AE AE & AC (08) 9249 8619

Car AC Regas in Malaga

A regas with a leak test included — because a system that is low has leaked, and refilling it without finding out where is money you will spend again.

Malaga workshop Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm Sat 8:00am–12:00pm Auto electrical, AC & mechanical in-house

What a proper regas involves

  • Performance test first — vent temperature and system pressures, so we know what we are starting with.
  • Recovery. Existing refrigerant is recovered from the system by machine, not vented. It is measured, so we know exactly how much was in there — which tells us how badly it is leaking.
  • Vacuum. The system is evacuated to remove air and moisture, then held under vacuum and watched. If the vacuum does not hold, there is a leak, and we stop and tell you before putting gas in.
  • Leak test. Included, not an optional extra.
  • Recharge to the manufacturer's specified weight for your vehicle — by weight, not by guess, because both under and overcharging reduce cooling.
  • Final performance test to confirm vent temperature and pressures are where they should be.

R134a and R1234yf — the difference that matters to you

R134aR1234yf
Typically fitted toOlder vehiclesNewer vehicles
Why it changedMuch lower global warming potential; phased in to meet environmental requirements
Interchangeable?No. The two are not interchangeable, use different service fittings, and require separate equipment. Putting the wrong one in can damage the system and is not acceptable practice.
CostLowerHigher — the refrigerant itself is significantly more expensive, which is the main reason a newer car costs more to regas

Which one your vehicle takes is determined by the manufacturer, not by preference. There is usually a label under the bonnet stating the refrigerant type and the charge weight. We service both.

If a quote for a newer car seems surprisingly cheap, ask which refrigerant they are using. R1234yf costs considerably more than R134a, and that difference has to show up somewhere.

Signs you need one

  • Cooling that has faded gradually over a season or two — the most common pattern, because slow leaks are slow.
  • Air that is cool but not cold, especially in stop-start traffic.
  • The system takes noticeably longer to cool the cabin than it used to.
  • Cooling that works on the highway but not at idle.
  • You have not had the system serviced in several years.

If the system is blowing warm rather than just weak, that is more likely a fault than a slow leak — see air conditioning repairs.

What affects the price

We quote after we have looked at the vehicle, because an honest number needs the actual fault rather than a description of it. What moves the price on this kind of work:

  • Diagnostic time. An obvious fault is quick; an intermittent one that only appears when hot, cold or over a bump takes longer to reproduce and confirm.
  • Part cost for your specific vehicle. This varies enormously between makes — European parts are frequently multiples of the equivalent for a common Japanese model.
  • Access. Some components are behind a dash, a subframe or an engine mount. The part can be cheap and the labour the opposite.
  • Whether the fault has caused secondary damage that also needs addressing.
  • Whether coding or calibration is required after fitting.

You get the number before the work starts, and nothing extra happens without you approving it first.

Warranty on this work

Workmanship and parts are covered. The specific period depends on the job and on the part supplier's own warranty, so the terms that apply to your repair are set out on your invoice — ask us to walk you through them before you approve the work if you would like it clear up front.

This sits alongside your rights under Australian Consumer Law, which apply regardless of what any warranty document says.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a car AC regas cost in Perth?

It depends primarily on which refrigerant your vehicle takes — R1234yf costs considerably more than R134a — and on how much gas the system holds. Call (08) 9249 8619 with your make, model and year for a price.

What is the difference between R134a and R1234yf?

They are different refrigerants with different environmental profiles, fittings and equipment requirements. R1234yf has a much lower global warming potential and is used in newer vehicles; R134a is in older ones. They are not interchangeable, and R1234yf is significantly more expensive.

How long does a regas take?

The recovery, vacuum, hold and recharge cycle takes a while by design — the vacuum hold in particular cannot be rushed if it is going to prove the system is sealed. We will confirm the timeframe when you book.

Do you check for leaks as part of a regas?

Yes, always, and it is included rather than extra. If the system does not hold vacuum we stop and tell you before putting refrigerant into it.

My AC was regassed last year and it's warm again. Why?

Because it has a leak that was not found and repaired. Refrigerant is not consumed in normal use — a system that needs regassing annually is leaking, and the leak is the repair.

Other services

Areas we service: Malaga · Morley · Ballajura · Wangara · Bayswater · Midland · Guildford · Ellenbrook · Bassendean · Perth and the wider Perth metropolitan area.

Book your vehicle in

Tell us what the vehicle is doing and we will diagnose it properly. You get the price before the work starts.