focus a/c diagnosis at garage - is this fair

[steveo3002]

mk1 focus , a/c wasnt working and general opinion was no gas , had it topped up and still didnt work

got it into a elec specialist and-

rad fan doesnt work- i replaced it and now it operates , still no a/c

bridging the clutch relay makes it click on , bridging the low pressure switch makes it work , so they ordered and fitted a low pressure switch , still nothing , now saying either switch was a dud or the schrader valve is stuck

what do you think , is this a fair diagnosis ? im starting to think im paying to launch the parts cannon at it

 

[mtt.tr]

Has it had a manifold set on it to confirm it's charged?

Was the correct switch fitted?

 

[steveo3002]

i believe so

 

[winchman]

First thing it should have been De gassed and filled with nitrogen to look for leaks.
Its not rocket science to test the switch before ordering a new one
I do wonder if some of the so called Air con people have just done a two day course when others served a 5 year apprentice ship, ours in work is fantastic and I don't say this lightly, he can fist almost anything.

 

[steveo3002]

he can fist almost anything.

quoted lol

 

[mtt.tr]

First thing it should have been De gassed and filled with nitrogen to look for leaks.
Its not rocket science to test the switch before ordering a new one
I do wonder if some of the so called Air con people have just done a two day course when others served a 5 year apprentice ship, ours in work is fantastic and I don't say this lightly, he can fist almost anything.

Doesn't help that car guys just use a box with buttons on it.

They have very little underlying knowledge or interest. The imi 2 day course is a joke.

 

[steveo3002]

how would you test a pressure switch? they bypassed it and the a/c worked so kinda suggested it was that

 

[mtt.tr]

how would you test a pressure switch? they bypassed it and the a/c worked so kinda suggested it was that

I would read the pressure in the system and decide if it is under pressure.

Then yes measure the switch condition.

If no gas is in the system the garage will in big trouble with the environmental agency as they should have leaked tested prior to recharging

 

[steveo3002]

i see youre essex /suffolk border...i am too

do you work in this trade?

 

[daedalusminos]

They should have degassed, leak tested, vac'd the system to dry the desiccant and refilled

 

[steveo3002]

They should have degassed, leak tested, vac'd the system to dry the desiccant and refilled

whats your point...the a/c still doesnt work

 

[ukracer]

I would read the pressure in the system and decide if it is under pressure.

Then yes measure the switch condition.

If no gas is in the system the garage will in big trouble with the environmental agency as they should have leaked tested prior to recharging

The one I used tested the system . But it took 2 weeks to stop working so a miniscule leak seems favourite.
Still not fixed.

 

[mtt.tr]

The one I used tested the system . But it took 2 weeks to stop working so a miniscule leak seems favourite.
Still not fixed.

Should be held under vacuum and pressure for a surprisingly long time

Even the vac procedure is often not completed for long enough

 

[daedalusminos]

My

whats your point...the a/c still doesnt work

My point is, are you certain it doesn't have a leak?

When bypassing the switch and the AC runs, does it get nice and cold?

 

[steveo3002]

im not certain of nothing - paying them to sort it , i cant measure it myself

im told it works when switch is bypassed , i may try it later and report back

 

[Beanwood]

bridging the clutch relay makes it click on , bridging the low pressure switch makes it work , so they ordered and fitted a low pressure switch , still nothing , now saying either switch was a dud or the schrader valve is stuck

Surely - if they fitted the switch, and now suspect it's a dud - that's on their time and money to fix - unless you provided the part?. I don't understand teh relevance of the schrader valve - isn't that only used for filling?

The issue will come if they have refilled with refrigerant, and they will need to empty it again to fit the switch. They should carry the cost for the empty and refill... which they'll likely not be happy about - but surely that's the risk with fitting parts that don't work.

 

[steveo3002]

Surely - if they fitted the switch, and now suspect it's a dud - that's on their time and money to fix - unless you provided the part?. I don't understand teh relevance of the schrader valve - isn't that only used for filling?

The issue will come if they have refilled with refrigerant, and they will need to empty it again to fit the switch. They should carry the cost for the empty and refill... which they'll likely not be happy about - but surely that's the risk with fitting parts that don't work.

they supplied and fitted it...yeah otherwise id be to blame for that , ran out of time for further work so took the car away to rebook for another day

not arguing over the bill yet , im of the understanding theyre suggesting the valve is stuck in /out so gas doesnt reach the new switch , if it was stuck in then the gas would have escaped eh ? i dunno i haven't worked on a/c but just getting a bit suspicious its something else everytime they look at it

 

[Neilj]

im of the understanding theyre suggesting the valve is stuck in /out so gas doesnt reach the new switch , if it was stuck in then the gas would have escaped eh ? i dunno i haven't worked on a/c but just getting a bit suspicious its something else everytime they look at it

Yes, if the schrader valve was stuck open then removing the switch would release all the gas, which would have been very obvious to them. The pressure switch has a little pin that pushes down on the schrader valve plunger when it's screwed in place, so unless they've not screwed the switch on properly, or it's an incorrect style switch, then I can't see how the schrader valve can be stuck closed. Sounds to me like they don't know what they're doing!

 

[knighty]

you can't tell what's going on without some gauges fitted

I think they're full of crap about the valve, they're like a tyre valve, the fitting they put on it pushes it open, they stick open not closed

if it's somehow blocked they'd see that straight away on their gauges

 

[steveo3002]

you can't tell what's going on without some gauges fitted

I think they're full of crap about the valve, they're like a tyre valve, the fitting they put on it pushes it open, they stick open not closed

if it's somehow blocked they'd see that straight away on their gauges

okay so educate me so i can question them

turn on the dash switch and a/c clutch and rad fan do not kick in , what should an expert be doing next