CoolCar Air-Conditioning Centre Onehunga

28/07/2020

Big-ups to Michael for being mindful of the environment and having his AC system de-gassed prior to doing engine work. Too often we see and hear of cases where refrigerant has been knowingly released into the atmosphere, so it's great to be able to share a positive story. Good luck to Michael and team for the big race!

This is Michael with his ‘under $1000’ car that is going to be modified for a 24-hour race at Hampton Downs. We were impressed that he took the time to get the system de-gassed before setting to work. De-gassing is free at our workshops and is a way you can help in the fight against global warming. Synthetic greenhouse refrigerants are potent global-warming substances and keeping them out of the atmosphere is a good idea. The Climate Change Response Act says this refrigerant must be recovered

21/04/2020

Update on Covid-19 Level 3 Alert from Morrison/CoolCar Onehunga (22.04.20)

We are open from Tues 28th.

Level 3 commences on Tuesday 28th April and our workshop will then be open to all customers. However we will be operating with strict health and safety procedures in place. To help us keep you and our staff safe we would be grateful for you cooperation with the following :

Please phone ahead to arrange an appointment. Thank you for not calling in unannounced. Our usual telephone numbers can be used: 6343989 for Morrisons and 6343050 for CoolCar Onehunga. We will discuss your requirements and agree on a specific plan for assessing/working on your vehicle.

Customers may not enter the work premises under any circumstances. Please park on the forecourt, and wait there for assistance. Within a short time a staff member will come out of the building to assist you, at which point we would like you to exit your vehicle, leaving the keys in the driver’s door. Please make sure there are no used food or drink containers left in your vehicle, and leave the air conditioning turned off.

Please assist us by keeping at a distance of at least 2m between yourself and others at all times. We will stagger the arrival of vehicles and will maintain social distancing between staff members and patrons.

Please note that your keys and vehicle will be sanitised before and after repairs. We will be following strict procedures for cleanliness in all aspects of operating our workshop, and this extends to any vehicles we work on. Your keys will be disinfected, and the steering wheel, gear stick, handbrake etc will be wiped down with a cleaner safe for vehicle interiors. We will use seat covers and gloves while driving your vehicle.

We will email you a copy of the invoice with payment details so that payment can be made online. Please then email us back a screenshot of the payment before coming to collect the vehicle. Alternatively funds must have cleared in our account before collection (usually the next day unless paying from the ANZ).

We look forward to assisting you with your vehicle maintenance and repairs. As mentioned in LL #2 post we are happy to check and correct tyre pressures as a complimentary post lockdown service, but please phone ahead first!

21/04/2020

We will be open to all customers from Tues 28th. Please check separate post for important details regarding safety procedures.

24/03/2020

Update on Covid-19 Level 4 Alert from Morrison Diesel/CoolCar Onehunga (24.03.20)

We are open.

WE ARE CLASSED AS AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS AND WILL REMAIN OPEN TO COMPLETE NECESSARY MECHANICAL SERVICING AND REPAIRS DURING THE LEVEL 4 ALERT. HOWEVER THIS WILL BE BY ARRANGEMENT ONLY AND SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS DESCRIBED BELOW.

The latest advice from the government states that mechanical workshops may continue to operate during the Level 4 Alert but will be limited to the repair and maintenance of vehicles used for essential services only. As we understand the government guidelines this permits us to work on vehicles used for the transport of food/other essential goods, and well as the personal vehicles of customers who work in essential services. We will continue to follow updates from the government and communicate with our customers accordingly.

At the present time we plan to operate Morrisons/CoolCar Onehunga on a skeletal staff and to open/offer services on a needs basis. To clarify, we are as always able to work on both petrol and diesel vehicles, up to the size of light trucks. At this stage we are unsure if all of our suppliers will stay open but given government guidelines we anticipate that mechanical parts will continue to be supplied and sold in order to maintain the delivery of essential services. Please note the following important conditions for the arrangement of repairs during the Level 4 Alert:

If you need help with your vehicle and you believe that you are eligible to have repairs completed under the conditions of the Level 4 Alert you must telephone us first. At this time please call 09 6343989 for all enquiries (calls to this number will be forwarded when we are not on site).
Under no circumstances should you come to the workshop without prior arrangement.
Under no circumstances should you come to the workshop if you have a cough, fever or any other flu-like symptoms.

