6 Reasons Why Your Air Conditioning Isn’t Working
The last thing anyone wants is to be caught at the height of rush hour traffic only to feel hot air rushing into the cabin when you turn on the A/C. Get ahead of southern Ontario summers by making sure your vehicle’s air conditioning system is up to the challenge. The experts at S&B Keswick are here with 6 of the most common reasons why your A/C may not be working.
Read More:
How to Keep Your Car Cool in Summer
How to Avoid Overheating Your Engine
Why Do Cabin Air Filters Need to be Replaced?
Your A/C System May Need Some Attention
If you haven’t found the time to bring your vehicle in for a seasonal inspection and tune-up, you may be in for an unwelcome surprise the first time you go to use the A/C this summer. This list may help grant you some insight as to why your A/C unit isn’t performing well, or isn’t performing at all.
A Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the fluid your car uses to cool the air in the A/C unit before pushing it out into the cabin for you to enjoy. The most common cause of a faulty A/C system is a leak somewhere in the refrigerant line or storage compartment. The first places to look for such leaks will be around connection points in the tubing.
A Flabby Compressor
The compressor is the crucial power node of the whole A/C system. Its job is to compress the refrigerant into cold gas and keep it moving so that nice cool air is delivered to all the right vents. If your compressor is bad, the whole system is bad. Disuse is the most common culprit of a bad compressor. To prevent this issue, run your A/C for a few minutes from time to time during the colder months so your compressor stays in shape for summer.
A Blocked or Broken Condenser
The condenser uses the natural airflow from driving to cool the refrigerant again and turn it back into a liquid after its seen the compressor. If that natural airflow is blocked by road debris (leaves, dust, litter, insects, etc.) then your air conditioning system is just using hot refrigerant and getting nothing done. If you flush the system and find there’s no debris buildup the condenser might be broken and need to be repaired or replaced.
A Broken Fan
There are fans inside your A/C unit meant to cool the parts and push the air where it needs to go to be cooled and redirected. If one of these parts (say, the condenser) is not being fed with air, the system isn’t going to work. Most of the time these fans can be easily replaced at a reasonable cost.
A Clogged Cabin Air Filter
If too much dust, sand, and debris accumulates in the filter the air pressure will drop, making the whole A/C system struggle. The good news is that if a clogged air filter is the reason for your poor air conditioning you can usually fix this yourself by just changing the filter. Your vehicle’s manual will be able to tell you what kind to buy and how to replace it properly.
An Electrical Issue
Modern vehicles are seeing more and more physical mechanisms being replaced by copious electrical systems. An electrical problem is difficult to diagnose and sometimes may not even be directly connected to the vehicle’s current issue. If you suspect but are unable to locate an electrical problem it may be time to take your vehicle to your preferred service provider with electrical diagnostic qualifications.
As always, routine vehicle maintenance is always the first step toward maintaining your vehicle’s overall health. If you suspect your air conditioning system is failing, don’t wait until you get caught in traffic on a 36° C day to make a service appointment! Let our certified parts and service experts at S&B Keswick take a look and get you back on the road—cool and comfortable.