[Lester]

Glad to hear you got it sorted, Lester - with or without cheese...

Aircon is such a nice feature to have when the summer comes...

Thanks mate, yes when the temperature down here hits 40C come December/January, then the A/C does come in rather useful.   Now in Denmark you would not get 40C would you ? Maybe -40C.

I forgot to mention, the A/C bloke put some fluro dye in the A/C so if the A/C fails again, they might be able to detect any leak with an utraviolet ligt, something like that.  I am not really into such technical stuff. Anybody else heard of fluro dye being used in A/C ?

[FatBoy]

I have had the fluro dye put in an A/C before, just for the reasons that you have stated.  Under a "black light" it makes the leak detection easier.  Yes, I have seen where it came out of my A/C too (damn compressor, damn expensive)

[Asterix]

Now in Denmark you would not get 40C would you ? Maybe -40C.

No & No.

Warmest day ever in DK was August 10 1975 @ 36,4°C - normal summer we have 20 -> 27ºC
Coldest day ever in DK was January 8 1982 @ 31,2ºC - normal winter we have +5 -> -20ºC

Weather has been registered in DK since 1874.

[Keith]

Holy Thread resurrection Batman! Yes,... Now it's our of warranty my i30 has developed a fault on the air-con. It has good refrigerant level (I topped it up, it was low) I've read that all air on loses about 10% of its gas every year, I had about 25% left in there, so maybe a leak... I can hear the pump clutch engage on switch on but it doesn't blow cold... No fuses are gone, superficially everything looks fine... From this Thread, possible compressor? If so ill do without air-con and leave the fix to whatever dealer I part ex with when the time comes.

[eye30]

how long out if warranty?

you could suggest expectation clause in sale act is longer than 5 years.

[Keith]

It's a 2008 reg, it was registered on March 31st 2008, so it's 17 days out of warranty. Much chance anyone reckon? I'll drop an initial e-mail to Hyundai UK and see if they get in touch.

[Keith]

E-mail sent and an auto response received saying thanks for my query via the Contact Us page and they will endeavour to respond within 2 working days. Fingers crossed.

[Shambles]

Keith - don't waste your time. They won't cover it and you know it

Just prior to having my condensor fault diagnosed 2 years ago I was told to expect a bill for £97 for a regas. I reminded them that they'd regassed it at the previous service as it was empty, so they rechecked the hardware and found a cracked joint.

So, even while within my warranty they'd expected me to fork out for more gas.

[Keith]

Keith - don't waste your time. They won't cover it and you know it

Just prior to having my condensor fault diagnosed 2 years ago I was told to expect a bill for £97 for a regas. I reminded them that they'd regassed it at the previous service as it was empty, so they rechecked the hardware and found a cracked joint.

So, even while within my warranty they'd expected me to fork out for more gas.

I know you're right Steve but one has to try yeah? Nothing to lose, everything to gain.

[Shambles]

All my crossed fingers are belong to you

[eye30]

are you on good terms with local dealer?

i’d be giving them a visit as your last service must have been just recently and may have been documented.

[plasticphyte]

I've had this very issue happen with my GD i30. The service centre will be replacing the condenser, high pressure hoses, and various o-rings and clamps. A re-gas will also be done.

Wasn't terribly impressed but glad it hadn't happened during a muggy summer. At least the parts turned around quickly from Korea, I only put it in for the problem two weeks ago.

[Keith]

I'm not on terms with my local dealer TBH, I didn't rate them at all and did my latest service myself. But really, there isn't anything to do with Air-con on the Servicing schedule is there?

[eye30]

thought part of service was a general health check of all working parts.

[Keith]

My dealer service didn't even include a wash before returning it, or itemisation of the parts or fluids they fitted so I can't see them doing anything other than a basic minimum.

[Keith]

E-mail reply apologising for the trouble and advising me to take the car to my local Hy dealer to investigate, not being too dumb I have asked if there will be a charge for such an inspection... I'll keep you all informed.

[eye30]

E-mail reply apologising for the trouble and advising me to take the car to my local Hy dealer to investigate, not being too dumb I have asked if there will be a charge for such an inspection... I'll keep you all informed.

I would take the reply as being FOC

[Asterix]

The A/C system in my i30 requires a 100 gr refill every spring.

If there's a leak or the fluid vapours I don't know, and really don't care. If a small refill once a year can keep the A/C going, then I'm fine about that..

[eye30]

On both cars I've had air con and I've never had to refill.

What are the signs to look for if it needs a refill

[Keith]

It becomes slowly less efficient with the normal slow loss (5 to 10% a year purportedly) until it stops working due to lack of pressure. Fact is that as refrigerant leaks out, air and contaminants get in, it happens at the various joints and seals, especially at the compressor rotor. The contaminants and air need to be removed via a vacuum pump before a re-gass can be properly effective. Anyway, Hy UK have advised me there will be a charge to investigate and see.... But as luck would have it I seem to have fixed it... Well partly at least!

Forgot to mention that I also checked my daughters Coupe & found the pressure on that low too... It's also a 2008. So that's done as well now... I bought a £30 self check & re-fill kit. Apparently success is never guaranteed but happens on around 30% of examples where simple refrigerant loss is the cause and it hasn't gone too far for too long. In our case, 5 years and 35 - 45k miles.

[Shambles]

Great work Keith.

... I bought a £30 self check & re-fill kit...

Is there any particular kit you'd recommend?

[Keith]

Great work Keith.

... I bought a £30 self check & re-fill kit...

Is there any particular kit you'd recommend?

No Steve, I don't know enough on the subject to recommend. I bought mine from Halfords, did a deal with them on the connector / pressure gauge. I get £10 back when I return the pressure tin the refrigerant comes in so I'm keen to get full benefit from the contents!

[Shambles]

Thanks Keith. Hmmm Halfords eh... I think I'll give them a try as I think I'm getting low.


ETA: Was it this kit?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_812353_langId_-1_categoryId_165632

[Phil №❶]

FWIW, I THINK refrigerant has a dye in it that can be seen with UV light, so if you suspect a leak, it may be worth investigating. 

[Keith]

Thanks Keith. Hmmm Halfords eh... I think I'll give them a try as I think I'm getting low.


ETA: Was it this kit?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_812353_langId_-1_categoryId_165632

Yeah that's the one, haggle on the gauge tho! I to
D them the kit wasn't worth what they wanted as it made the cost close to or the same as a visit to a place like Eurofit who do the whole job for that money! Trouble with them is that they may find something they "have to do" that ups the final invoice value!

[Keith]

FWIW, I THINK refrigerant has a dye in it that can be seen with UV light, so if you suspect a leak, it may be worth investigating. 

You can pay to have a dye added that is eye visible and is fluorescent in UV light.

[Shambles]

I just ordered the same kit Keith 'advised' - gas container + feed gauge + free cleaner + 3.03% topcashback. Collect in 1 hour.

[Keith]

I just ordered the same kit Keith 'advised' - gas container + feed gauge + free cleaner + 3.03% topcashback. Collect in 1 hour.

Hope it works for you Steve. Instructions are pretty straight forward, just take care not to over-fill, too much refrigerant isnt good, the optimum amount is really hard to judge but start at the lower end (around 25 I think)

[Shambles]

Well my pressure was showing around the 27psi mark when I first checked it 

After a few minutes of shaking and pressurising, shaking and pressurising, it showed... around 27psi



Then I decided it would be a good idea to screw the canister all the way into the delivery gauge 

But strangely, the system didn't want to accept any of it. Maybe it's full up. Doesn't feel particularly cold. Ah well.