If it is agreed that your vehicle will come to the workshop we ask that you observe the following safety protocols:

Please make sure that no open drinks, straws, food, serviettes etc are left in the vehicle.
Turn off the heating and air-conditioning system, so that air is not blowing when the key is next turned on.
Please park outside, and wait there for someone to come out to you (you can phone us from outside if you believe you have not been seen). We will keep a distance of 2 metres while talking to you.

For your protection and ours we undertake to:

Wipe down keys with cleaner before use.
Enter your vehicle wearing gloves before wiping the steering wheel, gear stick, hand brake etc with cleaner.
Practise physical distancing and other correct hygiene procedures in every aspect of operating our workshop.
Send you an email copy of the invoice with payment details so that payment can be made online. (NB you must email us back a screenshot of the payment or alternatively the funds must clear before collection of the vehicle.)
Repeat cleaning of vehicle interior and keys before the vehicle is returned to you.

We wish all of our customers and their families peace and safety during this difficult time, and look forward to resuming our regular services for you in the future. Miles and Rachel.

05/07/2019

Just sitting down to eat lunch and I saw an article on Stuff about how to survive winter road trips with the kids. I quite agree with the writer's comments on car A/C.

"While your wipers do the outside, good air con can help you maintain visibility from the inside.

We tend to think of air conditioning as a summer thing that keeps us cool on a hot day. And it does, but it's just as important for winter driving, because it demists the windows, ensuring you have good visibility. Make sure your is working properly before you head off these school holidays."

05/05/2017

Here's a graphic illustration of the result of "it just needs a regas". The picture shows two samples of the control valve that lives in most modern car A/C compressors. The bottom valve is an end-of-life valve shown in exactly the condition it was in (uncleaned) when it was removed from the car. Compare this with the top valve from a car with a leaking A/C system which has been regased without having the leak repaired - the oil looks like mud and has the same consistency. The compressor has been destroying itself from the inside out and the entire A/C system now needs to be flushed and most of the major components replaced. Long story short, a 'cheap' regas is anything but. You need to fix the leak before you recharge the system. It will save you money in the long run.....

24/04/2017

For Miles

10/04/2017

Some one gave my daughter a birthday card with this written in it...bit close to the wind but funny all the same..
A precious little girl walks into a pet shop and asks in the sweetest little lisp, "Excuthe me, mithter, do you keep widdle wabbits?"
As the shopkeeper's heart melts, he gets down on his knees, so that he's on her level, and asks, "Do you want a widdle white wabby, or a thoft and fuwwy back wabby, or maybe one like that cute widdle bwown wabby over there?"
The girl, in turn, blushes, rocks on her heels, puts her hands on her knees, leans forward and says in a quiet voice, "I don't fink my pet python weally gives a thit."

16/11/2016

The only thing faster than Usain Bolt is a gas jockey taking your money on a cheap "regas" deal. Even better than that was this one didn't even give the customer pure R134A. As a result the A/C system had been subjected to pressures far higher than it was ever designed to cope with, so now it's leaking.
At Coolcar Air Conditioning Centers we will check the quality of the refrigerant in your A/C system and will only ever supply you with pure refrigerant.

26/08/2016

Wow, I have just received the familiar phone call, "How much for a re-gas?" but was particularly aghast to hear the customer share that they used to have their car re-gassed FOUR TIMES A YEAR!!! They assumed this was needed due to a high level of use and were adamant that there was no leak!

I would have said there was a hole the size of the grand canyon in that A/C system.

A modern car air conditioning system is designed and made in such a way that it wouldn't lose enough refrigerant for you to notice a drop in A/C performance in the car's entire life time. If the system does lose efficiency then it is leaking, and any new refrigerant put into a leaking system will of course go the same way as the old.

Sadly the myth that re-gassing A/C is a normal part of vehicle maintenance is not only widely believed, it is actively propagated by unscrupulous operators who want to take your money no matter the consequences. Pretty sobering stuff, given that the current refrigerant R134A has a global warming rate 1300 times that of carbon dioxide, and a half life of 8 to 16 years.

In the wintertime an indicator that your A/C has a problem is misted up windows when you have your A/C running. Do yourself and your children a favour and get your A/C checked at a CoolCar Air Conditioning Centre.