Car Air Con Re-gas in Devon

If your car's air conditioning has stopped blowing cold, the usual cause is that the system has slowly lost some of its refrigerant gas. A re-gas puts that right by removing what is left, checking the system and refilling it with fresh gas.

Automaster, trading as Clutchmaster at Automaster, is an RAC Approved Garage at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes. We have full facilities for air con re-gas on all makes and models of petrol and diesel vehicle, and this page explains the whole service in one place.

What does an air con re-gas actually involve?

A proper re-gas is more than topping up a can. The service follows four steps, and each one has a reason behind it. Because the system is emptied and vacuumed before anything goes back in, you start from a known, clean position rather than guessing how much gas is already there.

The leak check in step two matters more than it sounds. A re-gas on a system that is losing gas quickly will not last, because the new gas simply escapes again. We cannot promise a leak can be fixed, but the check tells you where you stand before you spend more.

• Step one: the old gas is removed from the system.
• Step two: the system is vacuumed and checked for leaks.
• Step three: oil and dye are added to the system.
• Step four: new gas is added and the temperature is checked.

How much does it cost, and do I need to book?

The price depends on which refrigerant your car uses. An air con re-gas on an older car using R134a gas starts from £50 for R134a, while a re-gas using the newer gas starts from £99 for R1234yf. Those are starting prices, so ask for a quote and we can confirm the figure for your own car.

For R134a cars there is no booking needed: just turn up at the garage and have it done while you wait. That makes it an easy job to fit around a trip to Totnes or a drive through the South Hams.

This turn-up, while-you-wait arrangement applies to R134a only. If your car takes R1234yf, please get in touch first through the quote line or the quote form so we can talk it through before you set off.

Which gas does my car use, R134a or R1234yf?

R134a is the older refrigerant. R1234yf is the newer gas fitted to more recent cars, typically from around 2017 onward, although the year is only a guide and you should check your own car. The two gases are not interchangeable, so the right one matters.

The simplest way to find out is to look for the label under the bonnet, which names the refrigerant, or to check the handbook. If you cannot find either, tell us the make, model and registration year when you ask for a quote and we can help you narrow it down.

Drivers sometimes ask whether they can simply choose the cheaper gas. You cannot, because the system was built for one gas and must be refilled with that same gas.

What are the signs my air con needs a re-gas?

Air conditioning rarely fails overnight. Systems lose gas slowly over time, so the change tends to creep up on you. Typical signs include the following.

Many drivers only notice when the first warm day arrives, which is why it pays to be ready for summer and to check that your air conditioning works when you switch it on.

• Air that is not as cold as it used to be
• A system that is slow to cool the cabin
• A musty smell when the air con is switched on
• Noise from the compressor when it runs

Do you cover my area, and how do I keep my air con healthy?

Automaster is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers come to us from Totnes, Torbay, Newton Abbot, Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Ivybridge, Dartmouth, Teignmouth, Dawlish and the South Hams villages. If you are elsewhere in Devon, you are welcome to ask.

Once the system is working, a little regular care helps keep it that way. Run the air con for a few minutes every week or so, all year round, including in winter, so the seals and moving parts stay in use.