10 Tips To Check If Your Car Needs A/C Repair Do you know your car’s air conditioning is not working as it should? Don’t worry, there are many possible reasons why your air conditioning won’t turn on - or why it turns on and off again. We all love the cool air that is produced by the air conditioner in our cars. You can hardly drive during summer at peak hours unless you have a car with a functioning A/C. But we know that no machine is perfect. Some problems could be as minor as an electrical fault, while others could be more serious like leakages and a broken compressor. If you find your car is not cooling properly and frequently turns off from overheating, then you must take action to have it checked immediately. Here are ten signs to check if your car needs A/C repair:
Check The Coolant Levels The coolant level inside the A/C system must be checked regularly. If the coolant is low, the air conditioner will be unable to cool the car properly. There could be two reasons why the coolant level in your car is low. The AC unit could be leaking, or there could be a problem with the cooling system. If you find any leakages in the A/C system, there is a chance that the coolant could spill and drip into the car’s interior. If you don’t clean it immediately, it could leave a bad smell inside the car. If the coolant is low but there are no leaks, then it is in the cooling system. The cooling system is responsible for transferring the heat from the engine to the refrigerant inside the AC system. If the system is faulty, it could delay heat transfer from the engine to the AC unit. This heat must be transferred so the car’s engine can be cooled. A faulty cooling system combined with a low coolant level in the AC could be responsible for the AC is unable to cool the car.
Check The Air Filter
A clogged air filter can be one of the reasons why your car’s A/C is not working. The air filter inside your car’s A/C unit helps the refrigerant cool the car's air. When it is clogged, it cannot do its job. If the air filter is clogged, it could prevent the refrigerant from cooling the air inside the car. If the air filter is clogged, it should be replaced immediately. If you are not sure if the air filter is clogged, you can press the A/C button and see if the air inside the car starts cooling. A clogged air filter can be noticed when the pressure inside the A/C unit is low. If you feel that the pressure inside the A/C unit is low when you have the A/C on, then it could be because of a clogged air filter. You should check if the air filter has some debris in it. If it does, clean it immediately. If not, you should replace it. If the air filter is clogged, the A/C unit would work harder to cool the air inside the car. This would cause the A/C unit to consume more energy and could cause the A/C compressor to overheat.
Check The Rheostat If your car’s A/C turns on and off repeatedly, there could be a problem with the rheostat. The rheostat is a piece of equipment inside the unit. It controls the flow of refrigerant inside the A/C system. If the rheostat is faulty, the A/C will turn on and off frequently. You cannot control the flow of refrigerant inside the unit. You will not know when the A/C will turn on and off. If the rheostat malfunctions, the system would have to be checked and repaired. The rheostat is usually found inside the A/C unit. You would have to take the A/C unit out of the car to check it. If you find that it is faulty, you should have it repaired or replaced.
Check For Leaks A leak in the A/C unit can be a serious issue. There could be water dripping from the A/C unit. If there are leaks, it could mean that the refrigerant inside the unit is escaping. This is a very serious problem. The refrigerant inside the unit is compressed gas. If it escapes, there could be serious problems. The gas could be harmful to you and the environment. If there are leaks, you should have the A/C unit checked to see where the leak is coming from. You could also smell the leaked refrigerant. It has a strong smell that is like a mix of ammonia and vinegar. You should have the A/C unit checked at the earliest if you find any leaks.
Check The Condenser And Drier The condenser and drier inside the A/C unit are responsible for removing the water from the refrigerant. If these two parts are not working, it could mean that there is water in the refrigerant. If the refrigerant has water in it, there could be two problems. It could be because of a leak in the A/C unit. But it could also be because water dripped into the A/C unit and the condenser and drier could not remove it. This could cause the refrigerant to lose its cooling efficiency. If the refrigerant has water, you should have the A/C system checked to see where the water is coming from. Sometimes, the water could be coming from outside the A/C unit.
Stop-Leak Fluid Or A New A/C Compressor May Be Needed If the condenser and drier remove the water from the refrigerant but there is still some water in the refrigerant, you could use stop-leak fluid. The refrigerant would have to be drained, and the stop leak and refrigerant would be added back into the A/C unit. This is a temporary solution until the leak is found and fixed. If the leaks continue and there is water in the refrigerant, it would be better to get a new compressor. A new compressor would be better than repairing the old one.
Conclusion The air conditioning in your car is not perfect, but it is very useful. If you have to drive a long distance in a hot city, the A/C will come in handy. However, if you find your car’s A/C is not working as it should, then you must visit a car A/C repair shop near you or you should check for these ten signs. There could be a problem with the A/C unit. The A/C unit could be leaking. There could be a problem with the rheostat. These are the three most common problems with the A/C system.