Your air con not working on a hot summer day isn’t fun, especially in a car where temperatures can rise to 65 degrees or more.
Air conditioning is one of those things that can quickly be taken for granted until you no longer have it. When it’s midsummer and the outside temperatures rise, the last thing you want is if you’re stuck in a car blowing hot air through its vents or a vehicle with air conditioning that doesn’t blow at all.
Air conditioning in your car is more than just comfort and convenience; it is also a health and safety issue. One of the most risky things you can do is travel during a heatwave in a car without air conditioning, as temperatures can rise dangerously. It can create a risk of dehydration and even heat stroke!
It’s more unsafe for children, the elderly, and those with health problems, so it’s essential to ensure that your car air con is in good working order. So if you’re planning on hitting the road this summer, you’ll likely want your mechanic to check your AC out before you head off.
Why Your Car’s Air Conditioning Isn’t Working
Like most things beneath the hood of a car, air conditioners can break down for a variety of reasons. Knowing what to check for might help you figure out why your car’s air conditioning isn’t working and what measures to take next. Some of the reasons why your car’s air conditioning has stopped working include:
Your Car Has A Refrigerant Leak
This is one of the most prevalent reasons for a car’s air conditioner not working. Leaks can occur for various reasons; they might be the consequence of rubber seals and hoses failing over time, allowing the refrigerant to escape. The major hazard when this happens is that moisture may seep inside your car’s cooling system and mix with the refrigerant, which can lead to no cold air in your car. Moisture and Freon combine to form a toxic acidic mixture that may corrode your air conditioner and cause lasting harm.
As with any other form of leak, you’ll want to get this addressed as soon as possible so that it doesn’t continue to cause difficulties for your vehicle.
Your Cooling Fans Are Broken
Your car utilises cooling fans to pump the chilled air into the cabin, much like how you need blowers to push the air conditioning through the vents in your house. There will be no cold air flowing out of the vents if the fans have an issue.
Cooling fans might cease operating for various causes, including blown fuses, an electrical short, or being fractured by road debris. Fortunately, this is a pretty straightforward repair; your air con technician should be able to replace it and get you back on the road swiftly.
There’s A Problem With Your Car’s Compressor
Your air conditioning relies on a compressor to keep the air flowing, but if the compressor isn’t operating correctly, that refrigerant will not travel around. The lengthy chilly seasons of Autumn and Winter mean that many New South Welshmen don’t operate their car’s air conditioning for several months. One of the primary reasons a compressor goes poor is not being utilised for long periods.
A compressor might potentially cause issues if the compressor’s clutch becomes jammed. If it becomes caught in the “on” position, your air conditioner will run continually, and if it becomes stuck in the “off” position, the compressor will not engage. You’ll need to have your mechanic check what’s causing your compressor to malfunction.
You Have An Electrical Problem
Various factors might cause electrical difficulties with your car’s air conditioning. Failed switches, a blown fuse, an issue with the control module, or something else might be the cause. Fuses can short out, causing the air conditioner to cease operating, or a faulty connection can cause an electrical short that can be quickly repaired by one of our auto electricians.
While electrical problems in the air conditioning system are usually simple to rectify, they must be handled right since they can lead to acid accumulation. Acid accumulation can seriously harm your car, necessitating the replacement of the complete air conditioning system. This may be avoided by staying on top of problems.
AC Evaporator Core
The evaporator in your air conditioner works like a giant ice cube with holes in it. It permits heated cabin air to travel through the core, quickly cooling it before blowing it back into the cabin. The AC heater blower motor assembly is responsible for the cold air coming from the dash vents.
The most common reason for failure is a leak caused by age and wear. If there are significant leaks, a green and greasy substance may develop in the drain tube.
Where can I get my AC fixed in my car?
Unlike many systems in cars today, there are no warning lights to alert you to problems with your air conditioning. Since you don’t want to wait for a problem to occur, it’s a good idea to take your car for a service to make sure the hoses and fans are in good condition, there are no apparent leaks, and the coolant level is good.
But if your car air conditioner is not cold anymore, it doesn’t mean that all is lost. The solution can be a relatively inexpensive repair that can be done in just a few minutes. We understand how frustrating this can be with your vehicle, so we wanted you to have some knowledge to troubleshoot your air con issues yourself if possible.
However, if you are still having trouble fixing these issues yourself and are in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley area, feel free to call us or drop by our air con repair facility in Maitland. Our experienced technicians in The Service Centre would take a look around and get you back on the road in the shortest possible time.
