Air Con Re-gas in Ringmore

Ringmore is a small coastal village in the South Hams, with narrow lanes that walkers and holiday visitors share with local drivers. A car with cold air con takes the edge off a warm day on those lanes. Ringmore is a short step from Bigbury, but you do not need to look far for a garage with the right equipment.

We are Automaster, trading as Clutchmaster at Automaster, an RAC Approved Garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. We look after the air con on petrol and diesel cars of all makes and models, and the prices are laid out plainly below.

How much does a car air con re-gas cost?

Prices start from £50 for R134a, the older gas. A re-gas with the newer gas, R1234yf, starts from £99 for R1234yf.

Which price applies depends on what your car takes, and we can confirm that when you ask for a quote.

Many people are surprised that the older R134a gas is the lower price, but that simply reflects the gas itself. Either way, the figure is a starting point, and the quote form or the quote line will give you the detail for your car.

How do I know whether my car has R134a or R1234yf?

A label under the bonnet will say, and so will the handbook. As a rough guide, R1234yf is fitted to more recent cars, typically from around 2017 onward, but please check your car rather than going by age alone.

The two cannot be swapped for each other, so it is worth knowing before you set out.

If you cannot find the label, the handbook is the next place to look, and we are happy to talk it through when you ask for a quote.

What are the signs I need an air con re-gas?

Most drivers notice that the air is no longer cold, or that the car takes a long time to cool. Some notice a musty smell or a noise from the compressor.

Systems lose gas slowly, so the change tends to creep up rather than arrive overnight.

If any of these sound familiar, it is worth having the air con looked at rather than putting up with it, particularly before the holiday visitors fill the lanes around Ringmore.

• Warm air from the vents
• Slow cooling
• Musty smell
• Noisy compressor

What does the re-gas involve, step by step?

First the old gas is removed. Next, the system is vacuumed and checked for leaks, which matters because a re-gas on a badly leaking system will not last. Oil and dye are then added, and new gas goes in with the temperature checked at the end.

Using the air con regularly all year round helps keep it in good condition between visits.

Each of the four steps has a job to do, and together they leave the system with fresh gas and a checked temperature.

Can Ringmore drivers just turn up?

For R134a, yes. It is a while-you-wait service with no booking needed, and we are at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, near Totnes. Drivers from Bigbury, Kingston, Bantham and Thurlestone use us too.

For R1234yf, use the quote form or call the quote line first.

A small village like Ringmore does not need a long explanation: the garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from the countryside and nearby villages bring their cars there.