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Hicks Automotive Car Service, Repairs & Exhaust Centre (LIC# MVRL27800), take great pride in offering our clients with personalised and friendly service at all times. 
		
Conveniently located in Lithgow, our business participates in the AutoTech training program, ensuring all of our technicians are kept fully up to date with modern vehicle diagnostics and service methods. 
		
Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre have a wealth of experience in servicing fleet or farm vehicles. 

As a Repco Authorised Service centre, we provide the highest quality workmanship and combine this witn good old fashioned customer service.

Do you drive an Automatic vehicle? Then you might not even know there is a clutch in your vehicle. But without it, the gears in your car will not change. Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre in Lithgow know all about repairing and servicing these systems including clutches, cables and fluids. Learn more below. What is a clutch? The clutch is one of the most important elements of your vehicles driving operation. Your engine is what causes your wheels to spin, but what happens when your car needs to stop? The engine shouldn't stop spinning but the wheels need to. It's the clutch that allows this to happen. The clutch allows the transfer of power from the engine to the wheels to be interrupted while a gear is being changed or while the car is stationary and the engine continues to run. What is clutch fluid? Some vehicles have hydraulic clutches - when you press the clutch pedal, the clutch fluid moves the pressure from the pedal through to the clutch and disengages the power transmission. Leaking clutch fluid can cause all kinds of problem in your vehicle so it is very important to monitor it regularly. At Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre in Lithgow we check your clutch fluid, hydraulic system or clutch cables for you in the course of our free 65 Point Vehicle Inspection - which you can request as part of every car service.
 What signs to look for if your clutch is not performing You should have your clutch looked at if: You notice a burnt ‘toast' or ‘burning rubber' smell in your car, or smoke from under vehicle Your vehicle is slipping out of gear for no reason There is jerky or sticky gear operation Your clutch is not disengaging fully, or your clutch is sticking or shuddering If your clutch is showing any of the problems above - it could mean any number of faults. Clutch problems are difficult to diagnose by symptoms alone because many issues cause the same symptoms, depending on the vehicle and type of engine. The best way to deal with clutch shuddering, slipping or noise is contact us at Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre today. We can perform clutch service and repairs on most makes and models right here in our Lithgow workshop.

The clutch is one of the most important elements of your vehicles driving operation.

Grinding gears? - It could be your clutch fluid

Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre can conduct a vehicle Inspection with your next car service and provide you with a free Vehicle Condition report.  Mention this web page when you book your car for any service, and we will happily provide you with a fully itemised written report. During this visual inspection (carried out by a qualified mechanic) we will check 65 important areas of your car.
The Vehicle Condition Report can alert you to any issues before they impact you or your family and before they cost you extra time and money. The Repco Auto-Tech trained mechanics at Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre are fully qualified to advise you on every aspect of car service and repair, across most makes and models of vehicles.
The Repco Authorised Service 65 point Vehicle Condition Report offers you additional peace of mind. Book a car service in Lithgow with Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre to ensure you are inspected and protected, because safety matters.

Ask about a 65 Point Vehicle Inspection Report with your next car service.

Inspected & protected

Win a share of over $8,000 in prizes with Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre and Repco Authorised Service From 1 June to 30 September 2025, service your vehicle at Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre and you can enter the Love Your Car promotion and win from a pool of exciting prizes. Prizes to Be Won 5 x $1,000 Repco Authorised Service vouchers
Redeemable at any participating Repco Authorised Service centre nationwide. 25 x $100 fuel gift cards
Perfect for your next road trip or daily drive. 5 x Supercars merchandise packs
Valued at $100 each.

Total prize pool valued at up to $8,100 including GST. How to Enter To participate: Book and complete a vehicle service at any Repco Authorised Service centre during the promotional period. Visit repcoservice.com  Tell us in 25 words or less why you deserve to win a Love Your Car prize. Upload your receipt Submit your entry online before 11:59pm AEST on 30 September 2025.

