A Quick AC Fix if Your Car’s Air Conditioner Is Not Working

It might be fall, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t use your vehicle’s air conditioner until next summer. Whether it’s an unusually warm day or you’ve got a van full of active children, the last thing you want is for your car’s air conditioner to quit unexpectedly.

Here’s a quick AC fix to try if your auto AC suddenly stops working:

General tips

Here’s what you need to do first:

• Diagnose the problem: First, try to figure out what the exact problem may be. Turn on your car, and let the air conditioner run. If the air is not as cold as it should be, there may be an airflow issue. If there’s an unpleasant smell, replace the cabin air filter, and try again. If the cooling fans on the radiator aren’t running, there may be another problem.
• Look to see if the air compressor is running: Next look to see if your air compressor is running. You want to see if the center of the pulley is rotating with the pulley itself. If it doesn’t, you may need more refrigerant.
• Check the AC compressor wiring: Now check the AC compressor wiring. There should be a wire that leads to the electric clutch. Unplug it, and touch it to your battery’s positive terminal. If it’s functioning properly, you should hear a loud clacking sound.
• Look for leaks in the system: Finally, look for leaks. There are leak-detection kits you can use to find out if this is the issue.

Refresh your refrigerant

If there are no leaks in your AC system, you can try adding more refrigerant. This is a temporary fix for your car’s AC unit. Here’s how to do it:

• Get the ambient temperature: You need the ambient temperature level so you can appropriately read the AC gauge.
• Find and clean the low-side service port: Vehicle AC systems use two service ports: high and low. Find the low-side service port, and clean it off with a soft rag.
• Connect the charging hose: Next attach the charging hose to the low-side service port. Consult your owner’s manual if you need help finding it or connecting the hose.
• Add refrigerant: If your vehicle was made after 1995, it uses R134a refrigerant. Vehicles made before 1995 use R12, which you cannot refresh on your own, so you’ll need to take your vehicle into the shop. Be sure to get the right refrigerant; then follow the directions to add to your AC system.
• Replace caps: Finally, disconnect the hose, and replace your service port cap. Turn on your vehicle. and run the AC to see if it works.

Quick fixes when your car’s AC stops working may not solve the problem permanently, but they can help. When you want to solve your air conditioner problems once and for all, bring your vehicle to the experts at Auto Air & Heating, Inc. We’ll help you stay cool all throughout the year. Reach out to us today, or stop by for an appointment.

Categorised in: Auto AC Repair

This post was written by Writer