Air conditioning and exhaust
Car Air Conditioning Repairs in Brisbane
Aircon that blows warm has one of a handful of causes, and low refrigerant from a leak is the most common. Because the system is sealed, gas does not get used up, so an empty system is a leaking system and topping it up without repair is money out the window. We test properly in Moorooka and tell you what is actually wrong before anything gets charged.
Why leaks matter
The system is sealed
Air conditioning does not consume refrigerant. The gas circulates around a closed loop and in a healthy system the same charge stays in there for many years. So when a workshop says your car "needs a top up", the honest version of that sentence is that your car has a leak.
Regassing a leaking system vents refrigerant into the atmosphere and leaves you warm again within weeks or months. That is the whole reason we leak test first, and it is why our regas is not the cheapest one advertised on the southside.
Diagnosing the problem
Aircon blowing warm: how to narrow it down
Cold on the highway, warm at idle
The condenser sits ahead of the radiator and needs airflow through it. Either it is packed with leaves and insects, or the fan that pulls air through it at low speed has failed.
Weak airflow but the air is cool
That is an airflow problem rather than a refrigeration one. A clogged cabin filter or a failing blower motor are the usual suspects, and the filter is cheap to check first.
No change at all when you press the button
Listen for the compressor engaging. If nothing happens, the system may be low enough that the pressure switch is locking the compressor out to protect it, or there is a relay, fuse or wiring fault.
Went warm gradually across a season
That pattern points at a slow leak. If it went warm overnight, think about a hose, a seal that has let go, or something electrical.
Cold on one side, warm on the other
On dual-zone climate control that is usually a blend door actuator rather than the refrigerant side at all.
Musty smell
Musty smell when you turn the aircon on
The evaporator sits inside the dash and runs cold and wet whenever the aircon is on. Moisture condenses on it, and in a humid climate that damp surface grows mould and bacteria. Brisbane humidity makes this worse than in the drier states. Replacing the cabin filter and treating the evaporator clears most cases.
The habit that keeps it away is switching the compressor off for the last few minutes of a drive while leaving the fan running, so the evaporator dries out overnight.
Water inside the car
Water on the passenger floor
This gets misdiagnosed as a windscreen leak more often than anything else. The evaporator has a drain that lets condensate run out under the car, and when it blocks with debris the water backs up into the footwell instead. Wet carpet on the passenger side after the aircon has been running means checking that drain before you go hunting for a body leak.
How we do it
How we diagnose and repair it
We recover and weigh whatever refrigerant is in the system, which tells us straight away how much has gone missing. From there we pressure test, hold the system under vacuum to see whether it holds, and use an electronic detector and dye to trace the escape point.
Common leak sites are the condenser at the front of the car, O-rings at line joints, hose crimps, the compressor front seal, and the evaporator inside the dash. The last one is the expensive one, because reaching it usually means the dash comes out.
We carry out compressor and condenser replacement, hoses, lines, O-rings and seals, expansion valves, receiver driers and accumulators, cooling fans, pressure switches, and the electrical and control side. Whenever the system has been open to atmosphere the receiver drier or accumulator gets replaced. And when a compressor fails internally, debris travels through the whole loop, so the system has to be flushed or the new compressor follows the old one.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Why is my car aircon blowing warm?
Most often low refrigerant caused by a leak. Beyond that, a failed compressor, a blocked condenser, a dead cooling fan, a clogged cabin filter or a control-side electrical fault.
Can I just get it topped up?
You can, but if it is low it has leaked, and the new gas leaves the same way the old gas did. We would rather find the leak and quote you honestly.
How long does aircon diagnosis take?
Allow a couple of hours. Vacuum and pressure tests need time to sit before the reading tells you anything.
How much does an aircon repair cost?
It depends on what failed. [CONFIRM: typical price range] You get the figure before we start.
Why does my aircon smell bad when I first turn it on?
Mould and bacteria on the evaporator and in the cabin filter. Very common in Brisbane humidity.
How do I stop the smell coming back?
Change the cabin filter on schedule and run the fan with the compressor off for the last few minutes of a drive so the evaporator dries out.
There is water on my passenger floor. Is that the aircon?
Usually yes. A blocked evaporator drain backs condensate up into the cabin instead of letting it out under the car.
Do you repair aircon on European cars?
Yes, and on diesel, 4WD, fleet, commercial, hybrid and electric vehicles.
Can you replace an evaporator?
Yes. It is a bigger job than most aircon work because the dash generally has to come out, and we will be upfront about the hours involved.
Book an aircon repair
Leak test first.
Quote before we start.
Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm. After-hours key drop available. All major cards and cash.