Air con repair for almost every make

Car air con repair in Rotterdam

Is the air con in your car broken? Does it blow warm air, cut out or do nothing at all? We find the cause first with an air con check and a leak test. Then we carry out a targeted repair. You hear the cost of the repair in advance.

Rotterdam family business since 1979 | 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews | F-gas certified | R134a and R1234yf

The short answer

Has the air con in your car stopped cooling? Usually there is too little refrigerant in it, often because of a small leak. A faulty part can also be the cause, such as the compressor, the condenser or a sensor.

Autobedrijf Willemsbrug in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde finds the cause first with an air con check and a leak test. Then you get a quote. We only start the repair once you agree. We work on almost every make, with R134a and R1234yf, and we are F-gas certified.

Does your car only need an air con service? That costs from € 120 (R134a) or from € 180 (R1234yf) and is often possible the same day, Saturdays included. Call +31 10 479 00 00.

Jump to: symptoms · why the air con stops cooling · costs · repairs by part · how we work · frequently asked questions · directions

What is your air con doing?

The symptom often tells us where to start looking. This overview is a first pointer. The check shows what is going on with your car.

What you notice Possible cause What we do
The air con blows lukewarm air or hardly cools Too little refrigerant, often because of a small leak. Sometimes a dirty condenser or a blocked cabin filter. Leak test, repair the leak and refill to the manufacturer’s specification.
The air con cools at first, then cuts out after ten to twenty minutes Too little refrigerant, or a sensor or compressor that switches off. Measure the pressures and read the fault codes.
The air con does nothing at all An electrical fault, a faulty compressor or an empty system. Read the fault codes, measure and carry out a leak test.
Rattling or squealing when the air con is on, or constant hissing while driving The compressor, the drive belt or a leak. Check the compressor, the belt and whether the system is sealed. Switch the air con off until then. Read more about an air con that makes noise (in Dutch).
A musty smell from the vents Mould and bacteria on the evaporator or a dirty cabin filter (also called a pollen filter). Clean the system and replace the cabin filter.
The windows mist up and take a long time to clear The air con no longer dries the air properly. Check the system and the cabin filter.
A wet floor mat The condensate drain may be blocked. Check and clear the drain.

The sooner you deal with it, the better the chance that a small repair will do. With too little refrigerant the compressor is lubricated less well. That can damage it.

Why your air con has stopped cooling

A car air con loses a little refrigerant every year, even when nothing is broken. Often that is five to ten per cent a year. That is normal. If the amount drops too far, the air con cools less or stops cooling altogether.

If the air con loses refrigerant faster, there is a leak. It can be in a pipe, a seal, the condenser or the evaporator. A faulty compressor, a dirty condenser or an electrical fault can also be the cause.

A regas alone does not fix a leak. A few months later you are back in a warm car. That is why we measure the system first and carry out a leak test. Then you hear what is needed and what it costs.

What we do when your air con has a problem

  • Measure how the system works and its pressures
  • Trace the leak with a nitrogen test or UV dye
  • Repair the leak or replace the faulty part
  • Check the condenser, the compressor and the pipes
  • Vacuum the system and refill it to the manufacturer’s specification
  • Check the cabin filter and replace it if needed

We discuss any extra work with you first.

How much does an air con repair cost?

An air con service costs from € 120 for cars with R134a and from € 180 for cars with R1234yf. That includes recovering the old refrigerant, vacuuming the system, the leak check, refilling to the manufacturer’s specification and VAT.

The price of a repair depends on what is faulty. That is why we do not give a figure before we know the cause. You get the price in advance, after the check and the leak test. These things decide the price:

What decides the price? Why?
The faulty part Replacing a seal or a pipe is less work than a new compressor or evaporator.
How easy it is to reach The condenser sits at the front and is easy to reach. The evaporator sits behind the dashboard. That takes more labour.
The refrigerant R1234yf costs more than R134a. How much refrigerant is needed differs from car to car.
Parts that go with it With a new compressor we fit a new drier as standard. If the old compressor has seized, we also flush the pipes and the condenser.
The time it takes to find the fault We find a leak at a connection faster than a leak deep inside the system.

