Air Con Re-gas in Holne

Life in a Dartmoor village means narrow lanes, steep hills and cattle grids, and a car that is comfortable to sit in matters on those roads. When the air conditioning stops blowing cold, the fix is usually a re-gas, and that is exactly what we do here at Automaster for all makes and models of petrol and diesel car.

Our garage is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes, and drivers from the countryside and from nearby places such as Buckfastleigh, Buckfast, Dartington and South Brent bring their cars to us. This page explains what the service involves, what it costs and how to find out which gas your car uses.

What happens during a car air con re-gas?

We have full facilities for air con re-gas, and the work follows four steps. First the old gas is removed. Then the system is vacuumed and checked for leaks. Next, oil and dye are added to the system, and finally new gas goes in and the temperature is checked.

It is a tidy sequence and each step has a reason. Taking out the old gas and vacuuming the system gives a clean start, the dye helps show up any leak, and the final temperature check tells you the job has done what it should.

• Old gas removed
• System vacuumed and checked for leaks
• Oil and dye added
• New gas added and temperature checked

How much does air con re-gas cost?

Pricing depends on which refrigerant your car takes. A re-gas starts from £50 for R134a, and a re-gas for cars with the newer gas starts from £99 for R1234yf.

Both figures are starting prices, so ask for a quote if you want to confirm the cost for your own vehicle. The quote form on this site is the quickest way to do that, or you can call the quote line.

Can I just turn up for a re-gas?

For R134a cars, yes. That service needs no booking: you turn up and wait while it is done. It suits anyone coming down from the moor who would rather not plan around an appointment.

That turn-up arrangement applies to R134a only. If your car uses R1234yf, please get in touch for a quote first so we can talk through the job.

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

Air that is not cold is the obvious sign, but there are others. The system may be slow to cool, there may be a musty smell from the vents, or you might hear noise from the compressor.

Systems lose gas slowly over time, so a car can drift from cool to merely lukewarm without any single moment you notice. Many owners only find out the air con has faded on the first warm day.

• Air not cold
• Slow to cool down
• Musty smell from the vents
• Compressor noise

Which gas does my car use, and why is a leak check included?

R134a is the older refrigerant and R1234yf is the newer gas fitted to more recent cars, typically from around 2017 onward, although you should check your own car. A label under the bonnet or the handbook shows which gas it takes. The two are not interchangeable.

The vacuum and leak check is part of the service because a re-gas on a badly leaking system will not last. Finding that out early is better than refilling a system that loses its gas again.