Air Con Re-gas in Bigbury

Anyone living near Bigbury-on-Sea and Burgh Island knows how slowly the narrow lanes move once the visitors arrive. Sitting in that traffic with warm air blowing from the vents is no fun, so it is worth checking the air con before the busy weather starts. A re-gas is a straightforward job, and doing it before the summer rush is the sensible way to go.

Automaster, which trades as Clutchmaster at Automaster, is an RAC Approved Garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. We re-gas the air con on all makes and models of petrol and diesel car, ready for summer.

Is my car's air con ready for the summer?

The easiest test is to switch it on and see. Warm air, a long wait for the cabin to cool, a musty smell or a noisy compressor all point towards a system that is short of gas.

Gas leaks out of air con systems slowly, which is why many drivers only notice when the weather turns warm.

A quick test is to switch the air con on at the first warm spell and give it a few moments. If it is still blowing lukewarm air, the gas level is the first thing to have checked. Getting it done early means you are not caught out on the first hot day of the season.

• Air that is not cold
• Slow to cool the cabin
• Musty smell from the vents
• Compressor noise

What is included when you re-gas an air con system?

Four steps make up the service. The old gas is removed, then the system is vacuumed and checked for leaks. Oil and dye are added, and new gas goes in before the temperature is checked.

Leak checking is built in because re-gassing a badly leaking system will not last long.

The oil and dye added during the service go into the system alongside the new gas, and the final temperature check tells you the system is cooling as it should. It is a complete sequence, and each step has its purpose.

Which refrigerant does my car use and what does it cost?

Older cars use R134a, with a re-gas from £50 for R134a cars. Newer cars, typically from around 2017 onward, use R1234yf, and that re-gas starts from £99 for R1234yf.

Check the label under the bonnet or your handbook to confirm which you have, as the two gases cannot be swapped.

Do you need to book an R134a re-gas?

No. The R134a service is a turn-up, while-you-wait one, so you can drive in without an appointment. R1234yf is different, so please ask for a quote.

Running the air con now and then through the colder months also helps keep the system healthy.

That makes it simple for anyone coming from Bigbury or the surrounding lanes: no phone call, no diary to juggle for R134a, just drive over to Longcombe Cross.

Where should Bigbury drivers take their car for a re-gas?

Bring it to Automaster at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes, TQ9 6PL. We welcome drivers from Bigbury and from Ringmore, Kingston, Bantham and Thurlestone as well.

If you would rather check first, use the quote form or call the quote line.

Because the garage sits at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, drivers from the countryside and the coast both find their way to us, and we are used to cars from all over the South Hams.