wrote: »

Do I not need to go to Toyota garage?

Jesus no.

Leonard Hofstadter

Cat_M wrote: »

I just use the fans. Have only used AC for cold air. I didn't realize you have to use it regularly. I never had AC in any of my car's til this one.

Air conditioning is far more beneficial in the winter than in the summer in our climate. It acts as a dehumidifier, so if you leave it on in the winter you'll find the car will mist up far less. Also, on a cold morning, it will clear the windows much quicker than the fan on its own ever will.

I rarely use a/c in the summer (unless I'm on a motorway or main road as it gets too noisy then), but in the winter it's on all the time.

mikeecho

Just press the A/C button on. ..... And leave it on.

It drys the air, great for the heat and cold.

Just leave it on

Cat_M

tommythecat wrote: »

Mine stopped working a few years ago and it cost 950 to fix it. 2007 Avensis

Feck that. For the 10 hot days a year, I'll be leaving it!

colm_mcm

It doesn’t simply cost €950 to fix air conditioning though.

rex-x

colm_mcm wrote: »

It doesn’t simply cost €950 to fix air conditioning though.

New compressor, drier and a fill of gas would be 950 even at an indie garage to be fair. It could cost even more if the condenser / expansion valve / fans / pipes / orings etc have issues, which is common. Aircon can be cheap to fix or can be ruinously expensive. My own car would have been in the thousands to fix had I not had the gear to do it myself as it suffered failed fan motor resistors amongst other things.

R134 gas has also rocketed in price recently. Double what it was 2 years ago

colm_mcm

rex-x wrote: »

New compressor, drier and a fill of gas would be 950 even at an indie garage to be fair. It could cost even more if the condenser / expansion valve / fans / pipes / orings etc have issues, which is common. Aircon can be cheap to fix or can be ruinously expensive. My own car would have been in the thousands to fix had I not had the gear to do it myself as it suffered failed fan motor resistors amongst other things.

R134 gas has also rocketed in price recently. Double what it was 2 years ago

Yes but I’m getting the impression the OP thinks that’s what it’ll cost to fix without actually having anyone look at it first.

Del2005

mikeecho wrote: »

Just press the A/C button on. ..... And leave it on.

It drys the air, great for the heat and cold.

Just leave it on

That's only if you have climate control. If you have AC then you will be baltic if you leave the AC on all the time, apart from the few warm days we usually get.

colm_mcm

Del2005 wrote: »

That's only if you have climate control. If you have AC then you will be baltic if you leave the AC on all the time, apart from the few warm days we usually get.

Normal air conditioning has hot/cold too! You could really leave it on all year round.

rex-x

colm_mcm wrote: »

Yes but I’m getting the impression the OP thinks that’s what it’ll cost to fix without actually having anyone look at it first.

Yes true I also got that impression

Del2005 wrote: »

That's only if you have climate control. If you have AC then you will be baltic if you leave the AC on all the time, apart from the few warm days we usually get.

Climate control is just a more automatic method of temp control, makes no odds for ac on or off the heat will work fine with it

Cat_M

Del2005 wrote: »

That's only if you have climate control. If you have AC then you will be baltic if you leave the AC on all the time, apart from the few warm days we usually get.

I don't. And this is true.

Cat_M

colm_mcm wrote: »

Yes but I’m getting the impression the OP thinks that’s what it’ll cost to fix without actually having anyone look at it first.

Toyota told me they can't guestimate how much it will cost til they get at it. But it will prob be a few hundred. My concern is how many hundreds so think I'll skip. Car is 2011. Might change it next year so not keen on spending a fortune on something - while a nuisance for any hot weather- is unnecessary.

tuxy

Del2005 wrote: »

That's only if you have climate control. If you have AC then you will be baltic if you leave the AC on all the time, apart from the few warm days we usually get.

No that's only if you have a car with no heater. The condensed air can be heated after it has reduced humidity. I've never seen a car that prevents you from using your heater if the AC is on. AC that's working correctly will remove mist from the window in under a minute, only using your heater will take much longer. If my car had AC I'd have it on every cold night but not all the time because the compressor does use fuel by increasing load on your engine.

colm_mcm

Cat_M wrote: »

Toyota told me they can't guestimate how much it will cost til they get at it. But it will prob be a few hundred. My concern is how many hundreds so think I'll skip. Car is 2011. Might change it next year so not keen on spending a fortune on something - while a nuisance for any hot weather- is unnecessary.

Don’t go near a Toyota dealer. They have todo things by the book and sell parts. They’re not aircon specialists.

CoBo55

colm_mcm wrote: »

Don’t go near a Toyota dealer. They have todo things by the book and sell parts. They’re not aircon specialists.

Most probably farming it out to a specialist and putting a bit on top for themselves. My Aircon packed up in an Octavia, pressure switch was faulty, cost 120 using a nearby polish guy who had the proper gear.