AC Question for a 04 Saturn Vue.

[redkees@msn.com]

Today I was on the road with my 04 Vue, 5 speed manual, and I realized I needed an oil change.
I went to a Valvoline oil instant oil change place in Connecticut.
One of the mechanics shows me a gauge and tries to tell me my AC system was "borderline" and that it needed freon.

I never heard or saw them idle the engine rpms in fact the engine was off when this guy "tested" it.

They wanted $110 to recharge the system. I said no because the air in the Vue has been working just fine, in fact, sometimes we have to turn it off it gets so cold.
My question is how can somebody test the AC pressure without the engine running and without a load???
The car is A-OK, I just want to know if there is something new or new way to test AC that I don't know about.

Otherwise I think they were trying to rip me off.

What say you?

[BobbyP]

Sounds like he's trying to rip you off. The next time he'll be telling you need an injector cleaning... ;)

[fdryer]

...... I think they were trying to rip me off.

'Nuff said! :D

[OhioVueBoy]

Why was a Valvoline tech looking at your A/C in the first place?

If they are including that in their "oil change and inspection"... they are really milking it...

~D.J.~

[redkees@msn.com]

I think when they saw the Massachusetts plates they thought maybe they could sucker me into something.

I'm glad I didn't fall for it and I can thank saturnfans on that as I always make notes from fdryer A/C posts. He's our resident expert here.

[fdryer]

Now now, no pumping of ego's allowed here, after all I'm just a duck and a duck's gotta' do what a duck's gotta' do! We all live on this teeny-tiny round orb unique to the entire solar system so I'm doing my part to keep it real. :cool:

[VTchemist]

Your experience does raise a point about oil-change shops. I've had them try and sell me lots of stuff; injector cleaner treatments, tire rotations, transmission services. Most have involved (except the rotations) a new machine they have had in the shop. The line they would use on me is "it seems like you really want to take car of your vehicles, so may I recommend....."

The AC deal was a clear rip-off. I am glad you steered clear.

BTW, I did find a local shop that would change my oil and just do that. The owner is a nice guy and his shop is clean. If he finds out something is wrong, he will give me a "heads up" so I can have it fixed at my mechanics shop or do it myself.

SO, there are a lot of good folks in the oil-change business out there, but the few that prey on their customers really give the business a bad rep.

[redkees@msn.com]

Your experience does raise a point about oil-change shops. I've had them try and sell me lots of stuff; injector cleaner treatments, tire rotations, transmission services. Most have involved (except the rotations) a new machine they have had in the shop. The line they would use on me is "it seems like you really want to take car of your vehicles, so may I recommend....."

The AC deal was a clear rip-off. I am glad you steered clear.

BTW, I did find a local shop that would change my oil and just do that. The owner is a nice guy and his shop is clean. If he finds out something is wrong, he will give me a "heads up" so I can have it fixed at my mechanics shop or do it myself.

SO, there are a lot of good folks in the oil-change business out there, but the few that prey on their customers really give the business a bad rep.

I agree. This was the first time I went to a Valvoline shop. Normally I visit an independant shop that is honest, he costs a little more but it is worth it.
The problem I had yesterday was I was too far away to get to him yesterday so I thought I'd give Valvoline a try.
The Valvoline techs did ok with just the oil change. I'm just surprised they tried this; this vehicle is mint inside and out and I'm sure any mechanic that ever looks in the engine can tell that. I am at 100% on maintenance on the engine and the required service. What bothers me even more is yeah they could have made a Quick $100 but if they did put more freon in there they could have wrecked my A/C system! I'll never go there ever again.