Important Issues About Auto Air Conditioning
While many years ago auto air conditioning was thought of as a luxury, it can now be seen in almost all vehicles on the market. Auto air conditioning is a blessing on hot summer days, but it can quickly become a curse if it suddenly stops working in the middle of summer. How are you going to drive around in blistering heat? To avoid having the entire auto air conditioning system break down completely, here are some things to look out for.
Odd Smells
With age, your vehicle's air conditioning may aid the growth of microorganisms like fungi, mould, or bacteria. These organisms will grow behind your dashboard and can lead to unpleasant odours. What you might not know though, is that these organisms can also form in a new car, if you don't frequently use the air conditioning system.
You may think that there's no possible reason for turning on the AC system during cold autumn and winter days, right? Wrong! In order to maintain your system, make sure to run the AC at least once per month, even if it's freezing outside! This will help with keeping the AC system tight and lubricated. The refrigerant solution inside your AC carries a lubricating oil to the AC's compressor, helping to keep seals and hoses moist while preventing cracks. By running the system at least once monthly, you guarantee that the refrigerant will not dry out!
AC Not Cooling As It Used To
Have you recently observed that your vehicle is no longer as cold as it used to be in the past during summer days? In this case, you may find that a refrigerant refill is needed. As time goes by without using the AC, the pipes and valves of the auto air conditioning system may loosen and allow the refrigerant to escape between the cracks. This happens because, without refrigerant flowing through them, the pipes dry out and can crack, leading to more refrigerant loss. This is the most common issue that people have with auto air conditioning systems, and it can easily be fixed by calling your local mechanic or referring to your manufacturer's warranty.
Strange Noises
Strange noises should never be left unchecked, as they can represent early symptoms of the compressor failing, which is one of the more expensive parts to fix. Should you ignore this issue and let the compressor seize up, small metal parts will come off of it and contaminate the working parts of the rest of the air conditioning system. If this happens, not only will you need to deal with replacing the compressor, but also with the replacement of the expansion valve, and the drier. You will also need to pay for a system flush in order to remove any small metal parts from within your vehicle.
For more information and assistance with any problems, contact an auto shop that specializes in auto air conditioning, such as Riverton Auto Electrics.