Car Air Conditioning in Deancombe

Deancombe is a small rural hamlet in the South Devon countryside, reached by narrow lanes. A car that lives on lanes like these does lots of short trips, which suits neither a heater nor an air-con compressor. Cooling is gentle, the engine rarely gets properly hot, and fuel and coolant levels can be forgotten.

Our garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from the surrounding countryside and from Buckfastleigh, Holne, South Brent and Dartington come to Automaster. Here is how we approach air-con and heating work.

What are the signs of a failing car air con?

Warm air, a weak breeze from the vents, a damp or musty smell, a rattle when the compressor engages and cooling that comes and goes are the typical complaints. The system may still seem to work, only without cooling the way it did.

A system that is partly gassed can mislead you. It can cool a little on a mild day and fail completely in the heat.

If the air con only cools on a cool morning and gives up by the afternoon, that is another typical sign that the charge is low or the condenser is struggling to shed heat.

Where does the refrigerant go?

It escapes slowly through seals, hose joints and the condenser, which is exposed to stones thrown up on country roads. Over time the loss builds up, and cooling drops off.

The compressor then works harder with less lubricating oil circulating, which can shorten its life. That is one reason an early check is cheaper than waiting for something to fail.

Re-gas or repair: which does a leaking system need?

If the system holds pressure, a re-gas is a sensible service. If it leaks, the leak has to be found and fixed or the new gas will go the same way as the old.

The price of the job turns on what is wrong: a re-gas, a replaced pollen filter, a new condenser or a new compressor are very different pieces of work. Ask for a quote and give us the car details.

• Make, model and year
• Fuel type, petrol or diesel
• Whether it ever cools at all
• Noises or smells

Heater cold on a frosty lane?

Low coolant, a thermostat that has stuck open, air trapped in the system, a blocked heater matrix or a dead blower can each take away your heat. Short trips on cold mornings make a weak heater more obvious.

Keep an eye on the temperature gauge. If it climbs, stop somewhere safe rather than pressing on along a narrow lane.

A sweet smell in the cabin or windows that mist up from the inside and will not clear can point to a leaking heater matrix, which is worth having looked at before the colder months arrive.

Do you cover Deancombe, and where is the garage?

Yes. We are at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from the countryside around us bring cars in for air con and heating work. Nearby places such as Buckfastleigh and Holne are among those we hear from.

Use the contact route on this site to ask for a quote, and tell us what the car is doing. A short description of symptoms saves time.