Air Con Re-gas in Dartington

Dartington is busy with commuters on the A384 and visitors heading for the Dartington Hall estate, its gardens and its arts events. A car with air con that no longer cools is a poor companion on that kind of day.

Automaster, at Longcombe Cross just outside Totnes, offers air con re-gas for all makes and models of petrol and diesel vehicle. Below you will find the steps, the prices and some simple ways to tell what your car needs.

Whether you are heading to an arts event, travelling to work or just running errands, it is worth sorting a weak air con before the warm weather arrives.

What does an air con re-gas involve?

There are four parts to the service, carried out in this order:

Because the old gas is removed first and the system is vacuumed, the work starts from a clean slate. The oil and dye that go in afterwards help with the leak check, and the temperature check at the end shows the system is cooling again.

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

What does a re-gas cost, and which gas does my car use?

Cars running the older R134a gas are from £50 for R134a. Newer cars on R1234yf gas are from £99 for R1234yf. Those figures are starting prices, hence the word from.

Look for a label under the bonnet or check the handbook. R1234yf tends to be found in more recent cars, typically from around 2017 onward, though each car should be checked. The gases cannot be mixed or swapped.

How do I know when my car needs a re-gas?

Gas escapes from air con systems very gradually, so many people only notice once the cabin stops cooling properly. Watch for:

None of these signs on its own proves the gas is low, but together they are a good reason to have the system looked at, rather than waiting for the hot weather.

• Air that is not cold
• The cabin taking a long time to cool
• A musty smell when the fan is on
• A noisy compressor

Can a leaking system be re-gassed?

It can be filled, but if gas is escaping quickly the re-gas will not last. The vacuum and leak check is built into the service for that reason. We cannot promise a leak can be fixed, but the check tells you where you stand.

A simple habit helps in the meantime: run the air con regularly all year, not only on hot days.

Many Dartington drivers do a lot of short trips, and the air con is easy to forget about when it is cool. Switching it on now and then keeps you aware of how it is performing.

Is Automaster close enough for Dartington drivers?

Dartington sits just outside Totnes, and plenty of drivers there use us, along with people from Buckfastleigh, South Brent and Ivybridge. Find us at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL.

If your car has R134a gas you can just turn up, as that re-gas is a while-you-wait service with no booking needed. For R1234yf work, ask for a quote first.