Air Con Re-gas in Buckfastleigh

Buckfastleigh sits on the edge of Dartmoor beside the A38, so a lot of driving here means hills, moorland roads and summer tourist traffic. In a warm, slow queue, a car whose air con has gone weak soon becomes uncomfortable.

Automaster is a garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. We have full facilities for air con re-gas on all makes and models of petrol and diesel car, and this page sets out how it works and what it costs.

The hills out of town and the long stretches beside the A38 are exactly where you notice whether the cabin is staying comfortable.

What are the steps in an air con recharge?

Each re-gas follows the same four stages:

The vacuum stage matters as much as the new gas, because it empties the system and lets the leak check show whether pressure holds. The oil and dye are added before the fresh gas goes in, and the final temperature check confirms the result.

• Removal of the old gas
• System vacuumed and checked for leaks
• Oil and dye added to the system
• New gas added and temperature checked

Which gas goes in my car, and what will it cost?

Two gases are in use. R134a is the older one, and a re-gas starts from £50 for R134a. R1234yf is the newer gas, and a re-gas is from £99 for R1234yf. Only those two prices apply, and both begin at the figure shown.

To tell them apart, look under the bonnet for a label or read the handbook. R1234yf is typically in more recent cars, from around 2017 onward, but check your own. The two cannot be interchanged.

Why is my air con not cold any more?

Systems lose gas slowly, which is why the drop often goes unnoticed until the weather turns. Typical symptoms include:

If you spot more than one of these, it is sensible to arrange a re-gas rather than put it off, rather than wait for the weather to make the decision for you.

• Air that is not cold
• A system slow to cool
• A musty smell
• Compressor noise

What if my air con has a leak?

A re-gas on a badly leaking system will not last. That is exactly why the system is vacuumed and checked for leaks before new gas goes in. It is a check, not a repair promise.

To keep things healthy, run the air con regularly all year round, even when the Dartmoor weather is cool.

Do you cover Buckfastleigh, and where do I find you?

Yes. Drivers come to Automaster from Buckfastleigh, from nearby Buckfast and South Brent, from Holne and from Totnes. We are at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL.

If your car runs R134a, there is no need to book: turn up and wait. For R1234yf, call the quote line or use the quote form.

Drivers from the town and the moorland edge come to us at Longcombe Cross, so you will be dealing with a local garage rather than a distant one.