Low-mileage cars, steep roads and slowly fading air con
Plenty of cars in Purley do low mileage. Some belong to older residents who drive to the shops by Purley Cross and back, others sit on the drive in Riddlesdown or the Webb Estate for days at a time. Low use does not preserve an air conditioning system. The refrigerant carries a little oil that keeps the compressor shaft seal and the O-rings supple, and when a system is rarely switched on, those seals can dry and let refrigerant seep out. It is common for a car with modest mileage to arrive with barely half its charge.
Then there are the hills. Climbing out of the valley on roads towards Riddlesdown or up Foxley Lane puts the engine under load, and many cars cut the compressor momentarily at heavy throttle. With a full charge, cooling returns quickly. With a low one, the cabin warms on every climb and stays warm, and queuing on the A22 Godstone Road towards the gyratory does nothing to help, as the condenser gets little airflow at a standstill.
A regas with us starts with confirming the refrigerant type from the under-bonnet label, since many of the newer family cars and premium models in Purley use R1234yf. We recover and weigh the old charge, then hold the system under vacuum to boil off moisture and prove it is sealed. The recharge is done by weight, with the correct oil, and we check the vent temperature before handing the car back. If the vacuum test fails, you get a written quote for the leak repair first.
From Purley Cross, head up Foxley Lane through Woodcote, turn right onto Woodcote Road and follow the A237 north through Wallington to Hackbridge. It is about 15 minutes. Near the War Memorial Hospital and prefer not to drive? We can arrange collection, and any repair that follows is covered by our 3-month workmanship warranty.