This is how it works, in three steps:

  • Check and leak test. You hear in advance what the check costs. Has your air con been regassed before and is it blowing warm again? Tell us when you call. Then we start with the leak test and not with a regas.
  • Quote. You get a quote with the parts, the labour, the refrigerant and the VAT.
  • Your approval. We only start once you agree. We discuss any extra work with you first.

Would you like an idea of the prices per part beforehand? Read our article on what an air con repair costs (in Dutch). Not sure which refrigerant your car uses? Read our article on R134a or R1234yf (in Dutch).

Which air con repairs do we do?

We repair everything, from a small leak to a new compressor. We do it in our own workshop.

Leak detection

Is your air con warm again soon after a regas? Then the system is leaking. A pressurised nitrogen test finds most small leaks as well. Sometimes UV dye is also needed. Read more about finding an air con leak.

Compressor replacement

Does the air con rattle or no longer switch on? We first measure whether the compressor is to blame. When we replace it, we fit a new drier as standard. If the compressor has seized, we also flush the pipes and the condenser. That keeps metal particles out of the new compressor. Read more about air con compressor replacement.

Condenser replacement

The condenser sits in front of the radiator and can start to leak, for example after stone chips. We replace it and then refill the system to the manufacturer’s specification. Read more about air con condenser replacement.

Evaporator replacement

The evaporator sits behind the dashboard. Replacing it is a lot of work. That is why we first make sure the leak really is in the evaporator. Only then do we take the dashboard apart. Read more about air con evaporator replacement.

Hybrid or electric car

The air con compressor in a hybrid or electric car runs on high voltage and needs its own electrically insulating oil. In many electric cars and plug-in hybrids the air con system also cools the battery. If the air con does not work properly, the car may limit fast charging or power to protect the battery. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems). Read more about air con service for hybrid and electric cars and about what is different about the air con in these cars (in Dutch).

Air con cleaning

Does the air from the vents smell musty? We clean the system and replace the cabin filter. Read more about air con cleaning.

We work on almost every make, from Volkswagen, Opel, Ford, Peugeot and Renault to Toyota, BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Does your classic car still have an R12 air con? We convert the system to R134a in our own workshop. We also repair the cab air con in motorhomes and vans up to 3,500 kg. Read more about air con in motorhomes and vans (in Dutch). You will find an overview of everything to do with air con on our air con service page.

How an air con repair works with us

We work by appointment. You book by phone. You bring your car in Monday to Friday between 8.00 and 8.30 am or on Saturday at 9.00 am. For a quick question or check you can walk in without an appointment.

1

Call

Call +31 10 479 00 00 and have your registration number ready. Tell us what the air con is doing: blowing lukewarm air, cutting out, making noise or nothing at all. Then we set aside the right amount of time.

2

Check and leak test

We measure how the system works and its pressures. If the system is losing refrigerant, we look for the leak with a nitrogen test or UV dye.

3

Quote and approval

You hear what we found and what the repair costs. We only start once you agree. If a part has to be ordered, we tell you when it will arrive.

4

Repair, refill and test

We repair the leak or replace the part. Then we vacuum the system, refill it to the manufacturer’s specification and test whether the air con blows cold again.

Measure first, then repair what is needed

We do not replace parts on a hunch. We find the cause first. That way we reduce the chance that you pay for a repair that does not solve the problem.

Regas or repair?

Is the system sealed and has only some refrigerant gone? Then an air con service is enough. If there is a leak or a part is faulty, a repair is needed. We tell you what your car needs. Also read about air con regas.

F-gas certified

R134a is a powerful greenhouse gas. The newer R1234yf also falls under the European F-gas rules. Refrigerant must not escape into the air. That is why we capture it with our equipment. If the system leaks, we fix the leak first before we refill it. We are F-gas certified. Read more about the rules on refilling a leaking system (in Dutch).

Do not refill the air con yourself with a can

A refill kit from the shop does not fix the leak. At best the air con cools a little better for a while. Some kits contain a leak sealant. That can contaminate the system and make a later repair more expensive. You also do not know how much refrigerant is already in it. Too much is as bad as too little.

Has your air con stopped cooling? Then have the system checked with a leak test first. Call +31 10 479 00 00 for an air con check.

