Weak or warm air conditioning usually means low refrigerant, and low refrigerant means a leak, however slow. GVI Service Centre in Penrose tests the system for leaks, recovers and recharges it to the correct amount, replaces cabin filters and repairs compressors, condensers and hoses on petrol, hybrid and electric vehicles.
Car air conditioning is a sealed system, so unlike oil it should never need topping up. If it has stopped cooling as well as it used to, refrigerant has escaped, and the job is to find out where. We test, repair and regas air conditioning on petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles.
Signs your air conditioning needs attention
- Air that is cool but not cold, or that only gets cold when you are driving.
- No cooling at all, or cooling that comes and goes.
- A musty or sour smell when the fan starts, often from the cabin filter or evaporator.
- Strange noises from the compressor when the A/C is switched on.
- Misting or a weak airflow from the vents.
- Water pooling inside the footwell, which can mean a blocked drain.
What a proper regas involves
A regas is not just squirting gas in. Done properly, it looks like this:
- We recover the remaining refrigerant and measure how much came out, which tells us how much has been lost.
- We pull a vacuum on the system and watch whether it holds, which shows whether there is a leak.
- We recharge to the exact amount and type of refrigerant and oil your vehicle specifies.
- We test the output, checking vent temperatures and compressor operation.
If the system does not hold a vacuum, there is a leak, and topping it up again will only delay the problem. We quote the repair, which might be a hose, a condenser, a seal or the compressor, before we do it.
Cabin filters and smells
The cabin filter cleans the air entering the car. When it clogs, airflow drops, windows fog more easily and the cabin can smell musty. Replacing it is cheap and quick and is part of every service. A persistent smell after a new filter can mean the evaporator needs cleaning.
Electric and hybrid air conditioning
Hybrids and EVs often use an electric compressor driven by the high-voltage system, and these need the correct type of compressor oil. Servicing them with the wrong oil can damage the compressor and, in some cases, cause an electrical hazard, so the system needs servicing correctly. On some EVs the air conditioning circuit also helps cool the battery, so a healthy system matters beyond comfort. See EV and hybrid servicing.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a car's air conditioning be regassed?
There is no fixed schedule, because the system is sealed and should hold its gas. A common approach is to have it checked when cooling declines, or every few years as a precaution. We test for leaks as part of the job.
How do I know if there is a leak?
If the air conditioning has lost its cooling, there is a leak, even if it is slow. We confirm it by recovering the gas, measuring the loss and testing whether the system holds a vacuum.
Why does my air conditioning smell?
A musty smell is usually a dirty cabin filter or moisture and bacteria on the evaporator. Replacing the cabin filter often fixes it. If it comes back, ask us about cleaning the evaporator.
Does using the air conditioning reduce range in an EV?
Yes, a little. The compressor and heater draw power from the battery, so heavy use reduces range. A healthy system works more efficiently than a struggling one.
Can you service hybrid and electric air conditioning?
Yes. We service petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric systems, and we use the correct refrigerant and oil for each.