AC service from Honda 3S worth it?

[mrdeejay]

From past year the Ac hasn't been performing well in our 9th gen civic. Called two different Honda 3S dealers in lahore, and both provided wildly different quotes for topping up gas 4400 vs 8000. Has anyone gotten their Ac gas topped up from 3S dealer, how much did you pay?

What about getting AC serviced from them, do they take off entire dashboard? how much did you pay for ac service?

[aziz.rehan]

Just make sure ur cabin air filter is clean and wash ur condenser with water when washing the car.U can check the filter urself.And keep ac setting to recirculating as it puts less load on ac system.Only go for gas topup when u feel ac isn't cooling and just throwing air.And when u go for gas top up make sure the technician checks for any leaks in the system.And ur good to go.

[mrdeejay]

And when u go for gas top up make sure the technician checks for any leaks in the system.And ur good to go.

Doesn't checking for leaks require removing all the gas first? At least that's how its done for home ACs.

How much charge is typical for just top up? On previous posts, I'm seeing rates starting from 1500 (at small shops) to 7000 (at Honda dealerships)?

[mrdeejay]

Your car may only require cleaning to remove the dust.

Do you know what's include in "AC Service"? I'm curious how is evaporator cleaned, does it involve taking off entire dashboard? because I don't want to do that. Although, I think its not the dirty evaporator issue in my case. Likely just the gas needing topping up.

[arslan.v8]

What you're referring to as filter or jaali, is called the evaporator or coil in local lingo.

[roony]

Gas doesn't need to be topped up. If it's low it means it has leaked. A leak can be a slow leak for eg from a hardened oring.

[mrdeejay]

How do they diagnose leak? My only concern is taking apart the entire dashboard and cost of finding leak.

[aziz.rehan]

In small shops they put surf wala pani on ac pipes and parts to check for leaks.But before this they check it with ac gas pressure with gauge.
Always go for Honeywell made in usa gas.Don,t go for Chinese gas.

[mrdeejay]

Any idea about typical charge for leak checking and topping up gas? The workshop I went to yesterday (not Honda) quoted 7000 for top up, which I thought was too much so came back.

[aziz.rehan]

Well we topped up gas of gli 2016 for 1,000 rs and ac is working fine in Peshawar.7,000 is too much.But if gas is completely leaked out then it will cost 2500 rs.
And 500-1000 more for leakage fixing.
Amount of gas can be checked by ac pressure gauge which ac guys have.

[mrdeejay]

Can someone recommend good AC repair shops in Lahore?

[syeddanishanwaar]

Yes. Thanks for the information.

[tmuzammil05]

Get your AC only serviced from authorised dealership. I spent 25k on AC instalment from a local shop and its not working after a month. There are leakages in pipes so I will prefer Authorised dealership as AC is a sensitive component

[mrdeejay]

Get your AC only serviced from authorised dealership.

Are service charges at Honda dealerships negotiable or fixed?

[Junaid_riaz]

Most Important thing is to get done from work shop where the technician knows its job

2ndly he must be reasonably honest as full honest person is not available in Pakistan.

However there is no guarantee that there are good and honest people at 3S

In local market you need to search and then waste some money to find good mechanic/AC/Electrician.

[mrdeejay]

In local market you need to search and then waste some money to find good mechanic/AC/Electrician.

Unfortunately, that's the reality of Pakistan. I've went to several places based on recommendation from Pakwheels and was thoroughly disappointed.

I think for AC service, I'll just go to Honda 3S dealer offering reasonable rate.

[nfssaad]

no such thing as just needing topping off..

the gas leaked. thats why it needs topping. FIX THE LEAK FIRST.

to trace the leak, every thing comes out, both the inner coil and outer condenser are pressurised with Ideally Nitrogen and dipped in water bath to trace out any pinholes.
Drier is always changed in a service. All Orings MUST be changed.

take off the compressor too. drain out all the old oil and flush with referigerant.

re assemble everything. pour fresh oil in the compressor and system. pull a vaccum. for at least 15 minutes. do a fresh gas charge.

[mumbojumbo]

Dear OP,

I think you should get it serviced. The leaks are diagnosed by filling up the system with air and then the pressure is monitored for a while. if it drops then there is a leak which is then identified using soap water.

If you are based in Lahore then I recommend going to Al-Abbas AC Center just behind Lahore Zoo. I got my car ac serviced from him and its been more than two years now. It works like a charm!!
His charges for service + gas would be around 7-9k but he uses honeywell gas.

22/61 Lawrence Road, Mozang Chungi, Lahore, Punjab 54000 (you can put this address in google maps and it will take you to his shop)
0301 8438439

[roony]

All Orings MUST be changed.

+1. Getting this may take time, 3s would have to order it from atlas. Get only genuine orings. Orings should be coated with compressor oil during installation.

And to what was mentioned before about changing compressor oil 5-10k. That isnt correct. There isnt a schedule mentioned anywhere where it says this.

3s will have the proper repair manuals for all their models. It will mention firstly what type of compressor oil to use. It will say how much to pour in if a leak happened, how much to add if you change a pipe for eg. etc etc. While things are opened you might as well drain out whatever compressor oil is in compressor and add the same quantity back.

You can also possibly identify a leak point. Check connection points. There may be oily residue around it, that being the compressor oil that leaked out with the gas.

[mrdeejay]

Just saw this video, watch from 15:00, when he pulls out Evaporator coil its dirty as hell. I remember in another thread @Xulfiqar said that evaporator coil is self-cleaning? This makes me think our 10 year old civic's evaporator will be even dirtier than this 10th gen civic.