Post by: guest7027 on August 10, 2017, 10:29:38 PM
When I first picked the car up I noticed the air con was barely working so they regassed it free of charge and all was fine - working perfectly fine, ice cold.
However after 2 months the air con stopped working again same as when I first got the car. When I press the AC button I hear a noise as though it is going to work but no cold air ever makes it way through.
Took it back to Honda who said they couldn't find any fault with the system so they have regassed it again but this time put a dye in the system to see if they can find any small leaks but they said upon visual inspection no leaks could be found and they pressure checked the system too but nothing found.
After about 3 weeks the air con has stopped working yet again, Honda said they can't find anything so regassed again!
Another 1 month and the air con has stopped again!!!!!!!!!
Going call the dealer tomorrow but this is getting beyond a joke now, I thought these Honda's are meant to be reliable? So far it has been the most unreliable car I've owned haha :P
Any ideas at all what this could be? My logic was that it must be a leak of some sort if they are having to regas the system with refridgerant right? It doesn't just evaporate in that short of space of time so it must be going somewhere? Honda are insistent that it isn't leaking but can't explain where the refrigerant is going...
obviously once regassed it works perfectly again so this would lead me to believe that all components are working satisfactory again this pin points to a leak?
Post by: guest6946 on August 10, 2017, 10:31:01 PM
Had my Jazz for around 4 months, bought it from Honda with a 12 month Honda warranty.There probably a leak in the radiator it is a common fault especially for the Mark 1
When I first picked the car up I noticed the air con was barely working so they regassed it free of charge and all was fine - working perfectly fine, ice cold.
However after 2 months the air con stopped working again same as when I first got the car. When I press the AC button I hear a noise as though it is going to work but no cold air ever makes it way through.
Took it back to Honda who said they couldn't find any fault with the system so they have regassed it again but this time put a dye in the system to see if they can find any small leaks but they said upon visual inspection no leaks could be found and they pressure checked the system too but nothing found.
After about 3 weeks the air con has stopped working yet again, Honda said they can't find anything so regassed again!
Another 1 month and the air con has stopped again!!!!!!!!!
Going call the dealer tomorrow but this is getting beyond a joke now, I thought these Honda's are meant to be reliable? So far it has been the most unreliable car I've owned haha
Any ideas at all what this could be? My logic was that it must be a leak of some sort if they are having to regas the system with refridgerant right? It doesn't just evaporate in that short of space of time so it must be going somewhere? Honda are insistent that it isn't leaking but can't explain where the refrigerant is going...
obviously once regassed it works perfectly again so this would lead me to believe that all components are working satisfactory again this pin points to a leak?
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Post by: guest7027 on August 10, 2017, 10:49:19 PM
Post by: Jocko on August 11, 2017, 07:04:37 AM
Post by: guest7027 on August 11, 2017, 08:03:05 AM
I just keep going round in circles with them and I get the impression they are playing dumb because they don't want to fork out any big money on repairs under the warranty.
Any ideas of what the dye in the refrigerant should look like? I'm going to try and have a good nosey around myself this weekend to see if I can pin point anything.
Post by: Jocko on August 11, 2017, 08:16:06 AM
If you scout round, and see something that looks different you may be on to something. Like tyre valves, the fill port can sometimes fail to seal correctly.
Post by: Steve_M on August 11, 2017, 10:24:39 AM
Any ideas of what the dye in the refrigerant should look like? I'm going to try and have a good nosey around myself this weekend to see if I can pin point anything.
The dye is most likely to be UV reactive, you would need a UV light to show it up.
Its normally a dayglow green colour and can sometime actually be seen with the naked eye and without a UV light.
Otherwise the refrigerant would also cause a oily stain also, so that can normally be seen.
Leak prone areas are the condenser (Front radiator) damaged due to stone chip damage.
Possible areas for leakage that the dealer may not be able to see is the evaporator (radiator/heat exchange unit inside the heater box)
I would agree that there must be a leak and if its stopping working in that short a period, then quite a leak at that.
Post by: John Ratsey on August 11, 2017, 10:48:54 AM
Post by: sparky Paul on August 11, 2017, 11:28:06 AM
If they are unable/unwilling to fix it, I think that after giving them a fair chance, I would now be pressing them to take it to an aircon specialist, who will have sniffing equipment.
