Region Chain Refused To Work On A Hybrid

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I wanted my a/c regassing as I have a black car, it's getting warmer and with the car being nearly 6 years old the a/c just isn't what it was.

Went to a local chain, North Eastern Tyre & Exhausts who have historically been good for tyres, MOTs and a/c regassing etc who agreed to do the work while I waited. After waiting 5 minutes they then came back to me and said that they don't touch hybrids because they're a risk to their employees as they might electrocute them!?! I was like "you're taking the ***** right?" and did suggest that they have to have the correct lubricant in the a/c, but no, it appears after checking with head office that as a company they are instructed not to touch hybrid cars other than for tyres. I offered to him that they topped up my a/c only 3 years ago but it didn't matter, the new rules stand!

No servicing, no exhausts, certainly no a/c, but they might do tyres. Hmmm

So I offer my prize to NETE for being Prize F***wits of the week. Suggest you avoid them to avoid wasting your time. I did notice they were very very quiet and a few years ago when I went they were always rammed out. I wonder if this was a ruling from HQ or a cheesed off employee who just wanted a quiet afternoon?

Answers on a postcard...

http://www.tyreplus.co.uk/locate-a-garage.asp?s=2&g=903

[Parts-King]

More work for everyone else

[Grumpy Cabbie]

More work for everyone else

Well the Toyota dealer are just 1/4 mile away and charge the same price. I only went to NETE as they could do the job today rather than a week next Thursday etc.

But yes, can't believe the outdated nonsense they were sprouting at NETE. I do wonder if someone had changed oil on a Prius leaving it in Ready mode and smashed the engine and the boss just banning them all after that?

I won't even bother reporting it to HQ. Let them lose business and become even quieter than they were today - just one other car and about 8 empty work bays. Their loss.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Booked in at main dealers tomorrow - which is what I should have done earlier and avoided the fun n games :)

[Parts-King]

For some it is the fear of the unknown

I had the Fire Service here a few weeks back, wanted to know what to look out for in the event a Hybrid was in an accident. They knew all the theory but had never actually had their hands on a Hybrid. I gave them a pair of the Hybrid electrical gloves and basically said you can do just about anything with these on!!

But joking apart, you could be right, somebody might just have done that, screwed up an engine and now they have a blanket ban on Hybrids

[johalareewi]

Our local garage (who do my tyres) have sent some of their staff on hybrid courses so they can do more work on hybrids.

My Prius was the first one they had had and they made the classic mistake of leaving the car in ready thinking it was off.

Sure enough, after a while, the engine fired up. Luckily they were only changing the tyres.

But instead of introducing a blanket hybrid ban, they decided they should learn about these new fangled cars.

[CPN]

That's a refreshing attitude! :)

[Devon Aygo]

Also worthy of note: Re-gassing a Hybrid requires specialist/separate equipment from normal AC systems as the car uses an electric AC compressor that requires specific ND11 type compressor oil as other types of compressor oil are electrically conductive and can lead to short circuits and premature pump failure.

Toyota states:

Note

• Only use ND-OIL11 for the electric inverter compressor of the air conditioning system. Using other compressor oils may be dangerous, as they may conduct electricity.

• Electrical insulation performance may decrease significantly if even a small amount of oil other than ND-OIL11 is used (or enters) in the refrigeration cycle, causing a DTC to be output.

• If other oil is accidentally used and a DTC is output, collect the compressor oil in the compressor and replace it with ND-OIL11 to increase the ND-OIL11 ratio amount.

• Replace the main components (evaporator, condenser, and compressor) if a large amount of oil other than ND-OIL11 enters the system. Failing to do so may cause electrical insulation performance to remain low, causing a DTC to be output.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I think Parts King sussed it out. Someone has messed up a hybrid in the past landing them with a large repair bill, so they've just introduced a blanket ban.

How many times have you gone to get tyres and tried to explain how the car works and they just brush you off, then 5 minutes later return to the waiting room to ask how to remove the handbrake? Or you see your car on the ramp in Drive straining away on the handbrake NOT in Park?