What’s Wrong With Your Car’s AC?

Potential Auto AC Issues

If it’s hot and your car’s air conditioning system isn’t cooling, you likely want it repaired as soon as possible. But how do you know what to fix? You need a proper diagnosis. The professional technicians at AutoStream in Woodstock, Maryland, are certified in AC service and repair. They’re equipped to diagnose the problem and cool you off quickly.

Potential Causes of AC Problems

There are many things that can go wrong with your car’s air conditioning system, manifesting in a variety of annoying ways. One way to begin identifying the issue is to tell your mechanic the symptoms you’re experiencing.
Perhaps the air blowing from your car’s AC vents is not as cool as it used to be. Your service technician will likely want to check to see if you have any of the following issues: a lack of refrigerant (which could be caused by a leaky hose, o-ring, etc.), a vacuum leak, a bad condenser or evaporator, a faulty blower motor/resistor, a compressor/clutch that is no longer working, a clogged hose, or another failed part (fuse, relay, switch, control module, solenoid, etc.).

If you smell a dank odor when using the AC, you could have a dirty cabin filter. Worse, your car could have developed a case of mold inside the system. If your air conditioner begins cooling but then changes over to warm air, you may have a system leak, a bad compressor clutch, a clogged valve, or a blown fuse.

Diagnosing the Problem

When you take your vehicle to the repair shop for AC service, your technician will probably be able to determine where to start investigating based on your description of the problem you’re experiencing. If your service provider suspects a leak, they may opt to pass a black light source in or around the vent openings. To help with leak detection, some AC products actually contain a dye that is not visible to the naked eye but can be seen when exposed to black light. If a lack of refrigerant is suspected, the technician will connect gauges to the high (toward the front) and low (passenger side) pressure sides of the system to test the pressure. If it is low, they will know that a charge of additional refrigerant is needed. A minor leak might be present. If there is no pressure, however, a major leak is indicated.

Schedule Auto AC Repair With Us Today

While these are some of the common initial tests, there are plenty of other possibilities to check to ensure that the problem is found and corrected. To be sure that your car AC’s issue is found and repaired promptly, bring your vehicle to AutoStream in Woodstock, Maryland.