It might seem odd that we are talking about your car’s air conditioner in January, but plan to have an AC check in spring to make sure everything is okay. It’s important to take care of your air conditioner as well as you take care of the rest of your automobile, and Crossroads Automotive can help. We service and repair automobile air conditioners to make sure they are running efficiently and effectively. There are common problems that we fix all the time. Here is what they are.
Clogged or Damaged Condenser
The condenser doesn’t have a lot of luck when it comes to location. This air conditioning system part is located directly behind the grille. This leaves it open to being pelted by dirt and debris while you are driving. The dirt can clog the condenser and prevent it from being able to cool the refrigerant. Debris can damage the condenser and also prevent it from being able to cool the refrigerant. When either of these things happens, you may end up with hot air going out of your vents.
Malfunctioning Compressor
The compressor loves to work. In fact, leaving your car’s air conditioner off for months at a time can actually cause the compressor to malfunction. Consequently, when this happens, the compressor is unable to convert the refrigerant gas into a liquid. As with a damaged or clogged condenser, this problem will cause hot air to come out of your vents even though you have the air conditioner on. Replacing the compressor can resolve this problem.
Reduced Refrigerant Levels
As you just read, the refrigerant comes in two forms. It starts off as a gas that is compressed by the compressor to turn it into liquid. The air flows over this cold liquid to cool it before it flows through the vents. The refrigerant should be checked annually to make sure that you have plenty in the system to keep the air cool. Refrigerant can be lost through evaporation and also by leaking out of the system. It commonly leaks out of the connector hoses when it’s in its liquid form.
Electrical System Problem
Finally, an air conditioner electrical system problem can prevent the AC from running. The button that you press on your console to turn on the AC may fail to work or the unit may not turn on at all. An electrical system problem can also prevent the fan from running.
Schedule a spring AC check with Crossroads Automotive in Topeka, KS, today. Once the summer heat is upon us, you will be happy you did.