On the first hot day of the year I cross my fingers, hold my breath, and plead, “Please, please, please!” For the first time after the long Maine winter, I’m about to switch on the air conditioning in my old truck. Rewarded by a blast of cold air, I breathe a frosty sigh of relief. I’m happy to cool down, and I’m even happier that I don’t have to diagnose and repair my AC system. The folks who built my truck 15 years ago did a good job, and the system is still operating as designed, with all the refrigerant contained in the sealed system. Judging by the selection of refrigerant top-off kits for sale at parts stores, many car owners aren’t as fortunate as me. As a professional technician, I’m alarmed by the products available for do-it-yourself AC repairs. If you’re already hot and bothered by the temperature, you do not need to frustrate yourself with a failed attempt to restore your AC system performance. Some car owners make the mistake of adding refrigerant as they would add gas or oil to their cars. 

Air conditioning should never need topping off.  If the refrigerant level is low, it is due to a leak and there is damage that needs to be repaired.  Besides safety concerns, there are many problems with using a kit to simply add refrigerant. First of all, if the original refrigerant leaked out, then the next batch will follow the same path and you’ll be right back to warm AC again. air handling unit condensate trapThe DIY kits that frighten me the most include goo that is supposed to stop leaks. car air conditioning repairs hoppers crossingInstead of repairing the leak, the goo does further damage when it clogs up the system elsewhere.car ac repair richmond ky Also, consider that if refrigerant leaks out of your car, then air and moisture leak in to take its place.

Another problem with just topping off the refrigerant is that the contamination hasn’t been removed. Air and moisture don’t have the same properties as refrigerant, so if they are left inside, the system might be cooler after a top off, but it will not be cold. A final problem with using a top-off kit is knowing how much to add. New-model AC systems are more efficient and contain half the amount of refrigerant as older models. This means there is less room for error when filling a system to the specified capacity. Too much of a good thing results in the same outcome as too little and the temperature still won’t be cold enough. Despite the marketing of DIY kits, there are no short cuts to repair a leaking AC system. Professional repair shops invest in trained personnel and precision equipment for detection of leaks, evacuation of contamination, and measurement of refrigerant. The reason I desperately hope my AC works is because I dread the time and expense required to repair it.

But if my springtime hocus-pocus fails to get me cold AC, I would rather fix it right the first time in a professional manner than exacerbate the damage with an aftermarket top-off kit. Summer in Maine is too short for such aggravation. Ruth Morrison is an Automotive Technology Instructor and Department Chair at Southern Maine Community College.  She holds certification as an ASE Master Technician and Advanced Level Specialist and was a former Ford Senior Master Technician.  She graduated from the Ford ASSET Automotive Technology program at Central Maine Technical College and most recently earned her master’s in Adult Education from the University of Southern Maine. Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form Send questions/comments to the editors. Your vehicle’s brakes require regular maintenance to ensure driving safety. Platte Woods Precision provides complimentary inspections with every service, and our quality repairs are guaranteed.

We can diagnose and repair your AC & Heating systems. Don’t drive through the hot summer months without AC. Get your vehicle prepared for the winter months ahead, and stop by our shop. Getting your vehicle serviced regularly can increase the life expectancy of any vehicle and improve performance & driveability. We provide oil changes with a complimentary vehicle inspection. Platte Wood Precision Auto Care takes pride in providing quality services for our customers. We will diagnose and repair any radiator, thermostat, water pump, or other cooling-related to your car or truck. Platte Woods Precision Auto Care & Quality Vehicle Services Welcome to Platte Woods Precision Auto Care, a family owned and operated auto repair shop in Kansas City MO. Our full service automotive facility has been providing the Kansas City area with comprehensive auto repair services for over 10 years. Our goal is to offer the best service available at affordable prices to get you back on the road in no time.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find the same level of expertise that our auto mechanic specialists provide! We have years of experience working on both domestic and import vehicles and we take pride in providing our customers with the best care in the area. That means, we don’t “over fix” your vehicle. We are transparent every step of the way, providing feedback on what’s needed, the costs & labor, and why we recommend it. At Platte Woods Precision Auto Care we consider our customers family! Contact Us or see below for the types of vehicles we repair & service. Platte Woods Precision ALL OF YOUR KANSAS CITY, MO AUTO REPAIR SERVICES Vehicles We Repair & Service American Cars, Trucks & SUVs European Cars, Trucks & SUVs Asian Import Cars, Trucks & SUVs About 1 year ago Yesterday I brought in my car to the Canadian Tire in Ajax to fix my car. I had indicated to them that my car had some smoke coming from underneath the roof the day before. My husband indicated it coming from a fan under the roof, in the passenger side, and on the inside of the car by the grill.

