Vehicle Air Conditioning Service & Repair
F Gas Certified – Hybrids Certified – ATA Accredited
Service and repair in the Arundel, Chichester Bognor Regis area.
WE ARE ATA ACCREDITED & F-GAS REGISTERED AIR CONDITIONING EXPERTS
Air Conditioning Service and Repair Arundel
SERVICE
Re Gasing Your Air-Con System
If your car’s hot and bothered in summer and misted up in winter, it’s time to book an air conditioning service. Most manufacturers recommend an air conditioning service to be carried out every two years. As well as keeping you cooler in hot weather, a fully recharged system will reduce your fuel consumption by putting less strain on the engine.
Cabin Filters
Replacing the cabin filters will ensure that your passengers are breathing well-filtered quality air. Bad cabin air can lead to drowsiness. The last thing you need on a long journey.
It is important to service your cars air-con as any fault can impact upon the cars overall performance, the air you are breathing and even cause corrosion.
Our extensive service includes a refrigerant recharge and replacement of lubricating oil, plus a comprehensive system components check.
ATA ACCREDITED & F-GAS REGISTERED
All air conditioning service and repair work carried out on vehicles is now regulated by the ATA (Automotive Technician Accreditation). This means that all vehicle mechanics should be ATA accredited to carry out Air Conditioning Repairs or Service. We have a team of ATA recognised technicians who are trained in the use of state-of-the-art car air conditioning systems in Arundel.
Furthermore we are F-Gas registered. The F-Gas Register is appointed by the secretary of state for the environment, food & rural affairs (DEFRA). They operate an F-Gas Certification body under the stationary equipment provisions of fluorinated greenhouse gases regulations.
For more information and a friendly chat why not give us a call on 01243-545544.
We service a wide area including Arundel, Chichester, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
Causes of Air Conditioning Failure
Gas Levels
There are many reasons a cars Air Conditioning System is not cooling and being a little low on refrigerant is one of them. Re-gasing the air-con system might work. The cars on the road to day are less forgiving to over or under charging of refrigerant. Being off by as little as 3 – 4 oz is enough to have a major performance hit, or no cooling at all. Too much refrigerant will damage the compressor as well, this can be a slow death so you may not even realise your recharge caused the compressor failure.
Refrigerant Oil
Even with the correct equipment it can be difficult to get the oil amount correct. Too little and you burn up the compressor but too much can affect the performance or damage the compressor. Using the wrong oil can also damage the compressor.
Hybrids
If you own a hybrid with electric AC – really don’t mess with it! The cost of those compressors runs into the thousands and they are easily damaged with incorrect oil. Always consult a specialist.
Air Conditioning Fluid Leaks
AC systems don’t use up refrigerant so if it’s low there IS a leak. When refrigerant leaks out it takes oil with it. If you keep topping up the refrigerant without adding oil you’ll damage the compressor. Some of the refrigerant cans have oil in them but that might give you an overcharge of oil leading to compressor failure.
IF IN DOUBT PLEASE GIVE US A CALL OR POP IN FOR A FREE INSPECTION
WE NEVER FIT SECOND HAND PARTS!!
Service & Repair
keeping your vehicle air conditioning system in tip top condition will save you money in the long term. Reduce fuel consumption. Ensure fresh cabin air.
Hybrids Welcome
Air conditioning units on hybrid cars require our specialist technicians. They can be very expensive to repair. Drop in for a free check if in any doubt.
Free Safety Check
Are you concerned about the condition of your air conditioning system? Don’t risk failure. If you have any doubts or worries pop in for a free safety check.
FAQs
Condensation
Air conditioning systems produce water moisture from condensation and this drains from the system onto the ground beneath your car. This is perfectly normal and no cause for concern. However if you see pools of liquid under the car that do not look like just water then you must take action ASAP. If in doubt pop in and we will take a look.
Service Intervals
Most vehicle manufacturers recommend servicing your Air Condition System at least every two years minimum. That being said it is strongly advised to check your owner’s hand book for the manufacturers recommendations for your vehicle as this may differ.
Don’t worry if you don’t have the owners manual as you can get most information online, or simply give us a call.
The air con system will continue to lose gas, become less efficient and lead to increased fuel consumption. It will eventually fail and need replacement parts.
Unfortunately Air-con parts can be extremely expensive to replace!
We drain and recharge the system and check hoses, filters, belts and connections. We also make sure the compressor and condenser are working correctly.
For more information just get in touch.
Service Benefits
1. Fresh clean air keeps you fresh, alert and safe.
2. It maintains the mechanical integrity of the system. Ensures no leakage from the system.
3. Our fixed price air conditioning service includes a system refresh.
4. Reduces the risk of part failure which could be very expensive.
Typically, no, but some vehicles have Driver Information Centers (DIC) that may display the status of the vehicle air conditioning systems. Refer to your Owner’s Manual for more information
Recommendations on when it should be replaced vary by manufacturer — some say every 12,000 or 15,000 miles, others longer — and how often can depend on how much you drive and where. Check the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual. If you drive in heavy traffic in an urban area that has poor air quality, you could need to replace the filter annually or even more often. However, that also could be true in a desert climate where there is a lot of dust.
Signs to look for
Some signs that you need a new cabin air filter are reduced air flow through your HVAC system, such as when you start up the fan too high and you get more noise than results. Another is persistent bad odors. Even if you don’t have these warnings, you should have the filter checked at least once a year, and you may be able to do that yourself.
Many cabin air filters are located behind the glove box and are easily accessible by freeing the glove box from its fasteners (instructions should be in the owner’s manual). Others are located under the dashboard and may not be easy to reach, or under the hood where fresh air enters the HVAC system.
Sounds like you have a smelly problem on your hands. There are a few issues that may be causing this smell.
- Dirty and old air cabin filter.
- Moldy evaporator case. A problem for many vehicles when water sits in the evaporator case because the case’s drain is blocked. Mold will accumulate.
Neither of these issues need to be expensive. You should replace the cabin air filter regularly anyway. Unblocking the evaporator drain pipe is usually quite straightforward.
WHY CHOOSE US?
Firstly we have been maintaining air conditioning systems on all sorts of vehicles for many years. Additionally fully trained technicians carry out all our air conditioning repairs. We keep up to date with the latest technologies. Of course there is nothing like good old fashioned experience.
There are many specialist tools and equipment needed for the proper servicing and repairing of air conditioning systems. Additionally hybrid vehicles require other specialist equipment. We use the best.
Our name is our guarantee. Happy customers are therefore the backbone of our business. Most of our customers also come to us from recommendations and we are happy that they keep coming back. Furthermore we have a long and successful history of carrying out air conditioning maintenance in the Arundel and Chichester area. So drop in and be our next happy customer!