Do You Need Car AC Repair This Summer

Do You Need Car AC Repair This Summer

Do You Need Car AC Repair This SummerDo you need car AC repair this summer from Dakota Ridge Automotive in Littleton? The snow has finally melted and the hot weather is here, so if any of these things are happening to your car, you may be having air conditioning problems.

Your Refrigerant Leaks

Your air conditioning compressor or one of the hoses may be leaking. You need to repair leaks quickly so moisture doesn’t get in the system and cause damage. When moisture is present, it can damage the accumulator, receiver-drier because these things remove moisture from the air conditioning system and break when they are exposed to a leak or a crack.

When moisture and refrigerant mix, corrosive acids destroy seals and components and cause a leak. Rubber seals and hoses can also lose their elasticity over time and break down allowing Freon to escape and moisture to enter your vehicle’s air conditioning system. If your vehicle has never had a refrigerant refill or a flush, especially if your mileage is around 125,000 miles or more, then now is the perfect time to do it.

The AC Compressor Makes Noises

If you hear sounds when you turn on your AC, it might be a sign that you have a problem with the compressor. If the AC compressor is at fault, then this part will have to be replaced.

Sometimes metal particles are sent throughout the system, contaminating other components. The metal particles made during the compressor breakdown move through the rest of the air conditioning system, damaging the whole system. The breakdown of the refrigerant-lubricant can cause extreme wear inside the air conditioning compressor.

Symptoms of trouble with the compressor:

  • Your compressor is noisy during operation
  • The orifice tube or the inlet and outlet ports may show signs of contamination when the hose manifold is removed
  • The compressor could be totally frozen or locked up
  • In turning the compressor clutch, you may feel hard spots

When this happens it will require a complete flushing and usually a replacement of the air conditioning system. Depending on how bad the damage is and the extent of the contamination, it can sometimes be repaired by flushing the air conditioning system with solvents. During the flushing process, segments of the system have to be cleaned individually.

A new compressor, accumulator-drier and expansion device need to be installed after the flushing. There are other components that also may require replacement, including an accumulator, manifold, liquid line, condenser and orifice tube. Many times the best thing to do is just replace the whole system.

The Air Smells Bad

If the air smells musty there are several things that could be causing it, including:

  • An old air filter
  • A moldy evaporator case

If water sits in the evaporator case because the case’s drain is blocked, mold can grow.

Airflow is Weak

If you notice your air conditioning has weak airflow, you should bring it in before there is any damage to your air conditioning system. There are several reasons for weak airflow, including:

  • Mold or mildew is in the evaporator core caused from the residual moisture during the cooling process and air can’t reach your air vents
  • A loose hose, usually the hose that supplies air to the blower unit
  • The ventilation fan is broken
  • Core case seals, blower house seals or evaporator core case seals have opened and compromised the system

 

The Cold Air is Not Constant 

If you notice that the air is not cold enough for air conditioning, it could be caused by several things, including:

  • A failed or damaged condenser or evaporator
  • A vacuum leak
  • A failed compressor or compressor clutch
  • A broken switch, fuse, relay, control module, blend door or solenoid
  • A Freon leak from by a failed o-ring, seal, hose, or component
  • A clogged expansion tube or refrigerant charging hose
  • A failed blower motor or blower motor resistor

 

Electrical System Doesn’t Work

If your air conditioning isn’t working right, it could be a weak battery. The AC needs enough power to start your car and start the compressor.

 

The Cool Air Gets Warm

If your air loses its cool temperature quickly you could have a number of problems, including:

  • A clogged expansion valve
  • A faulty compressor clutch.
  • A blown fuse.

 

Do you need car AC repair this summer? If you run into any of these problems let us know. We are also happy to do an air conditioning performance check by our technicians at Dakota Ridge Automotive in Littleton so you can head to the mountains or on that road trip with your family and know you will be cool from your air conditioning. Bring your vehicle in and get it taken care now.

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