Is there a good national chain or someone independent in Bristol?

What are the symptoms?
If the car is a few years old the pipework might be corroded / leaking. The compressor might be dead.

You are scaring me.

Car of over 8 years old. Symptoms are there is no difference in temp between on or off.

Kwick fit did mine.
Was on a fix it or it is free deal
they fixed it, for about a week

Kwickfit don't have the best rep do they.

Kwick fit did mine.
Was on a fix it or it is free deal
they fixed it, for about a week

Kwick fit on Gloucester rd did mine and that's about how long it lasted too 😡

So I know where NOT to get it done – any recommendations otherwise?

In fairness it was cheap and I just assumed a pipe was busted and hence not financially viable to fix on my rust bucket.
Cheers-drive – what was your outcome…

Air-con systems shouldn't need recharging unless there is a problem – like a leak. Need to fix the root cause.

IIRC, they can't just recharge it. The gas is a 'greenhouse gas' and the system will be checked for leaks first. If it's leaking, you'll have to get it fixed. It's pointless not to anyway.
Aircon need to be serviced, just like any other moving part too.

What car is it?

Specialist air con people, you can find in the yellow pages, can use UV lights and dyes to find the leaks.

my mrs had hers done by somebody mobile in brizzle, i'll ask her when she gets back from work. works fine still about a year later.

Thanks flatfish

Had mine done at Kwik Fit a couple of years ago, they use a system that is going to vacuum the old gas out, pressure test, then replenish with refridgerant gas plus the lubes needed. If they can't do it, you don't pay.

Don't need to worry about the rep of Kwik Fit as it is pretty much an automated system that just needs someone to connect to the right tubes and set it off. Seem to recall when I got mine done it was £45 or so, but they often runalongside other servicing or MOT offers as well.

On a older car a slight leak may take ages to stop the system from working. When the system is recharged it sould be emptied 1st. Anyone operating the machine with half a brain will tell you whether the system has got a big problem as the pressure read out while empting the system will be crap if theres a big hole.
The current refrig gas is not the old R22 ozone depleter.
My top tip would be to try your local car dismantler. They have to take the gas out of cars and get rid of it. £15-20 cash should get you the system recharged, and if theres a knackered pipe they might even has one.

sorry the mrs cant remember and i can't find the invoice in our car folder.
i do know that nailsea motors recommended them so try ringing them first.

If it needs regassing then you'll be fine.

If it needs work then go to a specialist.

There's a place in bedminster near the train station that I've cycled passed a few times that advertises of being aircon service people not used it mind, my motor doesn't have the luxury I just have to open a window!

In fairness it was cheap and I just assumed a pipe was busted and hence not financially viable to fix on my rust bucket.
Cheers-drive – what was your outcome…

I didn't bother getting it checked out after as it was only £20. That was summer 2007 and since then I think there has been 3 hot days when I wish it worked.

I topped up mine myself. Got a kit from Halfords for about £16 that not only recharged but apparently sealed small leaks as well. Only took a few minutes to do and the hardest part was removing all the plastic covers to get at the valve.
Been working a treat since then and cold as it was when new 8 years ago 😆

This is what i used although a fair bit pricier now!!

AC is like your fridge, it works or it doesn't. If it doesn't then there is an underlying reason, IE a leak, if the leak is small enough then the AC may work for a while once refilled before you need to top up on gas again.
AC does not need servicing unless you start to get horrid smells because of bacteria in the vent system caused by lack of use, that's why modern systems are constantly on rather than off.
HTH.

Sometimes the leak is so small it's pretty much undetectable and may take a couple of years to lose its gas. Main place for leaks is on the condenser (usually in front of the radiator) and can be caused by something like a stone hitting it on the motorway. Condensers usually cost a few hundred pounds to replace, so most people don't bother and live without ac or get gas added every couple of years.

Shame you aren't further north, I only charge £25 for a system recharge 😉

There is an article in the April (current) issue of Car Mechanics magazine that has some info on air con maintenance.