Air conditioning is a sealed system. In a healthy one, refrigerant does not get used up — so a system that has stopped cooling has almost always lost refrigerant somewhere, and simply refilling it without finding the leak means paying for the same job again next summer.
In an Australian climate the system also does more than cool. It dehumidifies the cabin, which is what clears a fogged windscreen quickly on a wet morning.
A guide to what this work typically covers. The exact scope depends on your vehicle and what we find once it's on the hoist.
A gradual decline over a season or two is the classic sign of a slow refrigerant leak.
Usually a damp evaporator or a cabin filter that has reached the end of its life.
Rattles or squeals as the compressor engages should be investigated before the compressor fails completely.
Demisting relies on the air conditioning to dry the air. Slow demisting often means the system is underperforming.
If a system has lost enough refrigerant to stop cooling, it has a leak. Adding gas without finding it means the refrigerant vents to atmosphere over the following months and you are back where you started. We test first.
The compressor relies on oil carried around the system by the refrigerant. Systems left unused for months are more likely to develop dry, hardened seals. Running the air conditioning briefly every few weeks keeps the seals lubricated.
If your question isn't covered here, call the workshop and we'll talk it through.
Yes — after leak testing. Recharging a leaking system without repairing it simply repeats the problem, so we confirm the system holds pressure first.
Tell us about your vehicle and we'll take it from there.
