Question about freon in new car

[lola54901]

I just bought a 2004 Grand Am GT about a month ago and I had to take it back to the dealer because the AC wasn't cooling properly. I was told that it was low on freon and that it was probably not properly serviced by the service dept. when it was delivered to the dealer. My question is this: When a manufacturer assembles a new car and then ships it out, do they put freon in it or is that done at the service dept. of the dealer after it arrives on the lot?

[Chameleon-kat]

I would think it would be put in at the assembly plant, and perhaps (just perhaps) the AC would have been tried at dealership before delivery. Maybe there is a leak somewhere, time will tell

[lola54901]

That's what worries me. That there is something wrong with the compressor. You are right though. Time will tell. My last Grand Am was a 1995 and I had freon put in it and a week later, it was gone because I had a leak in the compressor.

[Flatrater]

When a car gets delievered to a dealer, the tech has the job of checking out the car and making sure everything works to design, but in the winter time I would not check the AC and in the summer I really don't check the heating system. On the average a tech gets paid 1 hours of labor to check the car out from bumper to bumper. The faster its done the more money the tech makes. We only have to check fluid levels only adding when needed. Everything should be in the car from the factory.

Over the years I have seen some strange stuff forgotten at the factory. It would better be explain if you could get a tour of the factory and see for yourself what goes on.

[lola54901]

That's what I kinda hope. That it was just overlooked. After all, they are human too and ya never know who is having a bad day or is having problems at home. Or, like you said, the faster it's done, the more a tech makes.

Thanks for your reply. That makes me feel better.

[Markgase2000]

Do they really use freon or is it some newer refridgerant thats even deadlier than before?

[C_Sephiroth]

It is a new Freon, But it is suposidly better for the Enviornment. They used to use R-12, Now it is R-134a. Unless they have changed it again. The R-12 Cooled better than the 134a does. but it was bad for the enviornment. However recently they are reversing there judgment on the r-12 and saying it isn't as bad for the enviornment as everyone was saying.

[Markgase2000]

The tecs at work say the new stuff is better for the environment but even deadlier to humans.

[C_Sephiroth]

Yeah well in a few years They will probably change that. Saying it isn't bad for human and bad for the environment