Air Conditioning
Spring is here, and soon Summer with plenty of long, hot days. So, what happens when you switch on your vehicle’s air conditioning and discover that the air coming from the vents is anything but cold? After a few expletives, you’ll want to head straight to Gearhead Automotive Services. Once there, the Red Seal Journeyman Tech team will find the reason. A failed air conditioning system will typically result from a lack of refrigerant.
YOU’RE LOW ON REFRIGERANT:
Like your home’s AC system, your vehicle uses refrigerant to cool the air. If you’re low on refrigerant, there’s a reason. The air conditioning in your vehicle is a closed system, so when functioning correctly, there’s no place for the refrigerant to go. If a recharge is needed – resulting from a low refrigerant level – an underlying problem needs addressing.
MOST COMMON REASON: A SYSTEM LEAK …
Unlike an oil leak, you won’t find a puddle of refrigerant on the floor of your garage. That’s because refrigerant dissipates when it meets the air. Instead, you’ll need to look for other indicators of a leak in your system. You may hear a hissing sound, but likely – if it’s reached the point of being audible – the refrigerant has already escaped. Indicators of a slow leak could be your vehicle’s AC cycling on and off. You may hear the compressor engage and disengage repeatedly. You might also find oily residue around the AC hoses and pipe fittings.
OTHER POSSIBILITIES …
Other possibilities might include a condenser failure, a clogged filter, or an issue with your vehicle’s cooling system. Air conditioning issues are best handled by a trained professional or a team of professionals like the Red Seal Journeyman technicians at Gearhead Automotive Services.
LESS LIKELY, BUT STILL A POSSIBILITY: FAN MOTOR …
There’s no leak, yet there’s no cold air coming through the vents. There’s no air at all. It could be something as simple as the fan no longer working. The air conditioning system is doing its part, but without the fan, the cold air isn’t circulating through the vehicle. It might be a burnt fuse or an electrical system issue. It could also be that the fan motor has burned out and will require replacement. This is unlikely but still warrants consideration. The experts at Gearhead Automotive Services will quickly diagnose the problem and perform the necessary repairs.
Call Gearhead Automotive Services – your local Red Deer Mechanic – for air conditioning service and all mechanical repairs – and schedule an appointment today!