Testing A/C compressor?

I'll have to get it booked in with the proper A/C specialist garage. Unfortunately this is 30 mile away from me but i've used them before & they've been great in the past.

Kwik Fit are supposed to be air con competent. They're just around the corner but it didn't work out today.

I went to them a good few years ago with my own car when the A/C actually wasn't working (unlike today with my wife's car). They said there was a leak but they couldn't say where & basically said i would have to get it repaired before i go back to them, so i guess they don't do repairs (not that i'd go to them for repairs if they did).

So when someone advertises as doing air conditioning, i wonder to what degree they do it (no funny business with replies about temperature either ) Does a place only offer a recharge service? Or do they offer everything to do with A/C?

I've done some googling and found one result which i've just 5 minutes ago found out my brother knows the guy so i'm going to find out if this fella does just recharge servicing or whether he could do a proper repair. Hopefully the latter because then he could do my compressor too.

That's the problem though - finding out who does what. Kwik Fit clearly don't do anything beyond gassing. Again as i say - i wouldn't want them to but they just advertise as doing air con without many specifics.

That person i mentioned earlier must do the same because my brother got back to me & said this chap suggested i go somewhere who uses a dye to determine exactly where the leak is coming from.

I know you can buy kits & such probably from Halfords so i wonder if a lot of these air con guys are just have-a-go-harrys.

So again i'm back to that garage. I'll just have to make a day of it i guess. Go down in both cars & then leave one at the garage while going off in to the town with the other car.