Audi A3 air conditioning regas

What does an air conditioning regas do?

It’s no longer considered a luxury, so most modern cars come with air con. However, like anything else, it needs regular maintenance. If you’re not getting cold air into your vehicle, regassing is the most likely solution.

A regas is the removal of old refrigerant gas from the system and replacing and recharging it, along with the lubricant and in line with the manufacturer’s instructions, so that the air runs cold again. (By the way, vehicles made from 2017 onwards are legally obliged to use a new type of refrigerant.)

While DIY kits are available, they save you almost nothing compared with getting a specialist to do the job. What’s more, if something goes wrong, you could be left with a pricey bill, or there could be safety issues. (Refrigerant can cause painful freeze burns if it gets on your skin or in your eyes.) Equally, if there are any other problems with the air con system, a professional will be able to put them right.

How often should I need to regas my air conditioner?

Most manufacturers suggest getting the air con serviced every couple of years, although many drivers wait until there’s no cold air coming through before taking action. But it’s really not worth putting it off—as well as creating an uncomfortable travelling environment, poorly working air conditioning makes it harder to demist windows in winter, and may mean the engine has to work harder, so fuel consumption rises. Additionally, pipes in the system could crack, or parts seize up.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

A faulty air conditioner won’t affect your car’s MOT, but it can affect the comfort of you and your passengers. It’s worth keeping your air conditioning running at its optimum performance as the impact it can have on your vehicle’s fuel efficiency could significantly affect the day-to-day cost of your motoring.

What happens when we regas your air conditioning?

• Our efficient and fully qualified mechanics will check for cracks and leaks that could be hindering the air conditioning system’s efficient operation.
• Wherever required, all old refrigerant will be removed from your air conditioning system and replaced with the precise quantity of fresh refrigerant.
• You will also be advised of any other parts that may need to be replaced for the best operation and health of your vehicle.
• Once the refrigerant has been replaced, our mechanics will test it thoroughly to ensure its correct running make any adjustments required for its premium operation.

Symptoms you might need an AC regas

Your air con isn’t as cold as normal

If your AC has stopped working correctly and you notice that the air conditioning in your car isn’t providing the usual levels of cold air as normal, it’s probably time for a regas.

Looking after your air conditioning

It’s true that most general car services don’t cover air conditioning, but any garage should be able to do a straightforward air con service and regas for you at an affordable price. They will probably want to do a pre-service inspection first, and any repairs needed as a result are usually billed for separately.

The inspection should include looking out for any cracks or leaks that could hinder the system’s efficient working.

Try and use the system all year round to keep it running smoothly, and consider an anti-bacterial clean if musty smells are emerging from the vents—your garage or workshop should also offer this. Additionally, change the cabin filter regularly.

Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, established over 100 years ago in April 1910, and has been owned by the Volkswagen Group since the 1960s.

How popular is Audi in the United Kingdom?

This marque design and engineer luxury vehicles and distributes them worldwide. In the UK alone, there were over 1.7m Audi vehicles on the roads in the final quarter of 2018; a number that is continually growing year after year, and has more than doubled in the past decade.

Audi’s success can be attributed to its ability to move with the times, retaining its reputation as a prestige manufacturer and as part of the ‘big 3’ German marques responsible for high sales throughout the world market, alongside Mercedes and BMW.

Luxury executive vehicles for every type of driver

Audi’s current range features predominantly luxury executive and family cars of varying sizes: with compact to full-size saloons, coupés and sportback models, complemented by a growing range of SUV and sports car models.

Vorsprung durch Technik

The Audi brand is easily recognisable by their 4-ring logo—originally representing the four car companies to create Audi’s predecessor company, Auto Union—and their world famous slogan that ran for over 30 years, translated as ‘Being ahead through technology’. Despite no longer being used in their mainstream marketing, the meaning behind it still stands true of the brand today.

Audi: A sensation in rallying motorsport

Throughout the 1980s the Audi Quattro was famous for dominating rallying worldwide. The introduction of their four-wheel drive turbocharged model went on to win the World Rally Championships in both 1983 and 1984 and amassed a number of podium finishes and titles throughout the decade, all across the globe.

Audi’s reliability and reputation

Audi ranked 20th place out of 30 car brands in the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2018. Audi’s reputation for creating reliable running vehicles has steadily improved over time to become a strong contender to some of the Asian brands that have continued to dominate in this area.

Recent Audi recalls and reliability issues

Various recalls have been made on Audi models throughout their motoring history. The following are a list of the most recent in the UK and Europe.

09/05/2019 – Audi A4 and A5 (2019)

The rigidity of the shock absorbent fork

09/05/2019 – Audi A4 (2019)

The Rigidity of the shock absorber fork

16/04/2019 – Audi Q5 (2018)

The brake master cylinder specifications

18/03/2019 – Audi A4, A5, A5 Cabrio, A6, A7, A8 (2014–16)

Fuel may escape from fuel rails

27/02/2019 – Audi A3 (2018)

The centre rear seat head restraint may not be to specification

27/02/2019 – Audi A8, Q7 and Q8 (2018)

The rigidity of the front shock absorbent fork

22/02/2019 – Audi A6, A7 (2014)

The auxiliary heater element in the air conditioner may fail

17/12/2018 – Audi A6 (2018)

Rear fixed glass lid bonding may no meet correct specification

All recall information sourced from gov.co.uk data.