Opinion: Use the off-season to be first to market air con servicing next summer

Euro Car Parts workshop solutions director Bob Wiffen talks air con servicing

Opinion: Use the off-season to be first to market air con servicing next summer
Euro Car Parts says that with the heat of summer finally here, there is an opportunity for garages to increase profits from cooling and air conditioning.

You might wonder why we’re talking about air con when it’s the season for heated seats and demisting the windscreen… but if you are, you’ve already answered your own question.

It might not feel like it now, but air con season will be here again before long – and it tends to arrive quite suddenly, with the first heatwave of the year sending driver demand for air con maintenance and repairs through the roof.

So, why wait until then to discover that your re-gassing machines need a service, or that members of your team don’t have the necessary qualifications to do the work?

Take care of it in the off-season and you’ll jump the queue next summer, putting you in the strongest possible position to take full advantage of a sizeable seasonal sales opportunity.

To support its long-term net zero strategy, in 2006 the EU introduced the mobile air conditioning (MAC) directive, to gradually phase out fluorinated greenhouse gases – or F-gases – which are harmful to the environment.

This legislation has been around for a while, and we are now approaching a tipping point for the aftermarket.

An F-gas called R134A, known in the trade as ‘old gas’, hasn’t been used in new vehicles since January 2017 – at which point all new cars and car-derived vans started to use R1234yf, or ‘new gas’, thanks to its superior sustainability credentials.

Until now, the majority of so-called ‘new gas’ systems have remained largely under manufacturer warranty and have gone back to the dealership for servicing. Not anymore.

To avoid turning down work, really you need the right equipment to work on both ‘old’ and ‘new gas’ systems.

A dual gas machine, like the ECK TWIN 12 or the Texa 780R Touch, could be a good choice while there’s sufficient volume of both gases in the market.

And it’s important that your machine has been serviced and is in good working order before the next air con season arrives.

Bear in mind that that the air conditioning compressors in hybrids and EVs are operated by an electric motor instead of a drive belt.

The oils in the compressors have high dielectric properties that make them non-conductive – but even as little as 1% contamination by improper oil can restrict these properties.

If you work on battery powered vehicles already, or want to grow your service offering next year, look out for air con machines that are ‘hybrid ready/compatible’ and that can self-clear their hoses and oils.

Understanding the requirements for safely handling different refrigerants and systems is vital.

To give you a few of examples as to why, R134A must be handled and disposed of correctly, to avoid damage to the environment – and you can’t actually buy it unless you can provide your supplier with your certification number.

R1234yf is flammable, which means you’ve got to work with spark-free machinery in cool, spark-free areas of the workshop.

And if the incorrect type of PAG oil is used in a hybrid electric air con system, it may conduct high voltage to the compressor case or connected components – with the potential to electrocute the technician and damage components of the car.

Recommended air con courses from the LKQ Academy include:
• Cooling & climate systems – level 1 and 2
• L3 refrigerant handling VRQ (F-Gas)
• Level 2 and 3 award in hybrid electric vehicle routine maintenance activities, system repair and replacement
• Level 4 award in the diagnosis, testing and repair of electric/hybrid vehicles and components

A final word… if you read the above and wondered what air con has to do with hybrid and EV diagnostics, that’s because it’s not just there to enhance comfort in the cabin.

The air con system is essential in cooling the car’s electric motors, axles and battery systems – all of which produce large amounts of heat in use.

Without a working, efficient air con system, these components will overheat and fail.

Being able to work with hybrids and EVs is critical to the future of the independent workshop.

Which means so is knowing your way round an air con system.

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