Get Your Heating Controls in Order Before Winter Hits

The last thing you’re going to want to deal with once the cold weather arrives is a car that simply does not get warm. As you know if you’ve spent any amount of time in Indiana in the winter, our winter months can get brutally cold, meaning it might not be safe for you to operate the vehicle if you do not have working heating.

Today’s vehicle control systems are much more electronic than they are mechanical, and your car’s air conditioning and heating control is one of those computer-based functions. Depending on the make and model of your car and some of the features it has, you might have automated climate control capabilities, in which you set a desired temperature for your interior and the control module automates the system for the purpose of maintaining that temperature.

If you have a faulty AC control module, you’re going to run into a lot of issues with keeping a comfortable temperature. With this in mind, here is some information from a mechanic in New Palestine, IN about steps you should take to ensure the system works properly before the winter, and other things you should know to constantly stay prepared.

About the AC module

Your vehicle’s AC module is going to be located inside its dashboard, and therefore is inaccessible for maintenance. You’ll need to have it checked for fault codes during specific air conditioning service or repair. There’s a chance you might need to make some software updates for it to function properly. In many cases, these updates have to be performed at the dealership.

There are some circumstances in which you’ll need to completely replace the AC module, as it is no longer working and there are no updates that will fix it. Here’s a quick overview of how that process works:

• Once it’s verified that you need to replace the module, you’ll disconnect the battery and then remove the defective module. To do this, you will have to first remove the trim panel before you can access the area where you’ll disconnect the module.
• Connect the new AC control module in the same spot as the prior one and reset the trim panel back on the face of the dashboard.
• Reconnect your vehicle’s battery, then begin scanning the AC control module. During this process, the module gets integrated with your vehicle to achieve optimal performance.
• Test the air conditioning and heating to ensure the module operates properly. If you have any issues, consult the manual, retrace your steps or seek professional assistance.

As a general rule, we recommend you only work with a professional technician to get this job done. Even if you have experience with some of the mechanics of your vehicle, this is primarily an electronic job that is going to be different than other standard vehicle maintenance tasks.

For more information about checking your AC and heating module before winter, contact Auto Air & Heating, Inc. to speak with a mechanic in New Palestine, IN.

Categorised in: Mechanic

This post was written by Writer