Car Air Conditioning In Nottingham
Oakdene Automatic Transmissions provides car air conditioning servicing and repairs in Nottingham, including air con regassing, leak detection and full system repairs, all carried out by City and Guilds qualified technicians.
Our Air Conditioning Services
- Air con regassing (R134A and R1234yf).
- Nitrogen leak testing and diagnosis.
- Compressor, condenser and evaporator repairs.
- Antibacterial and deodorising treatment.
- Pollen (cabin air) filter replacement.
- Fully guaranteed workmanship.
Air Con Regassing
Air con regassing replaces the refrigerant your system has lost over time, restoring cooling performance. Most car manufacturers recommend a regas every two years, and it's one of the most common reasons a car's air conditioning stops working well.
A car air conditioning system works in a much tougher environment than the fridge in your kitchen. It's exposed to vibration, temperature swings and flexible rubber hoses and seals rather than rigid metal pipework, so it's normal for a system to lose around 50 to 100g of refrigerant a year.
With most cars holding somewhere between 450 and 750g of gas, that loss adds up over two to three years until cooling performance drops off noticeably. As gas escapes, moisture can enter the system.
On cars built from around 1995 onwards, the compressor is lubricated by a synthetic oil called PAG oil, and moisture mixing into this oil can cause internal corrosion, eventually leading to compressor failure and a costly repair bill. Regular regassing keeps moisture out and protects the compressor.
What Does Our Air Con Regas Include?
- Draining and analysing the existing refrigerant, then recovering the old oil.
- Holding the system under vacuum, which removes residual moisture rather than just testing for leaks (rushing this step lets moisture contaminate the fresh oil).
- Injecting the correct quantity of new refrigerant for your specific vehicle.
- Checking performance and recording the temperature from the centre vent to confirm the system is cooling properly.
- Fitting a reminder sticker so you know when your next air con service is due.
Air Con Regas Prices
R134A Regas (used in most vehicles from 1995 to 2017, and still fitted in some newer cars):
- Up to 500g of gas: £50.
- 501g to 700g of gas: £60.
- 701g to 900g of gas: £70.
- 901g to 1,100g of gas: £80.
R1234yf Regas (the newer refrigerant type, introduced by manufacturers from 2015/16 onwards):
- Up to 500g of gas: £130.
- 501g to 650g of gas: £155.
- 651g to 800g of gas: £175.
Most modern vehicles in the UK take between 450g and 800g of gas. If you have more than one vehicle in your household needing a service and regas, the price of the second and any additional vehicles is reduced by £10 each.
In short: a regas restores lost refrigerant and protects your compressor from moisture damage, and is generally worth doing every two years regardless of whether your air con feels weak yet.
Car Air Con Repairs
If your system has no gas left at all, that almost always points to a leak rather than normal gradual loss. In that case, you have two options: a diagnostic check fee to confirm the general area of the fault, or a full leak test to identify the exact cause.
Nitrogen Leak Testing: £45
We fill the system with nitrogen, a completely safe gas that makes up around 78% of the air we breathe, to establish exactly where the refrigerant is escaping. This can reveal a faulty valve, a damaged condenser (the most common cause of refrigerant loss, often from stone damage at the front of the car), a leaking hose, or a fault in the compressor or evaporator.
Once we know the cause, we can quote for the repair, and depending on parts availability, many faults can be fixed within hours or a few days.
Other Air Con Services
- Antibacterial and deodorising treatment: kills harmful bacteria and removes unpleasant smells from the system, particularly around the evaporator, which sits directly in the airflow you and your passengers breathe. £15.
- Pollen (cabin air) filter replacement: from £30, including filter and labour. Prices vary depending on filter type (standard mechanical, mechanical with active carbon, or mechanical and antibacterial) and how accessible the filter is on your specific make and model.
A dirty filter reduces airflow, strains the heater fan and causes windows to mist up more quickly, and vehicles used in dusty conditions (such as farm or construction vehicles) may need it replaced more often than the usual two year interval.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I get my car air con regassed?
Most manufacturers recommend a regas every two years. Cars typically lose 50 to 100g of refrigerant a year through normal wear on hoses and seals, so cooling performance gradually drops off even without an obvious fault.
Why has my air con stopped working completely?
If there's no gas left in the system at all, it's almost always due to a leak rather than gradual loss. We'd recommend a nitrogen leak test to identify exactly where the gas is escaping before any regas is carried out.
Is it illegal to regas a car with a leak?
Yes. R134A refrigerant is classified as a greenhouse gas, so we won't regas a system with a known leak, as the gas would simply escape again. The leak needs identifying and repairing first.
Does using air con use more fuel than opening the windows?
Not necessarily. Open windows increase drag on the car, which often affects fuel economy more than running the air conditioning does, particularly at higher speeds.
What’s the difference between R134A and R1234yf gas?
R134A was used in most vehicles from 1995 to 2017 and takes around 13 years to break down in the atmosphere. R1234yf is the newer refrigerant, introduced from 2015/16 onwards, and breaks down within about 11 hours, making it significantly less harmful to the environment.
