Recently, all of a sudden my aircond started to be not cold at all (blowing warm air). Change wasn't even
gradual, just suddenly one day not cold at all.

So after a few weeks no aircond I brought to shop (not specialist aircond shop, but the guy does aircond servicing too). He said got no leaks he can find at surface level (without having to remove everything and check), so he refill gas and asked to see how if it leaks again or what.

But by two days later can feel not cold any more. So I went to different shop this time, which is nearer to my house. This new guy said he found the leak, which is apparently in the aircond pressure switch (from here i'm already suspicious because the earlier mechanic already checked this component and didn't find any cause for concern). Anyway I believe him and changed it (and I had to pay charge for changing gas, compressor oil, and servicing too, altogether RM130).

By just THREE DAYS LATER, all the gas gone already, not cold any more. I went back to the same shop and ask wtf, he said that means got ANOTHER leak (wtf two leaks all of a sudden, can meh?). He said must open all the components and it's a whole day job

But just two hours later he called me and said he found the problem (I've heard this before lol). Apparently the cooling coil is leaking, and the expansion valve also needs changing (total damage this time? RM560!!).

I said that day the pressure switch was fine la then?? He said confirm there was a leak at the pressure switch so that needed to be changed anyway.

Now if three days later not cold any more, he will say there's ANOTHER leak somewhere and have to change another component?? This is my first car, never done aircond repair before, how to not get scammed?

UPDATE 31/8/14: Aircond f***ed again all of a sudden. It's been one week. Yesterday still cold, today suddenly not cold at all, blowing hot air. Now what?

UPDATE 7/9/14: Went back to the shop and scolded the manager. After another round of soap bubble leak checking and even checking with nitrogen gas (not sure what that's for), he finally said something similar to what my first mechanic said, i.e. that my pressure valve (was it 'valve' or something else? can't remember) might be relieving the gas due to high pressure that's why it all leaves the system so suddenly. Therefore I'm getting more and more convinced that it's not in fact a 'leak' per se. A leak would mean GRADUAL decline in cooling effect right? In my case it runs very well and very cold for about 3-5 days after refilling gas, then all of a sudden next day I start my car and it's just blowing hot air because the gas is not there any more.
Anyway he refilled the gas for free and asked to drive around for 3 days and get back to him and he'll check if there's any gas leaked out or gone completely so he can do further diagnosis.
Any opinions? Any significance in the fact that the loss of gas is not gradual, instead seeming to be very abrupt?
Drillz of my car:

This post has been edited by marczeman2: Sep 7 2014, 07:43 PM

it's my first car, but it's 1999 secondhand wira

If leak again I will go there and rage there in front of all the other customers ask him to refund everything (at least labour charge etc)

Thanks guys, I have a lot to learn about car maintenance

Thanks, that was very informative

thanks guys. maybe i didn't pay that much after all..

btw he didn't fit me with a Denso cooling coil, he installed a Paco one (rm370, and expansion valve rm85). When he showed me my old cooling coil he showed a lot of dirt and some stains which he said was a sure sign of leaking.

anyway it's been a full day, aircond still very cold. hopefully this time it lasts.

UPDATE: Aircond f***ed again all of a sudden. It's been one week. Yesterday still cold, today suddenly not cold at all, blowing hot air.

Now what?

bro now again my aricond is gone, all of a sudden not cold. gas leak again?

btw the first mechanic i went to was saying something about me driving too fast and pressure building up so the the gas was intentionally leaked by the compressor to relieve the pressure.. (idk if i understood him correctly). he was trying to explain to me why my aircond was not cold all of a sudden instead of gradually. I am already out of money lol now how

And to make matters worse, I lost the receipt (it was in bag which was stolen recently).

Update: Went back to the shop and scolded the manager. After another round of soap bubble leak checking and even checking with nitrogen gas (not sure what that's for), he finally said something similar to what my first mechanic said, i.e. that my pressure valve (was it 'valve' or something else? can't remember) might be relieving the gas due to high pressure that's why it all leaves the system so suddenly. Therefore I'm getting more and more convinced that it's not in fact a 'leak' per se. A leak would mean GRADUAL decline in cooling effect right? In my case it runs very well and very cold for about 3-5 days after refilling gas, then all of a sudden next day I start my car and it's just blowing hot air because the gas is not there any more.

Anyway he refilled the gas for free and asked to drive around for 3 days and get back to him and he'll check if there's any gas leaked out or gone completely so he can do further diagnosis

Any opinions? Any significance in the fact that the loss of gas is not gradual, instead seeming to be very abrupt?

Drillz of my car (large):

This post has been edited by marczeman2: Sep 7 2014, 07:43 PM

He did say pressure was lost bro...

btw read my update, what do you think

when you say condensor, do you mean cooling coil (is it the same thing?)? Because i changed the cooling coil on the 2nd visit and the problem persisted