Frequently asked questions about air con repair

No need to click. All the answers are already open below.

Why does my car air con no longer blow cold air?

Usually there is too little refrigerant in the system, often because of a small leak. A faulty compressor, a dirty condenser or an electrical fault can also be the cause. With an air con check and a leak test we find out what is going on with your car.

How much does it cost to repair a car air con?

That depends on the cause. You hear in advance what the check with leak test costs. There is no fixed price for it, because the time needed to find the fault differs from car to car. If only an air con service is needed, you pay from € 120 (R134a) or from € 180 (R1234yf). If a repair is needed, you first get a quote with the parts, the labour, the refrigerant and the VAT.

Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. You will find an idea of the prices per part in our article on what an air con repair costs (in Dutch).

How long does an air con repair take, and can it be done the same day?

We can often fit in an air con check or an air con service the same day. An air con service takes about 45 minutes to an hour. A bigger repair usually takes half a day to a full day. Replacing the compressor takes about a day. We usually schedule a repair like that within a week. If a part has to be ordered, we tell you when it will arrive. Call first, so we can set aside the right amount of time.

For a repair you leave the car with us. You bring it in Monday to Friday between 8.00 and 8.30 am or on Saturday at 9.00 am.

My air con has only recently been regassed and is blowing warm again. How can that be?

Then the system is probably leaking. A regas does not fix a leak. The refrigerant escapes again. The air con service has still been carried out, so you do not get your money back for it. An air con service is maintenance, not a leak repair. Finding the leak is a separate job. You hear in advance what it costs. If our work is the cause, we put it right. We look for the leak with a nitrogen test or UV dye and repair it. Only when the system is sealed do we refill it. Read more about finding an air con leak.

Can I keep driving with a broken air con?

Yes. Driving without cooling is usually not a problem in a petrol or diesel car. Do switch the air con off if it no longer cools. With too little refrigerant the compressor is lubricated less well.

Do you hear rattling or squealing when the air con is on? Then switch it off and have it checked soon. If the compressor seizes, the drive belt can break. In many cars that belt also drives the alternator.

Do you drive an electric car or a plug-in hybrid? In many electric cars and plug-in hybrids the air con system also cools the battery. If the air con does not work properly, the car may limit fast charging or power to protect the battery. In that case have a fault checked soon.

Which makes and which refrigerants can you work on?

We repair the air con of almost every make of car. We work with R134a and with the newer R1234yf and we are F-gas certified. Most cars from around 2017 onwards use R1234yf. The sticker under the bonnet shows which refrigerant your car uses.

Does your car use CO2 (R744) as refrigerant? That applies, for example, to certain versions of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and E-Class, the Audi A8 and some electric Volkswagens with a heat pump. A system like that works at a much higher pressure and needs its own equipment.

Our certification and equipment are for R134a and R1234yf. Does your car use R744? Then call first with your registration number. We will tell you what we can do for your model.

Do you also repair the air con in a hybrid or electric car?

Yes. The air con compressor in a hybrid or electric car runs on high voltage and needs its own electrically insulating oil. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate for working on hybrid and electric cars. Read more about air con service for hybrid and electric cars.

Do I get a warranty on an air con repair?

Yes. You get a warranty on our repairs. We tell you which warranty applies when we give you the quote.

Air con repair in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 (3077 AW) in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip) and exit 24 Rotterdam-Feijenoord on the A16. The A15 is five minutes’ drive away. There is free parking outside if there is space. The tram stop Stadion Feijenoord (line 3) is close by.

We are also easy to reach from Barendrecht, Ridderkerk, Capelle aan den IJssel, Krimpen aan den IJssel, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Zwijndrecht. Is the repair taking longer? You can use a free loan bike while one is available.

Plan your route to Boterdiep 11 or see our contact page.

Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 8.00 to 17.30
Saturday: 9.00 to 15.00
Sunday: closed
We are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Want a cool car again?

Call us for an air con check. We find the cause and you hear the cost of the repair in advance.

Our score is 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews. Read what our customers say (in Dutch).

Also see our air con service, air con regas, air con cleaning and our article on why a car air con stops working (in Dutch).

Nederlands? Deze pagina is er ook in het Nederlands.