Well, this went well.

 

I foolishly took my wife's 06-plate Focus, which we've only had a couple of months, to have the A/C re-gassed at ATS-Euromaster.

It took them around 45 mins to do, they showed me it working and all seemed fine. They were, in hindsight, overly keen to stress that they'd tested it and that I'd seen it working so everything was fine...sign here Sir to confirm that.

Anyway, worked fine all the way home (about 20mins). Happy Days!

2 hours later I went to shops and surprise, surprise, the A/C no longer worked. Cue much cursing and increased blood pressure! They're closed at the weekend so I couldn't go straight back, but I thought to myself "Oh, OK, maybe there was a tiny leak that they couldn't detect...but if it's tiny, how could all the gas escape in 2 hours?". So I had a look today, not expecting to find much. Boy, was I wrong!

First, both the filler caps were missing:

  

Not a good sign...then I spotted this:

Uh oh! Got the jack out and found this horror show:

 

 

Absolutely everything in that corner is drenched in dye.

I find it very hard to believe that any sort of test would be passed with a leak like this, so either they didn't bother doing it or ignored the results and filled it anyway.

Any advice how I should handle it on Monday when I take it back to them would be appreciated.

Well I can already guess the answer... "Well Sir it was fine when we tested it. It must have developed a leak after we filled it. Probably an old system and with the high pressure of the gas some corroded part has failed"

The best you can hope for is to get the two missing filler caps replaced and a full refund.

I know that I'd find it hard to contain your anger and frustration but without paying for a full forensic examination of the failed parts, they will stick to it was alright when we tested it.

I wish you good luck, please come back and post the outcome

Well I took it back first-thing this morning.

They found the filler caps, so that was good. Had the expected 'discussion' about how the system managed to pass their machine's test process, but also then proceed to expel all it's gas and dye in 20 minutes, whereby they pretty much just said "we just fill 'em with the machine mate".

Eventually the guy said that he'd have to "ask his boss" if he could refund the cost and took my number, promising to call me as soon as he'd spoken to him. Call me suspicious, but that sounds like the old "get 'em out of the shop" fob off. Still, we live in hope...

Get your refund back and if not then take it further. Your consumer rights means you have the right to ask for a refund, don't leave until the money is in your account otherwise they could just want you out as fast as possible without paying. 

This is the problem with the vacuum test on those machines...  Sucking doesn't necessarily open up all the gaps that blowing (pressurising) will.

I do hope you get a refund though, it's pretty obvious the fault was there when you took it in! 

 

Well, fair do's to the guy at ATS.

As good as his word, he's just rung to say that they will be refunding my money, so that's a win (sort of). Just need to find the leak and fix it now!

28 minutes ago, daklone said:

Well, fair do's to the guy at ATS.

 

That's why I like dealing with the likes of ATS/KwikFit etc. They are £MultiMillion companies, and the odd refund really doesn't effect their bottom line, whereas a one man band has much more to lose. Well done on getting the refund. Now all you have to do is find a decent A/C guy to see how much that leak will cost to repair... At least he'll have a decent starting point with all that green dye!

Anyone know how long KwikFit warranty their re-gas for? I had the Mk3 done a year ago and the AC is not cooling at all now. I can't see anything about warranties on their invoice.

1 minute ago, mjt said:

Anyone know how long KwikFit warranty their re-gas for? I had the Mk3 done a year ago and the AC is not cooling at all now. I can't see anything about warranties on their invoice.

I'm sticking my neck out here, but I would be shocked if there was a 1 year warranty on it! They offer a full refund if it fails to reach a pre determined temperature after re gasing, and I have even gone back within a couple of weeks and got a refund. But let's face it, after months, or a year, anything could have happened to the A/C system with no genuine liability on a re gas...

True.