Signals, bus stops and the A232: air con under load in Sutton
Sutton traffic is a series of short stops. The A232 through the town has a signal or a bus stop every few hundred yards, and the Throwley Way one-way system slows to a crawl at peak times and on Saturdays. On the A217 Reigate Avenue by-pass the car moves freely, and the difference between the two is where a failing air con shows itself. Plenty of airflow at speed hides a weak system. Idling at the lights near Sutton station, the condenser has only its fan, and a low charge leaves the cabin warm.
Newtown and the streets around the centre are tightly parked, and many cars in Sutton are commuter cars that do short hops into town or to the station. That kind of use rarely gives the system long enough to cool the cabin properly, and it can also mean the air con is switched off for most of the year. Refrigerant slowly escapes regardless, and systems that are rarely run tend to lose it faster through dry seals.
Our regas is methodical. We check the refrigerant type on the under-bonnet label, recover and weigh the old charge, then hold the system under vacuum to boil off moisture and check that it stays sealed. The recharge is done by weight, with the correct compressor oil, and we finish by checking vent temperature and compressor cycling. If the system will not hold vacuum, we explain what that means and give you a written quote for the leak repair before going further.
From the town centre, take Carshalton Road east, then West Street north past Carshalton station, Wrythe Lane, Wrythe Green Road and Hackbridge Road into Hackbridge. It is about 10 minutes. If you work at the Royal Marsden or in an office in town, collection can be arranged. Repairs carry our 3-month workmanship warranty.