[sbasak]

For past few days I observed that my Alto's (2001 VX model, 29k on odo)
AC was blowing hot air.

Today took the car to Maruti Service Center and they said gas needs to be refilled. Did that for Rs 1150.

Now it is back to normal.

Is it normal to refill at this interval?

[esteem_lover]

Only when there is a leak. First arrest that leak & then get it refilled.

[ad75]

i too own a 01 vx with 70k on odo.have never refilled the ac gas, as esteem lover said,there could be some leak get it checked or the problem could reccur.

[adityapd]

Originally Posted by sbasak

Today took the car to Maruti Service Center and they said gas needs to be refilled. Did that for Rs 1150.

1150 for an Alto AC gas refill ? I do it at a local garage in Mumbai for my esteem for around 600 /- bucks....lasts me for about an year without the need for a refill.

~A

[Jaggu]

unless there is a leak or accidentally released one of the valve, ac gas should last for some 60k to 80k kms and 5 years kind of duration

there will be a drier (cylindrical thingie) which has a glass eye (in some makes) and when you run the ac (engine running) if you see bubbles continuously, its a sign to check the ac system and top up the gas

cost varies again between top ups to complete refill to dealer vs ac guy vs type of gas

[esteem_lover]

Obviously they must have sealed the leak & then refilled the entire quantity. The gas is normally charged at a certain price per kg. Find out what is the requirement for your alto.

[Jaggu]

dont assume about plugging leak or you will land up spending more

[Rtech]

Get the service centre to do a vacuum test on the system. This will tell you if there are any leaks.

Edit: Though now that you've refilled the gas, don't do anything!

[n_aditya]

Originally Posted by sbasak

Maruti Service Center said gas needs to be refilled. Did that for Rs 1150.

Thats a rip off.

I topped the a/c gas in my esteem last year for around Rs. 600/- only. Takes less than 30 mins. Any garage that installs a/c's or services them can do it.

Originally Posted by Jaggu

there will be a drier (cylindrical thingie) which has a glass eye (in some makes) and when you run the ac (engine running) if you see bubbles continuously, its a sign to check the ac system and top up the gas

Hey Jaggu, any idea where I can find this? There is one near the bumper under the hood and another somewhere near the battery / air filter (not sure).

[nitrous]

My AC mech's charge for R-134A:
Top up : 500 Rupees
Recharge : 750 Rupees

[risga]

Without a leak charging should not be required. My 800 (sold now) gave me a similar problem. No visible signs of leak were found. Usually oil comes out with the gas at the leak and dirt accumulates on it.

The pressure test on individual components also revealed nothing. Then the hoses were checked. One of these had a very minor leak. The testing is similar to the way tubes are checked for puncture. Tiny bubbles were forming very slowly. Only an expert eye could have detected. Fortunately, for me these guys were good. Then, in 5 minutes the refill was done with precise quantity of refrigerant gas charged using some machine.

AC worked fine thereafter; as good as new. Infact the cooling coil was cleaned during the process. Couldnt believe the kind of muck accumulated there. I was told that this usually results in corrosion of the coil. So the AC should be opened up and cleaned after 3 years or so. Wonder if anybody does so? Also, wonder why car ACs dont have cleanable filters like home ACs do?

[Jaggu]

yup one near the front bumper of the esteem

while doing leak test, first is a pressure test (using soap solution) second is a vacum test where air and gas is pumped out and a vacum guage used to monitor for any leak

check compressor also for any visble oil leak, inside the blower if its the condenser (hope terminology is corect) its very difficult to find out, which was the case in my ol Maruti 1000

[Jaggu]

add to Rtech comment, wait and see before you go for vacum test since you refilled recently and will have to let the gas out for this, unless the ac guy is not charging heavy and has equipment to collect and re use the gas

[manikjeet]

I have a 2003 alto have never filled a/c gas ever

once i ask the service people if it needs to be filled and said it only needed in m800 as the a/c is not that good and is prone to leaking

i use to get gas filled in my m800 from a local garage and for the full service they charged only 450
1150 is to much

[sbasak]

Thanks for the replies guys! Looks like I've been duped. Because of the unbearable heat, I did it in hurry without any quote from other garages. Anyway I'll have the car checked again.