We also informed CT that immediately after, the air conditioning stopped working and then the day after I noticed that the temperature guage increased to the RED line. CT informed me that they would take a look at my car and because Volkswagen was closed at the time, that they would like to keep my car overnight and talk to volkswagen and get a price on the fan. This morning, I called Canadian Tire and unfortunately they were not ready with the quote on the car repair so they asked if they can call me back. I eventually got a call back from Canadian Tire and they informed me that the problem I had was due to the fan, serpentine belt, and thermostat needed to be changed. CT informed me that the after market fan that they have in stock only had 2 wires (or something) whereas the VW fan had 3 wires and this is what I needed for my car. Although it was $150.00 more to get the VW part, I went ahead and agreed that it was ok to get the VW fan. CT quoted me a total of $1011.00 for the following repairs:

new fan, coolant system flush, serpentine belt replaced, new thermostat, labour, and tax. I picked up my car this afternoon and paid approx $1000.00 in cash for my car. I drove my car and within an hour or less, I saw that my temperature gauge was increasing again and that it was hitting the red line. THEY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM! I WAS DEVASTATED as the money that I had given to CT was the last of my savings and they had indicated that my car had been fixed. I called CT and informed them that my car and informed them that my car was still having the same problem as before. They infomred me that I should take my car back to Canadian Tire which I did. Unfortunately I had to leave my car there overnight again as all the mechanics had left for the night. I was devastated as I need my car for tomorrow to get to work and see my patients (I am a research nurse working at Sunnybrook Hospital) A couple of months ago I went to the same Canadian Tire to have my husbands car balanced.

I paid over $100.00 for the balancing but after looking at the read out on the 'before' and 'after' balancing of the wheels, there was hardly any difference. I complained that time as well about them taking my money and not having any actual work done on the car. They offered to repeat the balancing at no charge which I accepted. But this is still unacceptable. How could they hand over the car to me, accepting payment, and not have done their part???????? Over 8 years ago I would like to bring to everyone’s attention a change to Canadian Tire store in Ajax Ontario Return Policy. If you lose your receipt, even if you pay by Canadian Tire Credit Card, you have the statement showing the purchase and the stores duplicate copy of the receipt; you cannot get a refund. All you can get is a Store Credit that *** HAS TO BE SPENT THAT DAY - REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF DAY. I had previously been a happy customer of Canadian Tire for 40 years who will no longer shop at or have his vehicles repaired at another Canadian Tire Store, ever.

I purchased from the Ajax Canadian Tire store an Arbor for $149.99 and 2 trellises for $14.99 each. Both of which were paid for using my Canadian Tire credit card. After opening the box, my wife suggested that we return the unit, as this unit would not last and that we should construct a wooden arbor instead. So the unit was repackaged, exactly the same way as it was purchased, Same tie-downs, bubble wrap, and without any scratches, back into the original sealed box. The box, which is 7 feet long, 3 feet wide and 8 inches thick, and weighs around 80 pounds was placed into my truck and driven back to the original store. Now somewhere between buying the unit and taking it out to my truck I misplaced my receipt. But not to worry I thought to myself, as I had purchased the items on my Canadian Tire credit card so I had proof of purchase. After lugging the items back into the store, and waiting in line, I explained to the clerk that I had lost my receipt bringing the item back.

But that the purchase is on my Canadian Tire credit card The clerk informed me that they can’t give me a refund on your credit card, the best we can do is a store credit that has to be used today”. Now it is Sunday afternoon, 30 minutes before the store closes, and the store expects me to just buy something, anything for $206 dollars or lose the refund. I most likely would have accepted a store credit for use at a later date, as I’m sure I would have spent the $206 over the next month or two, but the only option I have is to spend the money today, So I ask to speak to her Manager, and after waiting a few minutes, a young man who looks like the stock boy asks if he can help me, I say I’m waiting for the manager, he says he is the manager, So I explain the situation, and he gives the same answer, store credit that has to be spent now. I now have 20 minutes before store closing. I explain that I’ve never heard of this policy, that I’ve been buying things at the store for years and he states that this policy has been in place for around 2 years.

His only option, take the item home and come back tomorrow when you have more time to shop. I explain this is a very large box weighing 80 pounds, He says that is all they can do, and offers no help in taking this unit back to my truck. The only reason I shop at stores such as Sears, Canadian Tire, Home Depot etc, is because of the no hassle return policies. How can Canadian Tire quote to have integrity, when they state I can return a product if I’m not satisfied, then refuse to give me my money back. How can they say they are ethical, if they have a policy where If someone can not spend an in-store credit of $206 during one day, in this case less then 20 minutes, that I lose my money and they keep the returned item. How can they say they are honest when I buy something in good faith, with an expected return policy that I've known for the 40 years I’ve been doing business with them, and the product does not meet my needs, that the company can change a policy and not inform the public of such change, neither in the store, or store signage or on your web site or in mailings or in your advertising