I recently have had some AC issues with a 2016 honda hrv. Some sort of leakage. The mechanic shop provided me with an online summary of the repairs but my simple mind says why are you giving me the car back not fully completed? When I take my vehicle to be looked at they use levels of diagnostics with every appointment to determine issues along the way. I've taken the vehicle in now twice and have requested the issue be fixed but they didnt seem to do much the second go around and have asked me to return for a third appointment. Should I move on to a different mechanic or is this standard practice? Seems like I'm paying for nothing done the second time

Here was the major part of the report

REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

In Car

AIR CONDITIONING / HEATER

A/C
NOT COLD

Notes:

RECOVERED 5oz OF REFRIGERANT FROM SYSTEM - LOW.

INSPECTED FOR LEAKS WITH NITROGEN (200 PSI), SPRAYED DOWN WITH SOAP & CHECKED FOR AIR BUBBLES LEAKING OUT - NO LEAKS DETECTED.

PERFORMED SHAMPOO TO CLEAN DYE FROM A/C COMPONENTS.

PERFORMED VACUUM TEST - FAILED.

PERFORMED ANOTHER NITROGEN PRESSURE TEST (250 PSI), STILL NO LEAKS DETECTED.

RECHARGED A/C SYSTEM WITH 16oz OF REFRIGERANT, ADDED DYE.

RAN SYSTEM & RE INSPECTED FOR LEAK.

FOUND LOW PRESSURE LINE TO A/C CONDENSER SEAL LEAKING.
HIGH PRESSURE LINE TO CONDENSER IS ALSO SEEPING.

RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF A/C LOW & HIGH PRESSURE LINE SEALS & RECHARGE SYSTEM.

WITH A/C FULLY CHARGE, AIR BLOWING THROUGH VENTS AT 17 DEGREES CELSIUS - SHOULD BE BELOW 10 DEGREES.
MAY REQUIRE FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC

Any tips or advice is appreciated

 

Get you car out of that shop! They are incompetent with A/C systems or trying to drain your bank account.

Not sure how their tests could reveal a potential leak in the evaporator, if there was one.

And why isn't the shop reporting the high and low side pressures to you when the system is fully recharged? The numbers would immediately reveal the most significant problem with the A/C system.

How much total has the shop charged you so far?

 

$490 CAD and about $100 from the first appointment. I haven’t paid the 2nd bill and am going to be discussing the charges without results Monday

 

Immediately cease all work at the shop and dispute the charges. If the shop gives you trouble, post an awful but honest review, and also consider filing a case in small claims court.

Then take your car to reputable shop based on many good reviews to get your A/C fixed. The A/C system has one or more leaks and also a separate problem that prevents the fully charged system from cooling properly.

 

It sounds like they know what they are doing.

Both pressure and vacuum decay tests are necessary for locating AC leaks.
Pressurizing the AC system with Nitrogen is an industry accepted standard of practice and is the only known, safe way to pressurize an AC system for leaks. Some seals only leak under vacuum, some only leak under pressure. Both tests are absolutely necessary for locating leaks.

There seems to be a communication issue between you and the shop. The shops initial inspection diagnosed a leak, located the leak and recharged they system. Now that they system is fully recharged, they notice that the system isn't as cold as it should be, they require additional time to look into that. That is completely reasonable. Your vehicle has more than one problem, and diagnosing additional problems typically requires additional time. This should have been explained to you from the onset.