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[damon80]

Hi Folks,

I've heard a bit of negativity from some friends of mine around Kwik-Fit's air con recharge deal not being too great.

Well, mine had packed in a few weeks ago (just in time for the warm weather  )

A friend at work had his done at the Kwik-Fit round the corner from where we work, and he highly recommended their services (he has a concourse Mk3 Astra GSi Ecotec).

Well, I took a gamble, and early doors the other morning (5am...  ) I left my Mig there and shoved my keys through their letterbox in an envelope telling them what I wanted doing.

Anyway, I picked it up after I finished work.  They had done a great job - freezing cold it was.  They went through what they'd done - fully vacc'ed it down, pressure tested it, put the stipulated amount of lubricant and gas in, and added the UV dye too.

Part of the quality of service might be down to the fact that the chap who did it said he's always's loved Mig's, and he's on the look out for one.  Needless to say, I pointed him in the way of this forum 

In summary, I think when it comes to a company as large as Kwik-Fit, the quality of work differs on a branch-to-branch basis

[joshwyatt]

That's interesting to read, mine desperately needs doing. I'm in Oxford and as of yet can't find anyone that near who could do it...but there is a kwik fit near to me. I thought I'd avoid it like the plague as I also have heard negative things about them. But it's good to hear you had a positive experience.
Problem is, if I take mine in...I'll only know if they've done it well after they've done it...if that makes sense. Bit of a gamble, they do it well, or they don't do it well. Too much of a risk I think.

[feeutfo]

think your defo in the minority there mate. Consider yourself very lucky imho. They usually just gas it up and hope it dont leak out from what ive seen on here.

[feeutfo]

That's interesting to read, mine desperately needs doing. I'm in Oxford and as of yet can't find anyone that near who could do it...but there is a kwik fit near to me. I thought I'd avoid it like the plague as I also have heard negative things about them. But it's good to hear you had a positive experience.
Problem is, if I take mine in...I'll only know if they've done it well after they've done it...if that makes sense. Bit of a gamble, they do it well, or they don't do it well. Too much of a risk I think.

10 to 1 youll get a hoody.

[damon80]

I understand your concerns - I had exactly the same concerns!!

But lets put it this way - before I took it to Kwik-Fit, there's a local air-con "specialist" near where I work.  He took off one of the dust caps and shoved a door key inside to see if there was any gas left.

Obviously, the gas started coming out, and he said "Yep, I can refill that - there's gas left in it, so it means there's no leaks in the system.  It'll only take me 10 minutes".  Needless to say, I told him (very politely  ) to get the f*** off my car, and I'll take it elsewhere.

I think the main beef with Kwik-Fit is the fact that it's all computer-controlled (albeit if that computer is controlled by a chav).  I was chatting to the manager when I picked it up, and he said that if there's any leaks that show under the vac test, they will not put any gas in it, and show where the leak is so you can sort it at your leisure.

Can't say no fairer than that in my opinion

[damon80]

think your defo in the minority there mate. Consider yourself very lucky imho. They usually just gas it up and hope it dont leak out from what ive seen on here.

Hi Chris - sounds like the chap who I went to before i went to Kwik Fit lol

[joshwyatt]

Damon80-
You make very good points, I think I might take mine tomorrow to my local kwik fit and just chat to them first, ask a few questions to see if who will be doing it seems to know what's what. If you don't mind me asking, how much did they charge you?

[Turk]

Hi Folks,

I've heard a bit of negativity from some friends of mine around Kwik-Fit's air con recharge deal not being too great.

Well, mine had packed in a few weeks ago (just in time for the warm weather  )

A friend at work had his done at the Kwik-Fit round the corner from where we work, and he highly recommended their services (he has a concourse Mk3 Astra GSi Ecotec).

Well, I took a gamble, and early doors the other morning (5am...  ) I left my Mig there and shoved my keys through their letterbox in an envelope telling them what I wanted doing.

Anyway, I picked it up after I finished work.  They had done a great job - freezing cold it was.  They went through what they'd done - fully vacc'ed it down, pressure tested it, put the stipulated amount of lubricant and gas in, and added the UV dye too.

