Air Con Re-gas in Totnes

Anyone who has crawled up Fore Street on a warm afternoon, or sat in traffic on the A385 or A381 with visitors packing the town, knows how much a working air con matters. When it only blows warm air, the cabin quickly becomes miserable.

Automaster is a garage at Longcombe Cross, near Totnes, with full facilities for air con re-gas on all makes and models of petrol and diesel car. This page explains what the job involves, what the two gases cost and how to tell which one your car needs.

What happens during a car air con re-gas?

A re-gas is more than topping up a canister. The service at Automaster follows four stages, so the system is emptied, checked and then refilled properly.

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

How much is an air con re-gas in Totnes?

The price depends on the gas your car uses. Older cars with R134a gas are from £50 for R134a, and the service is a while-you-wait one: no booking needed, just turn up. Cars with the newer R1234yf gas are from £99 for R1234yf.

The two gases are not interchangeable, so the right one has to go in. A label under the bonnet or the handbook shows which your car takes. R1234yf is typically fitted to more recent cars, from around 2017 onward, but check yours.

Is my car air con low on gas?

Systems lose gas slowly over time, so the change can creep up on you. The usual signs are:

• Air that is not cold
• Air that is slow to cool
• A musty smell from the vents
• Noise from the compressor

Why does the leak check matter?

If a system is losing gas quickly, a re-gas will not last. That is why vacuuming the system and checking it for leaks is part of the job rather than an extra. It shows whether the gas is likely to stay put.

Between visits, run the air con regularly all year, including in winter. Using it keeps the system active and helps you notice any change early.

Do you cover Totnes, and where do I bring my car?

Yes, drivers from Totnes bring their cars to us, and so do people from Dartington, Buckfastleigh, South Brent and Paignton. The garage is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL, and Automaster is an RAC Approved Garage.

Whether you live near the castle, close to the railway station or on the edge of town, the process is the same. For R134a cars you can simply turn up; for anything else, ask for a quote first.