It’s August, we are in the middle of a heat wave and even here in Huntington Beach the temperatures are in the 90’s. The last thing you need is for your cars air conditioning to stop working.
Air Conditioning Warning Signs
Heading off a problem before you lose you A/C completely is always a good idea! Luckily, it is easy to tell when something is going wrong with the A/C. The most obvious sign being hot air coming out of the vents, when you notice the air is not as cold as it once was its time to investigate. Other things to look out for are bad smells coming out of the air vents, the force of the air coming out of the vents is starting to weaken or a banging / squealing noise coming from under the hood when you turn it on.
How to Fix Your Car’s A/c
The easiest way to fix the Air Conditioning is to come down to Expertec Automotive, we are at 7680 Talbert Avenue in Huntington Beach, and have us perform an Air Conditioning Inspection and Performance Check. We have a $79.95* special running until October 15th, includes a complete check of the Air Conditioning system, Check for Leaks, Belt Inspection, and all Vent temperatures will be Measured and Recorded.
*Price for most cars, must mention offer code AUG-SDM when placing order. Additional Freon Extra.
Common Air Conditioning Issues
A/C Needs A Recharge
Over time the A/C system can lose some of the refrigerant (Freon) which runs the system. This is a common issue as cars age, and we can add additional Freon into the system to bring it back up to the manufacturers recommended levels for optimum cooling.
Freon Leak
The A/C system comprises of 5 main parts, Compressor, Condenser, Evaporator, Expansion Valve and Drier. Each of the parts are connected by pipes which transport the Freon through the system. Damage to any of these pipes or connectors can cause a Freon Leak which will stop the system from functioning.
Faulty Compressor
The Compressor compresses the Freon, which then travels through the system and starts to expand. As the Freon expands it gets very cold. The fans blow air over the cooling Freon which makes the air cold as it comes out of the vents into your car. If the compressor is not working the Freon will not become cold causing the system to fail.
Faulty Condenser
The Condenser turns the Freon from a gas to liquid to travel through the A/C system, if the condenser is blocked or damaged the Freon will not be able to flow through the system and no cooling will take place.
Electrical Issues
Like many other parts of your car the A/C system has electrical components, damaged wires or blown fuses can stop the entire system from functioning.
If you are feeling mechanically inclined here are some things to check for:
- Check the cabin air filter to make sure that it is not clogged.
- Turn on the air conditioning and then check to make sure that the cooling fans on the condenser or radiator are running.
- Make sure that the air flow over the condenser is not obstructed by leaves, dirt, or bugs.
- Use a Manifold Gauge Set to check the system pressure.
- Make sure that there is voltage getting to the Compressor with a Voltmeter.
- Check for Leaks, a UV A/C leak detection kit will help you with this.
Air Conditioning Repairs
If your AC system is not as cool as it once was then come into our Huntington Beach location and have your system inspected. Whether you simply need a recharge, or a more comprehensive system repair our ASE certified technicians will get you back to driving in cool comfort in no time. Call us today at (714) 848-9222 to schedule an appointment.