Cold air,
no guesswork.
R-134a and R-1234yf certified. We find the leak before we recharge — so your AC still works next August. Full diagnostic, transparent quote, comfortable cabin.
$59 AC Check
Full performance test: vent temperature, high/low pressures, clutch cycling, and a visual leak inspection — credited toward any repair.
- Vent temp measurement
- High/low side pressure test
- UV dye leak check
- Compressor clutch test
- Written quote, no upsell
Real causes, real fixes
O-ring & seal leaks
Most common. UV dye finds them; replace with new HNBR o-rings rated for modern refrigerants.
Condenser leaks
Rock chips through the front-mount condenser. Replace the condenser, not just recharge.
Compressor failure
Whine, lockup, or no clutch engagement. Full kit: compressor + drier + orifice tube/expansion valve + flush.
Evaporator leaks
Dash-out job. We do them in-house — slow, careful work that lasts.
Blend door actuators
Stuck at hot or cold. Common on GM, Ford, and Chrysler — quick swap.
Cabin filter neglect
Restricts airflow, breeds mildew. We replace every year as part of service.
Heater core failure
Sweet smell, foggy windows, coolant loss. Replacement or bypass quoted honestly.
Climate control electronics
Bi-directional scan tool diagnoses module faults that throw shops without proper tools.
How we diagnose AC
- 01
Vent-temp baseline. We measure what's coming out of the dash before touching anything.
- 02
Pressure test. High and low side gauges tell us if the system is low, overcharged, or has a blockage.
- 03
Leak detection. UV dye for slow leaks, electronic sniffer for the bigger ones — never the parts-cannon approach.
- 04
Repair the leak first. Then evacuate to deep vacuum and recharge by weight, not by gauge pressure.
- 05
Verify on a road test. Vent temp at idle, at 30 mph, and at freeway speed — all three logged.
What it costs
Starting prices, parts & labor included. Exact quote after diagnosis — never a parts-cannon estimate.
If any of this sounds familiar
Warm air at idle, cool on highway
Classic low-charge or weak condenser fan. Easy fix once diagnosed.
Clicking or whining compressor
Failing clutch or internal compressor damage. Time to replace, not recharge.
Musty smell from vents
Evaporator mildew. Treatment + cabin filter, problem solved.
Heat won't turn off (or won't turn on)
Blend door actuator or HVAC control head.
Foggy windshield + sweet smell
Heater core leaking coolant into the cabin. Safety issue — come in.
AC works one day, dies the next
Intermittent electrical or pressure cycling switch. We log live data to catch it.
AC repair across the South Bay
AC questions
Why does my car AC blow warm at idle but cold on the highway?
Almost always low refrigerant. Highway airflow helps the condenser shed heat, masking the low charge. You probably have a slow leak — we find it with UV dye or an electronic sniffer and fix it before recharging.
How much does an AC recharge cost?
A simple R-134a recharge with leak inspection runs $129. R-1234yf (most 2015+ vehicles) runs $189–$249 due to refrigerant cost. We never recharge without finding the leak first — adding refrigerant to a leaking system is just delaying the real fix.
What's the difference between R-134a and R-1234yf?
R-1234yf is the newer, lower-GWP refrigerant required on most vehicles built 2015 and later. They're not interchangeable, and R-1234yf costs roughly 6× more per pound. We're equipped for both — most shops are only set up for R-134a.
My AC smells musty — what is it?
Mildew on the evaporator core from sitting moisture. We treat the evaporator and replace your cabin air filter. Smell gone, usually permanently if the cabin filter gets changed yearly.
How long does AC repair take?
Recharge with leak detection: 1–2 hours. Compressor replacement: half a day. Evaporator core (dash-out job): 1–2 days. We give you a realistic ETA, not a sales target.
Do you fix the heater too?
Yes — heater cores, blend doors, climate control modules, and dual-zone systems. Cold heat is often a stuck blend door actuator, not a coolant problem.
Stay cool this summer.
$59 AC check + free leak inspection. Book today — most jobs done same day.