Car Air Conditioning in Dawlish

Dawlish is known for the railway along the sea wall, and in summer the A379 fills with visitors. Crawling along in warm weather with a weak air con is wearing, and so is a misted screen on a damp winter morning.

We are Automaster, a garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. We carry out air-con servicing, re-gassing, fault diagnosis and repairs, plus heater repairs. Drivers from Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and Heathfield can ask for a quote.

Why is my air con warm in Dawlish queues?

Slow traffic cuts airflow over the condenser, so a weak fan, a blocked condenser or low refrigerant shows up quickly. Cold on the open road but warm when stationary is a classic sign.

A visual check, pressure test and fan test usually separate these causes.

Cars that spend most of their time on short seafront runs rarely let the system settle, so faults can sit unnoticed until the weather turns. If you hear a change in the fan note or a click that was not there before, mention it when you get in touch.

What is involved in an air-con re-gas?

The old gas is recovered and measured, the system is checked and then filled with the right amount of the correct refrigerant. Topping up from a can is not a substitute, as overfilling can cause damage.

Because a re-gas on a leaking system will not last, we check for leaks. The quote depends on the vehicle and what we find.

Misted windows and a weak blower

A windscreen that will not clear is a safety issue. Air con helps dry the air, so a failed system makes the problem worse. A blocked pollen filter, a failing blower motor or a damp cabin can all be to blame.

Do not drive if you cannot see properly. Pull over somewhere safe and clear the glass before carrying on.

• Blower stuck on one speed
• Damp carpets
• Constant misting
• Weak airflow

Do you cover Dawlish for heater repairs?

Yes. Dawlish drivers bring cars to us at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. A heater that blows cold may need a new thermostat, a coolant top-up or a look at the heater matrix, and we diagnose before suggesting work.

Give us the make, model and symptoms when you contact us, and we will advise on the next step.

Heaters also depend on the engine reaching working temperature. If your temperature gauge sits low for most of a journey, tell us, because that points towards the thermostat rather than the heater itself and changes what we check first.

Hills inland and long summer days

Hills inland put the engine under load, so cooling system faults show themselves. If the temperature gauge climbs, stop safely and do not keep going.

Run the air con weekly, replace the pollen filter regularly and keep the condenser clear. These simple habits keep the system working longer.