Summertime in North Carolina can be scorching. Moreover, hot, sticky, humid air can make you feel miserable. Driving around town when your car’s AC isn’t working can be downright torturous. Rather than suffering, visit Havoline® Xpress Lube of Kernersville for vehicle air conditioner repair.

Signs You Need Vehicle Air Conditioner Repair

Many times, it’s obvious you need to fix your air conditioner because hot air is blowing from your vents. Other times, it may not be as clear. Yet, your car’s air conditioning system often will give other signs it needs attention:

• Cold then warm air blowing
• Airflow is weak
• Burning or musty smell
• Unusual noises
• Moisture inside the cabin

Like many other components in your vehicle, your air conditioning system has many different parts. Over time, these parts age and wear. Some of these parts break while others develop leaks.

However, servicing your vehicle’s AC system once a year can keep you comfortable. Moreover, a well-running air conditioning system will help maintain your car’s efficiency. A malfunctioning unit will need more gas as it struggles to keep the car’s cabin cool.

7 Reasons Your Car Air Conditioner Isn’t Working

Often, you can prevent AC breakdowns with a yearly inspection of your system. During your inspection, your mechanic will check several components of your air conditioning system that can affect functioning:

1. Low Refrigerant

Usually, the most common problem when your AC stops working is due to low refrigerant. While car manufacturers created a sealed system, cracks and holes can develop as rubber components age.

2. Blown Compressor

Primarily, the compressor increases the pressure of the refrigerant by reducing its volume. This is necessary to allow the refrigerant to absorb heat. Additionally, your car’s compressor circulates the refrigerant throughout the system.

3. Worn O-Rings

Automakers use O-rings to seal connections in your vehicle’s AC system. With exposure to moisture and heat, O-rings can crack, dry out, and degrade allowing your refrigerant to leak out.

4. Clogged Air Cabin Filter

Generally, an air cabin filter traps dirt traveling in the air from the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system. A dirty, clogged filter will reduce airflow from the vents lessening cooling power. Typically, the replacement schedule depends on your driving habits.

5. Damaged Expansion Valve

Another common part to become damaged is the expansion valve. This component is responsible for reducing pressure and controlling the flow of your vehicle’s refrigerant. A faulty expansion valve will result in wide fluctuations in your cabin’s temperature.

6. Blown Fuse/Relay

With a computer controlling most of your car’s systems, you’ll also find fuses to protect your electrical circuitry. Another electrical part, the relay, routes power to your AC system when you turn the switch. A failure of either one will affect the functioning of your AC.

7. Worn belt Or Hoses

Typically, the serpentine belt connects the alternator, power steering pump, and air conditioner. A worn belt won’t be able to grip properly and may squeal when you turn on the AC.

Generally, hot dry temperatures and engine heat can harden and dry out hoses causing them to become brittle. Unfortunately, brittle hoses combined with high pressure often lead to leaking refrigerant. Moreover, once you develop a leak, even a small one, your refrigerant can quickly leave your system.

FAQs About Vehicle Air Conditioner Repair

We want to make understanding a vehicle air conditioner repair easy to comprehend. Thus, our mechanics take the time to explain all issues and how to fix them. Below, you’ll find some commonly asked questions our customers often ask us.

Can I Drive My Car If My AC Is Experiencing Problems?

Unless you know what’s wrong with your AC, you should bring your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible. While a blown fuse won’t negatively affect your engine, a blown compressor can.

Moreover, some problems can be hard to pinpoint. For example, finding the location of your refrigerant leak is next to impossible without proper equipment.

Additionally, some fixes, like leak sealants, can be extremely harmful to your system. Leak sealants can clog your expansion valve, as well as other parts.

What Does It Mean To Recharge My Air Conditioning System?

Typically, recharging an AC system means adding refrigerant. However, you shouldn’t need to add any since your AC is a closed system. Refrigerant cannot escape nor is it consumed. Therefore, if you need to add refrigerant, you must have a leak.

Simply adding refrigerant when you have a leak is a waste. Moreover, it may be a violation of the Clean Air Act.

How Much Does AC Diagnostic Cost?

Diagnostic testing is a term mechanics use to determine a car problem. Sometimes this involves a visual inspection of components and other times requires the use of complex computer equipment. Thus, you’ll find diagnostics, like repairs, vary in costs.

What Other Car Maintenance Tasks Are Necessary?

Sometimes, it may seem like your car requires an endless stream of maintenance tasks. However, when you trust Havoline® Xpress Lube of Kernersville with your vehicle, we do the hard work for you. For example, when you bring your car in for an oil change, we’ll perform a courtesy check on several components:

• Engine air filter
• Brake fluid
• Power steering fluid
• Automatic transmission fluid
• Coolant/antifreeze

Plus, we’ll address and review any other servicing recommended by your car’s manufacturer. Moreover, once we’re finished servicing your automobile, you can wash away your car’s dirt at our Xpress Car Wash.

Don’t put off servicing your car’s air conditioning system. Call us today at 336-993-7697 to book your appointment. After all, no one likes arriving at their destination drenched in sweat.