Car Air Conditioning - Falkirk

If your car’s air conditioning isn’t blowing cold, the most likely cause is low refrigerant, which a regas will fix. If the problem is a leak, a faulty compressor, or an electrical fault, we’ll find it and repair it before recharging the system.

Ian Grieve Service Centre services and repairs air conditioning on most makes and models, working with both gases, at our workshop just off Glasgow Road in Falkirk, including hybrid and electric vehicles. A standard air con service usually takes around an hour, so in many cases you can wait while we work.

Signs your air conditioning needs attention

Plenty of drivers only notice a problem on the first warm day of the year, but air con matters in a Scottish winter too, because it dries the air and clears a misted windscreen far more quickly. It’s worth booking in if you notice any of the following:

• Air from the vents is warm or only slightly cool
• The windscreen takes a long time to clear on damp mornings
• A musty or damp smell when you switch the system on
• Rattling, clicking, or squealing noises while the air con is running
• Water collecting in the passenger footwell
• The air con light flashes or the system keeps switching itself off

Why air conditioning loses its cooling power

Even a healthy system loses a small amount of refrigerant each year through its seals and hoses, and eventually there isn’t enough left to cool the air properly, and the compressor has to work harder to keep up. For that reason, a service every two years is generally recommended.

If the cooling fades again soon after a regas, that usually points to a leak, so rather than simply refilling the system, we’ll trace where the gas is escaping and discuss the repair with you.

What our air conditioning service includes

Our air conditioning service covers the whole system rather than simply adding more gas. It includes:

• A visual check of the hoses, pipes, condenser, and compressor
• Recovery of the old refrigerant, followed by a vacuum test to check for leaks
• Recharging with the correct type and amount of refrigerant for your car
• Fresh compressor oil to keep moving parts lubricated
• A temperature check at the vents to confirm the system is cooling properly

We can also carry out an antibacterial treatment to clear odours caused by bacteria and mould inside the system and replace your cabin filter if it’s due.

Air conditioning repairs

When the fault goes deeper than low refrigerant, our technicians use KTS diagnostic equipment to check the climate control system for stored fault codes and electrical problems. Common repairs include replacing leaking pipes or seals, condensers damaged by stones from the road, worn compressors, and faulty pressure sensors or cooling fans.

Before any repair goes ahead, we’ll explain what we’ve found and what it will cost. Any parts we fit are original equipment and backed by the manufacturer’s parts warranty.

Air conditioning on hybrid and electric cars

Many hybrid and electric vehicles use an electrically driven compressor, and on some models the air conditioning also helps keep the high-voltage battery at the right temperature; these systems need a specific type of compressor oil, as the wrong one can cause serious damage. Our technicians work on hybrid and electric vehicles regularly and understand the extra care they need.

Convenient air con servicing in Falkirk

You’re welcome to wait in our comfortable waiting area with free Wi-Fi while your car is in the workshop, and if that doesn’t suit, we offer free collection and delivery across Falkirk, Larbert, Denny, and Bonnybridge.

To book your car in for an air conditioning service or repair, give our team a call on 01324 440270 or, alternatively, click the button below to send us an online enquiry, and we’ll arrange a time that suits you.