Most modern cars now come equipped with Air Conditioning and this feature is wonderful not only to keep you cool on a hot day but also as an aid to de-misting your car on those damp days as well!
Like your engine, for it to work efficiently, your Air Conditioning system should ideally be serviced every 2 years rather than waiting for it to stop working.
Whilst we are known as Air Cooled Engineering this name is actually unrelated to the fact that we service Air Conditioning!
Our name came from when we specialised in the service of Air Cooled Cars rather than Air Conditioning in cars!
Air Conditioning Q&A’s
How does the A/C system work?
The Air Conditioning system cools and dehumidifies air using a refrigerant to cool and dry the air in the heating/cooling system for the passenger compartment.
What kind of maintenance should I be doing on Vehicle’s Air Conditioning System?
Air conditioning systems require minimal maintenance. Usually just a visual inspection per the manufacturer’s recommended schedule unless there are symptoms that may indicate a problem. Very often all that is required is a top up and re-pressurisation of the system.
How do I know if my vehicle’s Air Conditioning System needs repairs?
You will normally only be seeking service on your car’s A/C system when you notice a decrease in its cooling capability or when it isn’t working at all. Our experienced mechanics will most likely diagnose the cause of an A/C problem by performing various tests to detect leaks or other problems with the system.
What is HFO-1234yf refrigerant and does my car have it?
1234yf is a type of hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerant. It cools just as effectively as R-134a but has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of only 4, compared to R-134a’s GWP of 1,430. That’s a massive difference! It is now the standard refrigerant for UK air vehicle air conditioning systems and has been since 2015.
This next-generation refrigerant is designed to have a much lower impact on the environment compared to older refrigerants — especially R-134a, which has been the standard for decades.
What does an A/C system service include?
- Removal of any old refrigerant
- A Vacuum test of the system (To remove any moisture and also to test for any major leaks in the system)
- Refilling of refrigerant to the correct level
- Injection of Ultraviolet dye, which is used for leak detection
It’s Winter and not hot. Can it wait until the Summer?
Your Air Con not only keeps you call during the hot Summer’s days but also works as a de-humifier when the Weather is damp. During those wet days it speeds up the vehicle de-misting considerably.
My Air Con seems to be working but my windows are steaming up on the outside!
This does indeed prove your air con is working and this generally happens on warmer humid days when the moist air outside of your car condenses on the outside of the car windows. This is nothing to worry about and this will usually disappear when you start driving.
From only £49 + vat*
*(A higher charge of £120.00 plus vat applies for HFO-1234yf refrigerant)
We were one of the first garages in the Oxford area to undertake Air Conditioning Service and Repairs and our long term knowledge of Air conditioning systems in cars makes us the ideal people to repair and maintain your air conditioning system.
We can also provide regassing servives to the new refrigerant HFO-1234yf as is used on all new vehicles from 2015.
We also have all the equipment to carry out this work on the premises, and we always use environmentally approved systems to ensure that no pollution is caused with old refrigerant being collected and properly recycled.
Our standard Air Conditioning Service is only £49 + vat *(Higher charge applies for HFO-1234yf refrigerant)
Recharge refrigerant to correct level and pressure
Replace Air Conditioning lubricant
Check unit and fittings for leaks using special leak tracer
Check correct operation of Unit
Recovery of old refrigerant, evacuation of air and moisture from system