Reasons Why Your Car’s Air Conditioner Stops Working
In many places of the United States, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day comes with an abundance of promised fun in the sun and memory making vacations with the family. But with the hot summer months also comes a need for reliable air conditioning in your car.
If it’s pushing triple digits on the thermometer and your car’s AC isn’t working, that’s not going to make for a very pleasant time when out on the open road.
Automotive AC System Common Problems And Solutions
There are many automotive air conditioning system common problem and solutions. Some things you can fix yourself, some are much better left to the professionals.
Air conditioner not working
So if your air conditioning has suddenly decided to go on the fritz just when you need it most, our San Antonio automotive AC repair team will share the most common reasons with you.
Here are some things you can look out for:
Is The Freon Leaking?
This is one of the most common reasons why your car may be blowing hot air. Freon is the chemical refrigerant that’s necessary for cooling the warm air before it’s blown into the car for the driver and passengers to enjoy on a hot summer day.
But if there’s a leak in the system, it’s not going to work as it was intended to work. This is something you can do a cursory check for yourself, but it may be best to have a professional mechanic or air conditioning technician take a look.
Leaks can be found in many places, including damaged hoses, loose gaskets or even just a loose connection somewhere in the system.
Perhaps The System Needs Recharging
All air conditioning systems lose refrigerant over time, but it usually happens at such a slow pace that you don’t really notice it.
But if you do notice that your car’s AC isn’t cooling as well as it once did, it could be a simple recharging issue that you can take care of yourself.
The most common cause for this is just that the freon levels have gotten too low to adequately cool your car.
Whatever the case, it’s usually a pretty easy fix. If you don’t think you can do it yourself, just have your mechanic recharge the air conditioning system the next time you take your car in for a regular fleet maintenance checkup.
Perhaps The Condenser Is Blocked Or Broken
Condensers turn freon gases back into liquid, that’s their job. But if the condenser is blocked or damaged by road debris, which is more common than you might think, the refrigerant isn’t going to flow properly, or even at all.
If and when this happens, cold air will not be blowing from your air conditioner. You can look underneath the car and see if you detect a blockage and, if so, remove it.
But if you can’t visually detect the problem, it’s best to take your car into the shop and let a professional take a look at it.
There May Be Electrical Issues
Today’s modern vehicles have a lot of working parts, many of them electrical in nature. And your car’s air conditioning unit is certain no exception.
Even something as simple as a blown fuse could cause your air conditioner to stop working. And nobody wants this to happen during the dog days of summer.
Most automotive shops have equipment that can perform a full diagnostic on your car’s air conditioning system and quickly pinpoint the problem. This allows your mechanic to isolate the problem area or areas and repair the issue as efficiently as possible.
The Compressor Isn’t Engaging
The job of the compressor is to compress the freon and allow you to enjoy the cool, crisp air coming from your car’s air conditioner.
But if the compressor isn’t working properly, the air isn’t going to get cold and you’re going to get frustrated.
The most common reasons for your compressor not working properly is low freon levels, an electrical issue or even an overheated engine.
Have your mechanic take a look at it the next time you’re in for a visit. Or sooner, if you’re experiencing extremely hot days and need an immediate fix to the problem.
If you own a business with several vehicles contact our Texas Elite Auto & Diesel fleet maintenance program in San Antonio, TX ,We’re continually improving our employee training and our services, so give us a ring today and let the city’s best team of automotive repair specialists give your fleet of vehicles some Tender Loving Care.