From 1 June to 30 September 2025, service your vehicle at a Repco Authorised Service centre and YOU could win big in the Love Your Car promotion

Love Your Car & Win

If your car’s been struggling to start on those frosty Lithgow mornings, it might not just be the cold—it could be your battery waving the white flag. And when you're heading up the highway or into the mountains, the last thing you want is a car that won’t start. At Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre, we know how harsh local conditions can be on vehicles. From freezing mornings to long hill climbs and rougher roads, your battery works harder out here than in the city. That’s why we offer proper battery testing and high-quality replacements—so you’re never caught out when it matters most. Cold Weather Hits Batteries Hard in the Mountains When the temperature drops, your battery’s chemical process slows down, making it harder to supply the power your engine needs to fire up. Add in years of wear, previous summer heat damage, or rough local driving, and it’s no surprise so many batteries give up in winter. Signs Your Battery Might Be on the Way Out Don’t wait until you're stuck in the driveway or out bush. Watch for these early warning signs: Slow cranking when starting your engine Dim or flickering headlights Battery or engine warning lights on your dash Electric windows, central locking or stereo playing up Needed a jump-start recently Starting gets worse on colder mornings Battery is 3+ years old or hasn’t been checked in a while When you bring your vehicle to us for a battery check, we’ll give it a thorough once-over: Full battery condition and load testing Inspection of terminals, wiring and mounting Honest advice—if it’s fine, we’ll tell you. If it’s not, we’ll fix it. On-the-spot battery replacement with a tough, reliable brand built for Lithgow conditions Whether you drive a daily runabout, tradie ute or something towing a van, we’ll match the right battery to your vehicle and usage. Get It Checked Before You Get Stuck A quick battery check now could save you a whole lot of hassle later—especially when the mornings are crisp and your schedule’s tight. Drop into Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre's workshop in Lithgow and let’s make sure your car fires up first go, every time. Local mechanics. Straight-up service. Proudly keeping Lithgow running strong, one start at a time.

A quick battery check now could save you a whole lot of hassle later—especially when the mornings are crisp and your schedule’s tight.

Slow Starts on Chilly Mornings?

Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre (AU63531) are the best choice to take care of  all your Car Air Conditioning Regas, Inspection, Repairs or Servicing needs in Lithgow and the surrounding areas. Modern cars tend to be quite complex and just like the engine servicing your car's air conditioner regularly is very important to ensure continued reliable and efficient operation. When refrigerant has started to leak or evaporate your air con system will begin to deteriorate and will have to work harder, which in turn means more fuel is getting used up. Therefore it's important that the rubber seals are studied on a regular basis for any signs of leaks or cracking which could be a sign of an ongoing loss of refrigerant. Getting your car's air conditioning serviced once a year means you can help protect against costly breakdowns now and in the future, keep passengers safe by helping to prevent the build-up of potentially harmful substances and a well serviced automotive air conditioner system actually saves you money because uses less fuel.. Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre care about the environment and are fully authorised to take care of all your automotive air conditioner re-gas, inspection, repairs or servicing (ARC Authorisation AU63531). Have more questions about your cars air con? How do air conditioners work? A car air conditioner system is composed of four essential parts : A belt-driven pump known as a compressor to compress and circulate gas. A radiator like unit called a condenser to redistribute heat and condense gas to a liquid. An expansion device, which could be a thermal expansion valve (TXV) or an orifice tube (subject to the kind of air-con system used). Some systems have an accumulator before the compressor to remove moisture from the refrigerant while TXV systems have a receiver-dryer before the evaporator performs the same crucial task. Both of these parts also store refrigerant. Car air conditioning is designed to pull the heat from the air within the car's interior area and transfer it outside, leaving only cooled or 'conditioned' air to be redistributed. Hot air is passed across a gas-filled evaporator, where the heat is easily absorbed by the refrigerant (in gas form), effectively removing the heat from the air in the car. The now heated gas is pulled through the compressor where it is further heated (via compression). The next stage involves the refrigerant being forced through the condenser to extract the refrigerant's heat quickly. The refrigerant, now condensed to a liquid, then moves through the expansion device (either a TXV or Orifice tube), which regulates the refrigerant's flow to the evaporator, changing the high-pressure liquid to a low-pressure mist (gas). A fan blowing over the evaporator's cold fins produces the cold air being blown into the car, and the entire process then begins all over again. Does the car air conditioner use more fuel? Yes! Your car air conditioning is using fuel. However, it's actually more fuel efficient to run car air conditioning than it is to have your windows down due to aerodynamic drag. If your air conditioning isn't performing its best, it may use more fuel to run. To avoid this, it's important that you have your air conditioning serviced regularly by professionals, like the ones at Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre.  What's the cause of the bad smell in car air conditioning? The damp environment can promote microbes, bacteria and even fungus growth inside the evaporator core. This can lead to nasty smells and possibly even be bad for the health of any vehicle occupants. Although modern evaporator units tend to be more efficient, they have more fins, meaning an increased capability to trap moisture and allow for micro-organism development. How do I know my car air conditioning is due for a service? If you cannot remember when your air conditioning was last serviced, perhaps it's time to book in with the team at Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre. You should also book in if: Your air conditioning system is blowing warm air There are damp patches or water stains under your dashboard Your car air conditioning system smells funny Your car air conditioning system is making strange noises There is weak air flow from the car air conditioning system Why does the car air conditioner need to be serviced? Car air conditioning is designed to pull the heat from the air within the interior area of the car outside, leaving only cooled or 'conditioned' air to be redistributed. This is achieved using a special compound called refrigerant, capable of readily absorbing heat as a gas and quickly losing heat as a liquid. The compressor needs the right amount of oil in the refrigerant to prevent it from seizing up. Should the air filters be jammed with dirt and bacteria, it will affect the entire system's performance, and it can even cause it to stop working altogether. On top of inhibiting air conditioner efficiency, dirty air filters can cause health problems. Being exposed to the elements and very diverse operating conditions and being used intermittently rather than being 'Always On' can cause decay of the hoses, connections and seals. A vehicle air conditioning system should be examined regularly to ensure there are no problems or refrigerant loss due to failure or leakage from these points. Simply by cooling the air in your car under normal running conditions, the air filters get dirty and intermittent use can cause seals to dry and crack, allowing them to leak. Even without leaks, the gas in a car air conditioning system will eventually begin to degrade or evaporate over time. It should be recharged as required to keep the air con system in peak running condition. How often should a car air conditioner be serviced? Your automotive air conditioning system needs to be examined once a year for any signs of problems with the seals, hoses and connections and confirm there is no refrigerant reduction over time. Regularly servicing your automotive air conditioner system keeps refrigerant at optimum levels meaning the system does not need to work as hard. This, in turn, protects the system from damage and minimises fuel expenditure. Can I service my own car air conditioner? Only qualified mechanics with the appropriate training, like the ones at Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre, should attempt to service a car air conditioner. Specific licences are required to service or repair some types of car air conditioning systems, especially where re-gas (recharging of the refrigerant) is concerned. Strict guidelines and procedures must be adhered to when handling certain refrigerants, which must always be fully recovered and not allowed to escape into the atmosphere during servicing. Refrigerant can also pose serious health risks if mishandled. Specialist equipment is also required as the air conditioning system is under extreme pressure and must be pulled into a deep vacuum to remove any moisture, to avoid seriously damaging the system. You can find out more about licensing on the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) Website.

