Air Conditioning

Overview

Air conditioning isn't just for summer comfort — it's also what dries the air for your demister in winter, which is how you keep the windscreen clear in Kapiti drizzle. Most A/C systems lose a small amount of refrigerant over time, and when the levels drop the system stops cooling effectively (and the compressor starts working too hard, eventually killing itself).

We've got proper A/C service equipment that recovers the old gas, evacuates the system, leak-tests it, and recharges with the correct amount of the correct refrigerant for your vehicle. We service the older R134a systems and the newer R1234yf systems used on most cars from about 2017 onwards.

What we cover

• Regas with R134a or R1234yf as required by your vehicle
• Vacuum test to detect leaks
• UV dye injection for harder-to-find leaks
• Compressor diagnostics and replacement
• Condenser, evaporator and dryer replacement
• A/C control system and electrical diagnostics
• Cabin pollen filter replacement — often forgotten, makes a huge difference

Time for an A/C service if…

• Cool air isn't cool anymore — or takes ages to get cold
• Demister is slow to clear the windscreen
• A/C blower runs but cabin temperature doesn't drop
• Bad smell when A/C turns on (likely needs cabin filter and clean)
• Hissing or unusual noise from the dashboard when A/C runs
• It's been over 3 years since the last regas

Our approach

Connect the car to our A/C station, check pressures and look for leaks. If the system holds vacuum we regas to spec. If it doesn't, we find the leak, repair it, and then regas — no point putting fresh gas into a system that's just going to lose it again.

Why us, here in Kapiti

We don't just "top it up" without finding leaks. A proper A/C service includes a vacuum test, because gas that escaped will always escape again — and on R1234yf systems, that's an expensive habit.