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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Category:
Deal
The type of service your car needs will largely depend on what was done before. Our technicians will help you decide by looking at your service book for pre seeing what service was done previously. From there, they can provide you with a more definitive answer. (See what’s included in a bronze or silver service here).
In simple terms, budget tyres are the cheapest and often don’t last as long or hold up as well as mid-range or premium tyres. Mid-range seems to be the happy medium as they provide better grip and longevity which is only superseded by the more expensive, premium tyres that offer even better performance, including Bridgestone.
All Elite Garages branches offer a wide range of budget, mid-range and premium tyres at various prices. While some tyres may cost anywhere from £46, others go up to £83 or more, for example. If you’d like to know the price of a specific tyre, please contact your nearest Elite Garages branch.
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Deal
For added convenience, all of our Elite Garages branches, except Strood, perform on-site MOTs which makes it even easier to get your car serviced at the same time. In fact, most of our customers book their MOT with a premium car service.
Our MOTs are competitively priced and in accordance with industry standards. However, they do vary depending on location and the time of year. You can check our prices based on where you want to have your MOT by going to the MOT page and selecting your desired location, date and time.
Category:
Deal
While front tyres can last for approximately 20,000 miles, the rear tyres may last a little longer. However, it’s important to note that when you replace your tyres will largely depend on driving style, frequency and the quality of tyres fitted.
Category:
Deal
Brakes deteriorate over time from general, day-to-day use but mileage, the environment and driving habits can impact the speed of wear and tear. Sometimes a brake issue is merely a foreign object lodged in your brakes or debris.