Leaderboard

I happen to live nearby, and like to fly drones; so here are some fresh pictures. Cars are unloading as we speak.. Hopefully ours are here somewhere 🙂

I'm certain the Toyota dealer quote was for the the later, more expensive R1234yf gas - and that quote is about par for the course for this gas. Local Toyota dealers to me are quoting £59 for an air con service and £39 for just a regas - excluding vehicles with the R1234yf gas. Check the label in the engine compartment which states which gas you have, and if the R134a gas, I'd go back and get a quote for R134a gas.

After nine years it isn't unreasonable to need a regas. Five years would be considered pretty good on most cars. My wife's VW only managed two years on its first charge! (Although, to be fair, VW did recharge it under warranty ,and it was still good five years later when we sold it.) The issue, as I understand it, is that the refrigerant gas molecules are small enough to slip through the tiny microscopic pores in every flexible joint, no matter how tightly you seal it. So, over the years, a fair number of them are bound to get away. Nothing particularly suspicious about it.

LOL Exactly!

Yes, you don't have a problem with them misting up because you're using the AC to make sure that it doesn't. I have also regularly changed cars over the last 2 decades or so, also acrtoss many makes (not that that is particularly relevant since AC is basically the same principle in most vehicles), and I've never had problems with misting by not using the AC full time. It's precisely by not using it full time that prevents the condensation that forms on the cold evaporator does not re-evaporate into the cabin. If the evaporator is dry in the first place, misting is not an issue. So the AC is being used to resolve a problem that the AC itself created.

Common wisdom seems to be to run AC all year round, but the problems with that, for me at least, are: a) that the evaporator is always moist. b) come winter time below 3-4c the compressor will stop running anyway. a) That constant moisture on the evaporator is why car AC often starts to smell as its become a breeding ground for bacteria during the warmer months. I avoid this by turning off the AC towards the end of a long journey to dry it out. b) Some use the AC to prevent misting in winter. Ironically, it is the constant use of the AC that causes the initial misting in the first place. And when the compressor stops in winter because its too cold, all that moisture on the evaporator starts to evaporate and because the glass is very cold, condensation forms and it becomes very difficult to remove. Some have to resort to wiping by hand or making the cabin into a sauna. Eventually, the heater will deal with it but its pretty inconvenient if you're on a busy road somewhere and suddenly your car mists up. After a few decades on the road and not using AC full time (but still using it every few weeks for a few minutes to maintain the seals), I've never had AC fail due to perished seals, never had to "bomb" clean it nor had my windows mist up during cold, wet weather. I get to save a little extra fuel and keep a bit more charge in my batteries. Win win win.

I’m shocked at the price! Had mine done at my local Toyota dealer last week, full aircon service and regas for £49