Driving in North Carolina’s hot, sticky summers can be torturous without a functioning AC unit. Imagine being stuck in traffic on a 95° day without a cool blast of air from your air conditioner. It’s not a pretty picture. So, when warm air is blowing from your car’s vents, it’s time to get your vehicle to the repair shop. When searching for car air conditioner repair near me, choose Havoline® Xpress Lube of Kernersville.
Does My System Need A Recharge?
Warm air blowing from your vents is one sign your vehicle’s air conditioner isn’t working correctly. One solution to this problem is to recharge your air conditioning unit. Recharging your air conditioning system simply means to add refrigerant.
Generally, you’ll need to recharge your car’s AC only occasionally since your car’s air conditioning is a closed system. Yet, some cars tend to lose refrigerant naturally over time.
However, if you find your system continually low on refrigerant, you could have a leak. As they age, hoses and gaskets can degrade, crack and dry out letting refrigerant escape.
What If I Suspect A Leak?
Structurally, all AC units use some type of refrigerant to remove heat from the interior of your car. In older cars, the refrigerant is Freon. Sometimes you can detect a leak by seeing Freon around the compressor, lines, or even inside your cabin. You can spot Freon by its thin, greasy appearance.
However, due to environmental concerns with Freon, modern cars use either R-134a or 1234yf. Both refrigerants turn to a gas very quickly when exposed to normal temperatures. Complicating the ability to find a leak, both R-134a and 1234yf are colorless and odorless.
Nonetheless, your mechanic can find your leak by using a dye and UV light. If you suspect a leak, it’s critical that your mechanic looks at your engine right away. Running your car’s AC with low levels of refrigerant can damage your compressor.
Some Other Reasons Why You Need Car Air Conditioner Repair Near Me
While refrigerant leaks are a common reason for your car’s AC to stop working, other components can also cause issues. Your car’s AC is a complicated piece of machinery and refrigerant is only one part. There may be a problem with your compressor, electrical wiring, fan, AC clutch, or cabin air filter.
Similar to your home AC unit, your car’s compressor moves the refrigerant through the system. As the compressor moves the refrigerant, it also changes the refrigerant from gas to liquid. Having low refrigerant will cause your compressor to burn out. Other times your compressor will fail from simple wear and tear. Sometimes, your compressor will make unusual noises when it’s starting to fail.
If you have weak or no airflow whatsoever from your vents, you may need to replace your blower motor. When your blower motor is going, you may also hear unusual sounds from your car’s engine. You may also notice an odor or see smoke. It’s important that you pull over immediately if you detect smoke or a burning smell.
Are There Any Other Reasons For My AC To Stop Working?
As car engines evolved, simple electrical systems have become complicated computer systems. Consequently, you’ll find many types of sensors in today’s modern car engines. Sensors detect physical or chemical variables and send this information to the onboard computer.
Primarily, your car’s air conditioner has several sensors to detect temperature, pressure, and humidity levels. When a sensor fails, you may notice a difference in the performance of your AC. Additionally, any damaged wires or a blown fuse will prevent your air conditioner from working.
Another part that can affect the performance of your air conditioning is your cabin air filter. Generally, you should change your cabin air filter about every 30,000 miles. Your cabin air filter removes pollutants through the ventilation system. Over time, it will become clogged with dirt restricting airflow. A dirty cabin air filter can strain your air conditioner leading to motor burnout.
FAQs About Servicing Your Vehicle
Finding a trustworthy auto repair shop to keep your car running efficiently is our goal too! Hence, we’ve put together a few commonly asked questions about our shop to assist you.
How Much Will An AC Repair Cost?
The cost of your vehicle’s AC repair depends on whether you’ll need a minor or a major repair. When you bring your car to Xpress Lube, we use the latest diagnostic equipment to determine the issue. Once we know the problem, we’ll present you with an estimate.
What Type Of Maintenance And Repair Can You Do?
Our ASE-certified technicians can service and repair both domestic and foreign cars. In addition to offering car air conditioner repair near me, we can perform over 30 common repairs:
- Oil change
- State inspection
- Wheel alignment
- Brakes
- Transmission
- Electrical diagnostics
- Cooling system
- And more!
For over 2 decades, we’ve been helping the local community maintain their vehicles. During this time, we’ve built a reputation as a reliable, trustworthy, and friendly place to bring your car. Here are a few comments from our loyal customers:
“Mac and his team have been maintaining our vehicles for 15 years. …consistently.” Tammy Ingold Nichols
“We have trusted our vehicles to Mac and his team for over a decade. An asset to the community. Always professional and personable. I don’t go anywhere else.” Tim Icenhower
“Very good service and friendly staff, have used them since 2000.” Terry Greene
How Can I Set Up An Appointment?
It’s super easy to schedule an appointment at Havoline® Xpress Lube of Kernersville! Simply fill out our online form or call us at 336-993-7967. We can’t wait to provide you with fast and friendly service!