Keep your cool with less fuel this summer with an Air Conditioning Service in Lithgow from Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre

Is keeping your cool costing you fuel?

Keep your cool, without global warming. A proactive car air conditioning approach to protecting our environment.  As Australia begins phasing down HFC use (from January 2018), many new vehicle manufacturers may be switching to new air conditioning systems using the more environmentally friendly refrigerant R-1234yf, instead of R-134a. The benefits of using R-1234yf "Twelve Thirty Four", as R-1234yf is sometimes known, is an HFO type refrigerant delivering high performance, resulting in a more efficient air-conditioning system, fewer emissions and reduced fuel consumption. Hydrofluoroolefins (HFO's) have a double carbon bond meaning they trap less heat in the atmosphere than Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's) and break down faster. Importantly, R-1234yf systems are specifically engineered to prevent refrigerant leakage and loss, including into the interior of the vehicle. The leakage of refrigerants contributes considerably to greenhouse gases. Why the switch? Older type refrigerants accumulate in the upper atmosphere as greenhouse gases and contribute significantly to Global Warming for a considerable time. In the mid-'90s, the old R-12 (or Freon), which takes a long time to break down into a non-greenhouse gas, was replaced with R134a, which breaks down much quicker. R-1234yf takes that improvement to the next level, breaking down in less than half the time of R-134a (and a fraction of the time R-12 can take). R-134a will remain in use for some time and a licensed mechanic can still service R-134a air con systems, but new vehicles will likely use the new systems with R-1234yf. Some already are. Irrespective of what type of refrigerant your car air conditioner uses, a car service workshop undertaking air conditioner service must have the right knowledge and equipment to handle these gases responsibly. You should always take your car to a mechanic with the skills and specialist equipment to undertake air conditioning service safely and correctly.

Hicks Automotive & Exhaust Centre

Cars are our passion.

Grinding gears? - It could be your clutch fluid

Inspected & protected

Love Your Car & Win

Slow Starts on Chilly Mornings?

Is keeping your cool costing you fuel?

There's a new gas in town