Air con specialist near Camberley

[davek_964]

I'm not convinced my air con is working. I suspect it may be electrical rather than a leak, but a pressure test seems like the first sensible step.

I know there are a million places that can do air con - including places like kwikfit - but I really want somebody I can trust, and who might be able to locate the leak if I have one.

Any recommendations close to Camberley (e.g. 20 mile radius)?

[bmwdrivernigel]

If you get no luck locally, try Mark 4 on the Slough Trading Estate, exceptional service.

[ARH]

try http://www.avacs.co.uk/

been very good in the past. not quite local but well worth the trip.

[Ranger 6]

Reader Air - Woking. http://www.readerair.co.uk/

Did an excellent job on my Golf when the pulley fell off the compressor, professional and less expensive than main dealers.

[davek_964]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I discovered by chance, the bodyshop I've used several times in Camberley (with excellent results) now does air con. Unfortunately, then can't do mine - although my car is R134a, I was told when I bought it last year that it still has R12 fittings - so I needed somebody who can connect to an R12 system.

However, they recommended auto-air so they will pressure test it on Thursday. Once I've confirmed it's leaking I guess it starts getting expensive!

[davek_964]

Just to finish the thread in case anybody searches in future - Gary / AutoAir (01483 480252) was excellent. Although I guess you didn't have to be too much of an expert to hear the loud "Hissssssssssss" when he tried to pressurise the system!

But he definitely knew his stuff, and also re-charged my other car while he was there and all at a very reasonable cost. Now he's ordering me a new compressor

[RS 6]

Just had a new compressor fitted on wifes Passat....now where did that £600 go

[davek_964]

RS 6 said:

Just had a new compressor fitted on wifes Passat....now where did that £600 go

Hmm..... now you've depressed me. I was told the compressor was "probably" about £250-ish, and a couple of hours labour to fit. But since it's for a Ferrari (albeit an old one) - I suspect it won't be less than a Passat!

If the cost looks like being significantly more than £500, I've been told I could get my compressor rebuilt - and I might go for that option.

[Frik]

If I'd have seen this thread before I would have recommended AutoAir. Very knowledgeable, amiable and honest service.

[davek_964]

Frik said:

If I'd have seen this thread before I would have recommended AutoAir. Very knowledgeable, amiable and honest service.

Yep - work was carried out this morning, and very happy. Would definitely recommend him and will use him again in future.

And the bill was under £500, which for supply and fit of a new compressor + receiver drier, and regas of a classic Ferrari seemed like a bargain to me.

Unfortunately, the weather means I don't actually need air con right now - but if summer arrives, I'll be ready!

[Ranger 6]

davek_964 said:

...And the bill was under £500, which for supply and fit of a new compressor + receiver drier, and regas of a classic Ferrari seemed like a bargain to me.

Wow, the same work on my Golf was over £600, but the dealer wanted £500 for just supplying the compressor!!

[Frik]

To be fair, Golf compressors are famous for two things:

1) Failing
2) Being expensive

[Ranger 6]

you could apply the expensive bit to most parts on those things - it was the only failure in 40k miles

[RS 6]

Ranger 6 said:

davek_964 said:

...And the bill was under £500, which for supply and fit of a new compressor + receiver drier, and regas of a classic Ferrari seemed like a bargain to me.

Wow, the same work on my Golf was over £600, but the dealer wanted £500 for just supplying the compressor!!

As mine above, guess Passat and golf ones are similar with the 60k mile break down parts built in

[davek_964]

I may have found the only part that fits a Ferrari that's not 10 x the cost of the same thing on other cars.

[hogansghost]

Another vote for Gary at AutoAir - great service and very knowledgeable. Even helped repair another 'non-aircon' issue.

[rasto]

hogansghost said:

Another vote for Gary at AutoAir - great service and very knowledgeable. Even helped repair another 'non-aircon' issue.

And another vote for Gary, he diagnosed (leaking condenser) and fixed the air con on my Cooper S. Quick and reliable service, plus some interesting stories about some of the cars he has serviced (007/Daniel Craigs fleet !)

[davek_964]

Sadly, I may have to call him again. When he replaced the compressor on the 348, he also topped up the gas on my turbo - but today, it's quite clear the turbo had no air con. So I guess the reason it needed a top up is because it's leaking...

I'm hesitating though, because when it was working the compressor bearing had started making an unwell noise - which means it will need replacing at the service in a couple of months anyway. So might just live with it until then. Not like we need air con considering the summer so far - and if the weather does suddenly surprise me I'll simply use the 348.

[Vixpy1]

My 996 turbo air con compressor has been making that noise for 2 years!

[davek_964]

Decided to get mine recharged this morning - I figured it would probably last until the service in August. But he immediately found the LHS condensor is leaking - and carries them with him. So he's currently removing my front bumper and I should have working air con in a couple of hours.