When your car’s air conditioner stops working, it can be a hot and sweaty nuisance. More than that, however, sometimes it can damage other parts of the car which can be costly. There are several reasons why your car’s air conditioner may not be working as well as it should. In this blog, we will cover some of the most common.
Most of these problems are caused by a combination of age and moisture. Over time, parts of your AC such as seals and hoses can break down and allow moisture into the rest of your system. Your best defence against a broken car air conditioner is to have an A/C Performance Check before or at the beginning of the hot summer months.
Black Death
The name sounds scary – and from your car’s perspective, it is. Black Death happens when your refrigerant breaks down, resulting in wear in your compressor. This wear creates grimy metal particles that can travel through the entire AC system and wreak havoc.
Weak Air Flow
If you’ve got cold air coming out of your vents – but barely – the diminished flow may be caused by many problems. It is possible that mould or mildew has built up in the evaporator core and is restricting air flow. It is also possible that you have a loose hose, faulty seals or that your ventilator fan is damaged.
AC is Losing It’s Cool
Maybe your air flow is ok, but the air coming out of the vents isn’t as cold as it used to be. This problem is caused by Freon leaks, a clogged expansion tube, a failed compressor, vacuum leaks or damaged switches or fuses.
The worst-case scenario is that you have a leak. If you do have a leak, however, it is better to catch it sooner rather than later as it means the repair will be less expensive.
AC Starts Cool but Gets Hot
It can be annoying when your car’s air conditioner goes from refreshing coolness to hot. This scenario can happen when there is a clogged expansion valve, a problem with the compressor clutch, a blown fuse or when you have a leak.
AC Stinks
If you have a nasty gym locker smell coming from your AC, there are a couple issues that may be causing this. It could be that your air cabin filter is dirty and needs to be replaced. The smelly AC could also be an indication that you have a mouldy evaporator case. In either case, you will want the issue addressed if you want your summer road trips to be pleasant ones.
Unfortunately, car air conditioner repairs can be expensive, but like most repairs the earlier you catch them, the less expensive they will be. The best way to prevent problems is to have regular AC inspections, and if you do notice a problem with your car’s AC, you should get it checked right away.