London is the capital of England, the largest city in England and the United Kingdom, and is termed to be one of the most important cities in the world, yet the city of London, with boundaries closely based on its original medieval limits, is an area only 1.12 square miles.

London exerts a powerful impact on art and culture, tourism, innovation and industry; it’s also one of the most expensive places to visit or to live.

Greater London, the ceremonial county within the London region, has a population of over 8.8million, covers 606 square miles, and is organised into 33 local districts and also the 32 London boroughs. Its famous points of interest, attractions to visit and historical landmarks are too many to list; it is the home of UK Parliament and the Royal Family, as well as to cultures speaking over 300 languages and the busiest city airport system in the world, seeing its also the most visited city in the world (as measured by international arrivals).

The most popular cars in Central London

Given their worldwide popularity, multipurpose appeal and agility to make light work of cutting through the London traffic, it’s no great surprise to hear that the VW Golf is estimated to be the most popular car in London, according to data provided between 2012 to 2018 by ownership and postcode.

Close on its heels—and in order of popularity—are the Mercedes A-Class, the new Audi A3, BMW 3 Series and the F-Type Jaguar Convertible. Needless to say, Western Central London is one of the more affluent areas of Greater London.

Vehicle numbers in London

There are approximately 4.4 million licensed vehicles in the Greater London area, with some of the most popular models including the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Fiesta and the Kia Sportage.

Find a Fixter garage in London today

There are a total of 124 Fixter garages in the London area, all ready and waiting to provide you with a fantastic quote for your car service, MOT and a wide range of vehicle repairs.

Fixter garages service the following postcodes and more, in and around the London area:

• EC & WC: Central London
• N & NW: North and North West London
• E: East London
• SE & SW: South East and South West London

What does an air conditioning compressor do?

The AC compressor pumps and pressurises the refrigerant through the air conditioning system, feeding cold air into your car. The compressor is powered by your car’s engine.

How often should a compressor need replacing?

A well-maintained and properly serviced compressor could last as long as your car does. However, as with all vehicle components, they’re prone to wear and tear. Leakage and blockage can create irreparable damage.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

A faulty air compressor 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 correctly as the impact it can have on your vehicle’s fuel efficiency could affect the day-to-day cost of your motoring.

What happens when we replace your AC compressor?

Our efficient and fully qualified mechanics will check for possible fault codes relating to your air conditioning that could lead them directly to a compressor fault.

The air conditioning system will be checked thoroughly, including electric and pressure components.

Wherever required your compressor will be replaced, and you’ll be advised of any other connected or associated problems arising from its malfunction. Important associated parts will also be removed and cleaned.

You will be advised of any other parts that may need to be replaced for the best operation and health of your vehicle. This includes replacement of refrigerant and possibly the orifice tube and receiver dryer.

Once the faulty compressor has been replaced, our mechanics will test it thoroughly to ensure the correct running of the new part and make any adjustments required for its premium operation.

What causes an AC compressor to stop working correctly?

Over time, the internal components of a compressor can wear or fail, including the seals that cannot be replaced independently. In other cases, the valves, pistons, bearings or clutch may need replacing, and it could be a cheaper option to replace the complete unit rather than each of the individual parts. Your compressor may have stopped working properly due to infiltration by dirt and debris, or from being affected by other faulty parts in the system.

Symptoms of a malfunctioning AC compressor

Your air con doesn’t work

If the air conditioning in your car doesn’t function as it normally would then it could be down to a faulty compressor.

There is no cool air

If your air vents aren’t producing cool air when your AC is operational, it could be your compressor that’s malfunctioning.

Your fuel consumption isn’t as good as normal

A malfunctioning compressor could also affect your fuel consumption, so if you notice that you’re not achieving your usual mpg, it could be time to have your compressor checked.

Unusual noises in the engine bay

If you hear a ticking noise coming from your engine, then this could be a sign that your compressor is damaged. The AC unit is damp If there are patches of fluid around the AC unit, this could also be a sign of a faulty compressor.