Air Conditioning at Manby Motors Ltd:

All of our mechanics are fully trained and experienced in all aspects of the air conditioning technology and repair.

Modern air conditioning systems use R134a refrigerant which is much less harmful to the environment than the old fashioned refrigerants such as R12. R134a systems loose refrigerant with time, all be it at a very slow rate, and will need topping up from time to time. 

We would recommend our annual air conditioning service. During the service we will check the system contents and as long as the system is not empty, recover the refrigerant, we will also check for system leaks and evacuate any contaminants and refill the system with the correct charge of refrigerant and oil, finally a test is made of system health and correct operation. 

This service will ensure correct functioning for the following 12 months and we offer a guarantee that any fault diagnosed in that 12 months will be done on a free of charge basis and a discount will be offered on repairs.

Diagnosis of air conditioning problems can sometimes be very difficult. Faults fall into three categories, leaks, component functional failure and control system failure.

Things to be on the lookout for with your air conditioning system:

      1. Unpleasant smells coming from the air conditioning:

This could be caused by a build-up of bacteria. 

As a vehicle becomes older, or when the air conditioning system is not used very often, bacteria, micro-organisms, mould and fungi may start growing just behind the dash board. This is what causes an unpleasant smell.

  2. Your vehicle does not feel cold enough when the air conditioning is on:

Your system may need servicing.

The air conditioning system in your vehicle is not usually covered by most manufacturers servicing schedules and the refrigerant gas that is used to operate the system depletes over time. On average most vehicles lose up to 15% per annum.

This type of leakage can be caused when then system is not used during the winter months, this allows the small “O” ring seals to dry out resulting in gradual deterioration in system performance.

If this is allowed to continue, eventually the system will not be able to operate at all.

Most problems of this type can be put right fairly easily by a leak check of your system followed by a complete refill of your air conditioning refrigerant, this is referred to as a re-gas.

  3. Strange noises coming from the air conditioning:

             THIS SHOULD BE CHECKED IMMEDIATELY

Some noises could be an early indication of a compressor failure. The compressor tends to be the most expensive part of the Air Conditioning System. This fault can also lead to further item breaking down and becoming contaminated with metal particles, this could result in even more work being needed to be completed.

     4. Excessive moisture inside your vehicle:

This can be caused by a blocked or detached drain tube from the evaporator, which would allow the condensation to build up inside your evaporator.

If this occurs water will keep building up inside the vehicle until a point where there are damp carpets or a misting/ humidity problem. These can be solved by having the vehicle serviced.

Please note:

If you see a puddle of water on the ground, usually under the passenger side of the vehicle don’t be alarmed. This is a normal feature of the system as it is the water dripping from the air conditioning evaporator.

Running your Air Conditioning year round will help to keep the system well lubricated and leak tight.

Please remember that even if you do not have any of these symptoms it is very important to keep your air conditioning system serviced regularly. The normal recommended intervals are to have a full service completed within four years from the vehicles manufacture date and then every two to three years thereafter.

If you still have any queries or question please contact us on (01507) 327222 and Nigel will be able to advise you how best to sort out any problems you may have  

Manby Motors LTD, Car or Van air conditioning repairs and service PHONE: (01507) 327222