LKQ Euro Car Parts is supporting garages as they prepare to meet customers’ air conditioning servicing needs this summer, with training through LKQ Academy and new deals on equipment.
The distributor of car and van parts and accessories is offering air-con bundle deals in May, with the option to buy now and pay later, ensuring garages are well equipped to tackle a spike in servicing demand in the months ahead. Bundle deals start at £3,699* (excl. VAT) and include a nitrogen test kit and leak detector, gas and a choice of machine.
All bundles come with a three-year service and warranty guarantee, with trusted Autoclimate engineers on hand to offer technical support over the phone or in person. The specialist Autoclimate team – part of LKQ Euro Car Parts’ Workshop Solutions division – carries out more than 10,000 air con related jobs each year, across the UK and Ireland.
Garages can also upskill technicians to maximise opportunities for air con servicing. Key LKQ Academy courses include ‘Cooling & Climate Systems – Understanding Vehicle Air Conditioning’, which provides in-depth training to delegates on diagnostics, components and tooling for £199 (excl. VAT) per candidate, and ‘L3 Refrigerant Handling VRQ (F-Gas)’, which is a legal requirement for those technicians working on R134a vehicle air con systems.
To protect technician safety and help look after the environment, LKQ Euro Car Parts requires all garages to provide proof of their F-gas handling qualification before they can purchase R134a. R134a was the standard refrigerant used in all vehicles before 2013 and while it’s since been replaced by the more environmentally-friendly R1234yf, it is still prevalent in the UK car parc. The ‘L3 Refrigerant Handling VRQ (F-Gas)’ course is available from £250 (excl. VAT) per candidate.
Bob Wiffen, workshop solutions director at LKQ Euro Car Parts, said: “Many motorists will be switching their air conditioning on for the first time as warmer weather arrives. But many might find faults, from weak airflows to bad smells, which have crept in over a long winter. And it’s important not to overlook the fact that air con does more than just deliver comfort in the cabin; it’s essential in preventing the overheating of key safety and performance components in EVs and hybrids.
“We’re helping garages to prepare by discounting an extensive range of air conditioning servicing machines – available alongside a wide offering of tools for diagnosis, repair and maintenance, as well as a full range of consumables – not to mention our marketing-leading training offering.”
The ‘Level 2 & 3 IMI Award in Electric/Hybrid’ starts at £549 (excl. VAT) per candidate through the LKQ Academy, and includes modules on safe and effective air conditioning servicing.
Before checking customers’ air-con systems, LKQ recommends that technicians get their machines properly serviced to ensure they stay legally-compliant and complete their work safely and to the highest possible standard.
*Offers valid until 31st May 2024 and may differ for ROI and NI