Part of the quality of service might be down to the fact that the chap who did it said he's always's loved Mig's, and he's on the look out for one.  Needless to say, I pointed him in the way of this forum 

In summary, I think when it comes to a company as large as Kwik-Fit, the quality of work differs on a branch-to-branch basis

They didn't used to.
The manager said it was to keep the price down in the "If it don't work, you don't pay" offer.  :-?
It passed their pressure check so they filled the system. Nice and cold until the following day.

I took the car to an A/C specialist and explained what had happened. They re-tested it, this time with the UV dye, and found the condensor rad glowing green. It was porous. It passed the pressure test, but not the UV check. Replaced the rad with the one of my old Elite and went back to the specialist for a re-gas.
Been right now for two years. 

Got a refund off KwikFleece, but only after advising the manager that the fine for knowingly releasing refrigeration gas to the atmosphere carried a seriously hefty fine. (£30k rings a bell)

[A380 Elite]

Go to the car parts, bits for sale and wanted section.
There you will find 2nd from top,
Omega Air Conditioning service/parts.

I've just come back from Twyford having my A/C re-gassed.
Boy is it cold.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Glad to hear one or two members have had satisfaction at KwikFitup!  You have been veeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrryyyy lucky, and if I were you I would do the lottery for tonight!

[pauldmackay]

Glad to hear one or two members have had satisfaction at KwikFitup!  You have been veeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrryyyy lucky, and if I were you I would do the lottery for tonight!

Very true, you hear of many, many people getting the air con re-gassed and a week or 2 later its not as cold.  Kwik-fit may have the equipment(the machines they have are more or less automatic, you won't find air-con specialist using one). 

Air-con specialist are exactly that, specialist, they'll not only check the gas, they check running pressures, electrics, the correct operation of the fans, and be able to repair any part of the system and they know what there looking for. 

Anyone can go out a buy the machines they use, around 2k-2.5k and use them, there fairly idiot proof, put on the connectors to the air-con pipes and press a button.  In no way though does that make you a specialist.  Most main car dealers will get in a air-con specialist to do any work needed too.  Most specialists will come to your house and charge around 50 pounds and everything checked.

If you use kwik fit and it works, fine, and if it doesn't who are you going to call to come and sort your cars air-con........................

You have to look after the air-con system on any car, check out the cost of parts.

[froezen]

Took mine to Kwik Fit yesterday for the aircon, but only because there are no specialists near me so I had little choice.

They did the pressure test and said it wasn't leaking, so gassed it up but it still blows warm. They fed me some crap about it being siezed up (even though I can see the compressor spinning). But to thier credit, they didn't try to charge me anything.

Made me think though, If I knew the aircon on my car was good, i could pull a fuse and get them to regas it for free :-D

Also, I've just stuck a pressure gauge on it, and in less than 24 hours, all the gas has gone :-(

[Robski]

Hi Folks,

I've heard a bit of negativity from some friends of mine around Kwik-Fit's air con recharge deal not being too great.

Well, mine had packed in a few weeks ago (just in time for the warm weather  )

A friend at work had his done at the Kwik-Fit round the corner from where we work, and he highly recommended their services (he has a concourse Mk3 Astra GSi Ecotec).

Well, I took a gamble, and early doors the other morning (5am...  ) I left my Mig there and shoved my keys through their letterbox in an envelope telling them what I wanted doing.

Anyway, I picked it up after I finished work.  They had done a great job - freezing cold it was.  They went through what they'd done - fully vacc'ed it down, pressure tested it, put the stipulated amount of lubricant and gas in, and added the UV dye too.

Part of the quality of service might be down to the fact that the chap who did it said he's always's loved Mig's, and he's on the look out for one.  Needless to say, I pointed him in the way of this forum 

In summary, I think when it comes to a company as large as Kwik-Fit, the quality of work differs on a branch-to-branch basis

Hi Damon which Kwik fit was it,need to get mine done,what did they charge?