Post by: guest7027 on August 11, 2017, 05:17:50 PM
I explained to the service manager than when I press the air con button on I still hear a noise as thought it is going to work - you can hear the noise as thought it's kicking in but just never get any cold air through. He says that if the condenser is kicking in (the noise you can hear when pressing air con button on) then it's unlikely to be a leak as the system is designed to not turn the condenser on if the pressure is low to prevent damage to components. He says it is more likely to be a faulty relay?
After reading the workshop manual for the Jazz what he is saying seems to be correct... so what I am now confused about is why Honda felt the need to regas the air con system twice already if this isn't the fault? Conveniently the service manager who I was last dealing with on this issue has now left the business but when I last spoke to him a few weeks back he informed me that when my car last went in for air con problems that it needed regassing as it was empty... and in fairness to him the regassing does temporarily fix the issue!
These appear to be 2 different diagnosis' - one chap saying no leak and the other not admitting there is a leak but admitting that the refrigerant had vanished and needed to be regassed.
Post by: JazzyB on August 11, 2017, 07:06:39 PM
Reading your issues I think there is a leak somewhere and would take it to somewhere like kwik-fit and the like and ask them to re-gas the system. If the system is leaking then they won't re-gas it. As I suspect yours is leaking then you will know where you stand and as your car is 7 years old I suspect its the condenser that's leaking as this part is right at the front of car exposed to everything that can hit it!
Post by: olduser1 on August 11, 2017, 07:57:48 PM
Post by: guest7027 on August 11, 2017, 08:18:22 PM
I think he may well of said the compressor instead of condenser
I will see what the outcome of next weeks visit is and if they try and fob me off again I will be taking all details from there computer system as to exactly what's been done (or not as the case may well be) along with dates, names of managers and staff involved and all will be going to Honda UK!
Post by: Jocko on August 11, 2017, 08:45:09 PM
If I can possibly avoid it, Honda will never make a penny out of me, if this is an example of their customer relations.
Post by: culzean on August 11, 2017, 09:01:22 PM
Post by: guest5079 on August 12, 2017, 11:20:53 AM
Now Chrisjazz89, a short while back Autoglass replaced my rear screen. The 'fitter' and I were chatting when he asked about Honda. Well, I told him of their seeming disinterest. He suggested 'Facebook' he knows of people who have resorted to this and the offending company has reacted quickly and positively. I have no idea about Facebook as I do not subscribe but Chrisjazz89 if it gets your car fixed then well done.
As to service he has a Smartcar tuned by the Mercedes specialist dept whose name escapes me, something like Brabham. Well the engine has 2 plugs per cylinder and he was paying Mercedes to service this car. He was always charged for the total number of plugs needed but then performance dropped off. On investigation he found only 1 plug per cylinder had been changed cos the 2nd plug is a bit of a pig to get too. Now, all I know from Mercedes owners is their servicing ain't cheap. So it seems they are all at it.
I am afraid I did not endear myself to Honda as I said the Jazz is a good little car that does not deserve the manufacturer and dealers it is lumbered with. I really do have a problem with companies that do not accept their responsibilities, after all the hand taking money is quick enough to come out, if it's wrong fix, it prevarication costs more in the long run. Yes the air con is going to cost the dealer BUT that's the way the cookie crumbles. No doubt the warranty is Honda backed so that would spread their individual costs.
Post by: olduser1 on August 15, 2017, 11:15:24 AM
As regards your treatment by Honda it the modern way of retailing cars in the UK , dealers have fixed weekly monthly targets to close Finance / PCP deals, customer cars taken in Part Ex are cleaned for 30 mins then put out on forecourt or straight into auction if over 4 years. Customer care is a tick list completed on product handover -whatever that means. When out of warranty find a local mechanic who will help you keep your car on the road.
Post by: guest7027 on August 15, 2017, 01:05:47 PM
Quoted £550 for the part + VAT + Labour
Mine is still under the 12 month warranty that came with the car so now they need to put a claim into Honda UK to get the works done.
Post by: Jocko on August 15, 2017, 01:17:28 PM
Post by: guest7027 on August 15, 2017, 01:30:36 PM