City & Guilds qualified
Relevant City & Guilds qualified to carry out work on automotive air conditioning systems
We recommend carrying out an anti-bacterial treatment of the vehicle which is designed to kill harmful bacteria in the car air conditioning system, especially on the evaporator (the radiator-like part under the dashboard).
It is important as the air you and your family breathe inside the car passes past this part. This takes an additional 15 minutes.
Most people know how important it is to change the engine oil or brake fluid – few of us are aware how important it is to maintain a correct level of gas in the air conditioning system, change the oil designed to lubricate the compressor and remove moisture from the system.
Curiously, most manufacturers recommend an air conditioning service every two years but do not include it as part of the service – they charge extra.
There is a common misconception that air conditioning is needed only in the summer.
Apart from cooling the air, the air conditioning dehumidifies the interior and helps to demist the windows quickly.
Also – using the air conditioning regularly, even for a short period, allows the oil to circulate in the system and helps lubricate the connections, the compressor seal etc.
A lot of customers are concerned about the increase in fuel consumption caused by use of air conditioning and prefer to open their windows instead. As it happens, driving with the windows open has an adverse effect on fuel efficiency, usually exceeding the effect of using a/c. Modern vehicles are extensively tested in wind tunnels to achieve the lowest possible drag coefficient however opening the windows increases the drag and this usually increases the fuel consumption far more than simply switching the air conditioning on.
Relevant City & Guilds qualified to carry out work on automotive air conditioning systems
We connect a specialist machine which will drain the gas (refrigerant) present in your system, carry out an analysis of the gas and then recover the old oil. The system is then held under vacuum. Many people think it’s just a way to check for leaks – in fact the main reason is to evacuate any residual moisture. It is important to hold the vacuum long enough – if rushed, this step can fail to remove moisture from the system and the fresh PAG oil will get contaminated quickly. The next phase consists of injecting the correct quantity of gas. We make sure the air conditioning works effectively and record the temperature from the centre vent. We then install a sticker to remind you when the next air conditioning service is due, and you are good to go.
We also offer an anti-bacterial treatment which is designed to reduce the number of harmful bacteria and eradicate unpleasant smell in the car. We carry out the appropriate products in stock.
We can also replace the pollen (cabin air) filter in your vehicle. This is usually replaced every two years if you follow the Manufacturer’s recommended service regime. A dirty pollen filter will reduce the air flow, put extra strain on the heater fan and cause the interior of the vehicle to mist up quickly. Since nearly every model of car or van has a dedicated pollen (or cabin air) filter, this needs to be ordered in advance.
In the event of there being no gas left at all, there is likely a leak which would allow the gas to escape out of the system. In that case we will give you two options – to leave the vehicle as it is and charge you a diagnostic check fee or to carry out a leak test*. The leak test is designed to allow us to establish which part of the system is faulty. It may be as simple as a faulty valve (the gas is injected through valves similar to those on a car or bicycle wheel), the condenser (the radiator-like part on the front of the car which may get damaged by a little stone etc., any of the hoses or even the compressor or evaporator (radiator-like part inside the heater box under the dashboard).
Once the cause is established, we can prepare a quote to rectify the fault and, if accepted, depending on parts availability, we may be able to get your aircon fixed in a matter of hours or days.
Please check our price list section for details
Please note that unless you have had accident damage repaired and the condenser was replaced but the system not charged, we will NOT fill a vehicle which has a leak causing all the gas to escape – it is both illegal and pointless – the gas WILL escape if there is a big leak – even if the vehicle holds the vacuum for an hour or more. The vacuum is set to 1bar, the pressure of filled system gets up to 10 bar on the high-pressure side, so a successful vacuum test does not mean the system hasn’t got a leak! The R134A gas (commonly used from 1995 until 2017 and even in newer cars) takes thirteen years to degrade when it escapes into the atmosphere, where the new R1234YF will break down after 11 hours. The R134A is classified as a greenhouse effect gas and use is strictly governed.
£50
£60
£70
£80
(most modern vehicles in the UK take between 450 and 800g of gas)
£130
£155
£175
£15
£45
We would fill the system with nitrogen – a gas which is not harmful, and it occurs naturally – in fact about 78% of air on earth is made up of Nitrogen so when it escapes from the air conditioning system it makes no harm at all. This will allow us to inspect where the gas is escaping and establish the correct course of action – it may be a seal that is faulty, one of the filler valves, the condenser (the single most common cause of refrigerant loss in vehicles) or even the evaporator under the dashboard.
Charge applicable: If there is a leak in the system and you decide not to have a Nitrogen leak test carried out. It is illegal to Regas a vehicle which clearly has a leak in the system as R134A is known to have adverse effect on the climate (whilst it doesn’t deplete the ozone layer, it is classified as a greenhouse effect gas). charge is £20
£30
Pollen filter replacement including filter cost and labour charge.
Please note that depending on the filter chosen (there are usually three types – a standard mechanical filter, a mechanical filter with active carbon and a mechanical and antibacterial filter) and the make and model of the car, the price may vary dramatically. For example, a 2009 Renault Megane requires removal of the clutch pedal to replace the filter whilst other vehicles have this filter easily accessible. If the vehicle is used in very dusty conditions, replacement may be required more frequently, even once a year (e.g. pick-up vehicles used by farmers, vans used on construction sites etc).
If you have more than one vehicle in the household and would like to carry out the air conditioning service and recharge on an extra car or van, the price of the second and subsequent cars will be reduced by £10.