Air Con
If your car has air conditioning, you probably already know that it is supposed to do more than just keep you cool. When serviced correctly, car air conditioning helps filter out pollen, pollutants and airborne bacteria. It’s a multi-purpose component for your car providing heat, cool air and improving the quality of air inside the cabin. An air conditioning service is not included in a normal car service schedule so people often forget to have it checked. If your car is older than 2 years or maybe you’ve never had the air conditioning serviced, perhaps now is a good time. We also recommend that you use your air conditioning all year round even if only for one or two short trips every week. You might be surprised to learn that this helps keep the system well-lubricated and prevents leaks. You should especially book your car air con service when:
- it no longer blows cool air
- you notice a bad smells coming from the vents
- it starts making strange noises
- there are visible leaks
How often should I have it re-gassed or recharged?
The gas, or refrigerant, in your air conditioning unit, is essential for the system and all the components to work effectively. Your car’s air con needs regular maintenance to ensure that it functions as effectively as it should. Your vehicle owner’s manual will also provide you with more specific requirements for your car. In terms of recharging your air conditioning, most vehicle manufacturers recommend doing it every two years. This applies whether or not you use your air con every day or not at all. Regardless of how it is used, refrigerant will continue to permeate over time so a top-up is necessary. Remember, less gas means less cool air which is why refilling it every few years will keep it in good condition.
How long does a car air con repair, service or recharge take?
A car air con recharge usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour. The process involves a thorough systems check and completely removing the old gas and refilling it with fresh refrigerant. It also includes a vacuum test to ensure that there are no cracks or damage in your car air con system that could cause leaks. If we discover a leak or any faults, our friendly and professional technicians will discuss any recommended repairs. We will provide you with a no-obligation quote and will only carry out work with your consent. In addition to Elite Garages’ air conditioning service, we also offer our customers an optional air sanitizer from £10. This is an antibacterial cleaner that helps remove nasty smells and the build-up of harmful bacteria in your system and the vents. If you are experiencing any trouble with your car air con, call us to book your recharge, visit your local centre or book an appointment online. Using a professional, friendly, family-owned service centre like Elite Garages will certainly put your mind at ease. Our qualified, experienced technicians are on hand to provide you with the expert knowledge and the quality service you deserve.
FAQs
Click the + to read any answer or visit our most FAQ page to review the most frequently asked questions across all our Elite Locations.
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Some customers will have a bronze car service one year and a silver car service the next so if they’re not doing the mileage, it’s not always advised to book a silver car service every year. Most of our customers book an MOT and service at the same time.
Category:
MOT
Absolutely! With more than 11,000 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras strategically placed all over the UK, 50 million records are scanned every single day. These hi-tech surveillance devices and police on patrol can instantly identify if a vehicle has an up-to date MOT or not.
Categories:
Bournemouth,
MOT
Our MOTs are competitively priced and in accordance with industry standards although vary depending upon location and time of year. You can check our prices based on where you want to have your MOT done by going to the MOT page and selecting your desired location, date and time.
Categories:
Electric Vehicle Servicing,
MOT
Yes, even electric cars need an annual MOT once they are three years and older. The main difference is that a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE) has an exhaust system which needs to be tested, whereas this is not required during an EV service. If your vehicle is due an MOT, click here to make an appointment.
Yes, you certainly can and it’s often something we recommend. In fact, around 95% of the time our customers get a premium or standard service with their MOT. Click these links to find out what’s included in an MOT and what’s the difference between a Service and an MOT
Most customers will have a standard service one year and premium service the following year. If they’re not doing the mileage, there’s no point doing a premium service every year. 95% of the time customers get a service with their MOT. Click these links to find out what’s included in an MOT and what’s the difference between a Service and an MOT