Car Air Conditioning in Hexworth

Hexworth is a small rural hamlet reached by narrow lanes in Dartmoor-edge country. Out here, the car is how you get to work, the shops and everything else, so a heater that will not clear the screen or air con that blows warm affects every journey. Hedgerows, damp air and seasonal leaf fall also give a car's climate system a lot to deal with.

We are Automaster, based at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from the surrounding countryside and nearby towns such as Heathfield, Liverton, Bickington and Caton bring their cars to us. We look after car air conditioning and heating, from servicing and re-gassing to fault diagnosis and repair.

Why is my car air con blowing warm air?

The most common reason is that the system has lost refrigerant, either slowly over time or through a leak. But warm air also comes from a compressor that is not working, a failed cooling fan, a blocked condenser or an electrical fault stopping the system from switching on.

We begin by finding out which it is. A re-gas is only the right answer if there is no leak and the rest of the system works as it should.

Is a leak check really necessary?

Yes. If the system is losing gas, more gas just leaks out again. A leak check tells us where the loss is, whether that is a hose, seal, valve, condenser or compressor, so we can recommend a lasting repair.

Small leaks can be hard to trace and may take careful testing. Cost and effort depend on where the leak is and how much of the car must come apart, so ask for a quote after you describe the symptoms.

• Gas level that keeps falling
• Oily residue near pipe joints
• Condenser marks from stone damage
• Poor cooling after a recent re-gas

Do you see cars from Hexworth, and where is the garage?

Yes. Drivers from the surrounding countryside and from nearby places like Heathfield, Liverton, Bickington and Caton come to Automaster. Our address is Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL.

If you are looking for an air conditioning garage near Hexworth, message us with the make, model and fault. It is easy to describe over the phone and saves guesswork.

What goes wrong with car heaters?

The commonest heating faults are low coolant, a stuck thermostat, air trapped in the cooling system, a blocked or leaking heater matrix and a failing blower. Any of them can leave you cold or steamed up on a damp lane.

If the temperature warning appears, do not push on. Stop safely, switch off and let the engine cool. Driving an overheating car can cause serious damage.

• Cold air from the vents when the engine is warm
• Heater works only at certain fan speeds
• Coolant smell or wet carpet
• Steam on the glass

Does an unused air con system go bad?

It can. Seals and hoses prefer being used, and the oil in the refrigerant keeps them supple. Running the air con for a few minutes regularly, even in winter, helps. Pollen filters collect leaf debris and moisture, so replace them as the manufacturer recommends.

When you get in touch, tell us the make, model and year, what the system is doing and how long it has been like that.