Aircon Service?

[jamesC]

I've just taken a call from my local VW Van Centre talking about an Aircon Service.

When challenged on what this would entail and if it is an item you get a stamp in the book for, the caller became very nervous and vague.

The cost is £69+VAT and is a simple clean and inspection, which is not a lot of money, but I really dislike dealers doing unnecessary work.

Does anybody have any experience or thoughts on this?

Thanks


James

 

[calikev]

Yes I got quoted the same took it to a air con specialist who charge £50 all in gave me a nice receipt with the pressures and everything that was done even tested down to 2 degrees
No stamp in the book but a receipt to show it has been done
By a specialist

 

[Meoncoast]

SMG did ours held off until about 30 months old

 

[WelshGas]

The more you use it the less likely to have problems as the refrigerant also has lubricants in it and if not used regularly then seals can dry out and start leaking thus losing refrigerant and efficiency.
Kwik Fit do similar for about £47 BUT no cost if everything checks out OK and nothing needs doing. Basically, they check the pressure if within the normal range everything is OK.

 

[jamesC]

So rather than a service, this is more like a check - Thanks for confirming my suspicions WelshGas

TBH, I had a fault with the Aircon when the van was only a few months old, the pump was replaced under warranty, so in theory, my aircon check/service should not be required for another 9 months or so.

Thanks everybody for the replies!

 

[Andy]

Does this not include re-gassing the air con system ?

 

[Meoncoast]

My understanding was SMG pressure tested and top up gas

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

My van is in for the gearshift ‘leave in P’ message repair today and the dealership has also flagged an aircon service as ‘advisable’.
Price £196 !!!
I’ve declined for the time being.
Van has only done 24k miles and the aircon is working just fine.
Opinions? Would you have the aircon done?

 

[B J G]

My van is in for the gearshift ‘leave in P’ message repair today and the dealership has also flagged an aircon service as ‘advisable’.
Price £196 !!!
I’ve declined for the time being.
Van has only done 24k miles and the aircon is working just fine.
Opinions? Would you have the aircon done?

I believe that there are actually 2 service levels, basic check/top up and a full gas replacement service but ask what they are going to do for £196 which may be plus VAT..
Dealer hourly rates are usually much higher than Independent sources which accounts for charge level differences. All that showroom has to be paid for.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Opinions? Would you have the aircon done?

No. Its the Stealership trying to fleece you. If its blowing cold its fine.

 

[dspuk]

My van is in for the gearshift ‘leave in P’ message repair today and the dealership has also flagged an aircon service as ‘advisable’.
Price £196 !!!
I’ve declined for the time being.
Van has only done 24k miles and the aircon is working just fine.
Opinions? Would you have the aircon done?

No. It's dealership upsell twaddle. Not required.

 

[lohr500]

If it is still blowing cold and hasn't got a musty, mouldy smell when running, then I wouldn't bother.

If it is blowing cold but has got a bit of a smell, then you could buy a can of air conditioning sanitiser/de-oderiser and do it yourself. Basically you switch the air con running on full and on recycle, set off the can in the footwell, shut all the doors and windows and leave it running for 10 minutes or so. I've never done this with a Cali, but it worked very well on a Jeep that I had.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Thanks all. No issues with the aircon so I’ll hold fire.

 

[Perfectos]

My van is in for the gearshift ‘leave in P’ message repair today and the dealership has also flagged an aircon service as ‘advisable’.
Price £196 !!!
I’ve declined for the time being.
Van has only done 24k miles and the aircon is working just fine.
Opinions? Would you have the aircon done?

It was £49 several years back !

it Wasn’t required then & certainly won’t be when I go in for pre paid oil service soon.

What is going on with VW Dealer pricing !

obviously the Gas VW use will have a VW part number held in the ether and it will be far superior than any other

 

[Ch1pbutty]

What is going on with VW Dealer pricing !

Making up for loss of replacement UK cambelts

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

It was £49 several years back !

it Wasn’t required then & certainly won’t be when I go in for pre paid oil service soon.

What is going on with VW Dealer pricing !

obviously the Gas VW use will have a VW part number held in the ether and it will be far superior than any other

Mad isn’t it.
To fix the error ‘leave in P, visit workshop’ message is over £600. The failed component is a microswitch apparently but VW don’t yet have a repair kit so dealerships have to replace the complete linkage mechanism!
So glad I have an extended warranty.