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During the hot summer months in Utah you want your vehicle's AC to blow cool refreshing air for your comfort and the comfort of your passengers. There are a variety of reasons why your car AC is not blowing cold air. Fixing the AC could be as simple as recharging your car's AC refrigerant or repairing a refrigerant leak but may also require complex electrical climate control repair or slipping compressor clutch to get your air conditioning operating at top performance once again.
Understanding Your Vehicle's AC System
The air conditioning system in your vehicle can be complex due to the location of the hoses and lines. Essentially, your vehicle's AC system compresses and heats the refrigerant, then allowing it to decompress and condense into a liquid that causes it to rapidly lose heat. This process absorbs heat from the car's cabin and is continuously repeated to achieve your desired temperature.
The basic concept is much easier to understand when the components are broken down, as follows:
- The compressor runs off an engine belt that squeezes or compresses the gaseous refrigerant.
- Once it has been pressurized, the condenser cools it down through a series of finned tubes where it returns to a liquid state. This liquid will then pass through a dryer or receiver that removes excess water to eliminate the risk of ice crystal formations inside the AC system.
- Next the liquid refrigerant enters the evaporator via a thermal expansion valve where it is then exposed to heat from the vehicle's cabin. At this point the fluid boils, reducing it to a gas form once again. During this process the heat from the surrounding air is absorbed causing the evaporator coil to chill. Finally, it is redistributed throughout the cabin by the blowing fan through the vents as cool, crisp air-conditioned air.
Just about every car has the same basic AC parts consisting of a compressor, condenser and evaporator that work together to keep you cool during the warm summer months. When any of these parts fail, you're left with uncomfortable heat that a rolled-down window just can't fix.
Here are the top 3 reasons why your car AC may not be blowing cold air:
#1 Your Car's AC Needs a Recharge
The most common cause of a vehicle's air conditioner not getting cold enough is that it needs to be recharged. You can recharge your refrigerant by yourself, but to save time and make sure the job is done correctly you should make an appointment with your local professional auto shop.
The trusted professionals at Ace Auto in West Jordan, Utah can help you recharge your car's AC system. Give us a call at 801-447-1693 for a free quote to get you back on the road with the comfort and safety with a recharged AC blowing crisp, cool air again.
#2 An AC System Refrigerant Leak
When your vehicle's AC system develops a refrigerant fluid leak it can be challenging to detect due to the fact that refrigerant fluid instantly evaporates when it comes in contact with air. A professional mechanic uses specialized tools to determine if there is a leak by introducing ultraviolet fluid to show signs of low refrigerant pressure in the AC system. Signs of an AC system refrigerant leak:
- Audible click when the AC is turned on.
- AC cycles on and off frequently.
- Hissing sounds from the AC system (when the engine is off).
- Oil residue around AC pipe fittings and hoses.
A refrigerant leak repair may include repairing or replacing the specific failing component. If a large amount of fluid has been lost, your AC system will need to be flushed and the refrigerant fluid will need to be replaced to function properly and get the cool air flowing. *Please note that refrigerant is a very harmful toxic chemical and should not be handled without the proper equipment operated by a trained professional.
#3 Fan Motor Failure
Another common source of trouble in your car's AC system might be the fan(s) motor located at the front of the vehicle's motor. Whether your car has one or two fans, it is important that the fan is in good working order to both keep you cool and to provide vital cooling to your engine.
If you are unsure about the correct diagnosis of your car's failing air conditioner, the friendly and caring certified mechanics at Ace Auto in West Jordan, Utah will give you a free repair quote and work quickly to fix your AC and get you back out on the road.
Professional Help from Ace Auto to Keep You and Your Passengers Comfortable with Cool Air
If your car ac unit is not blowing cold enough air in Utah , contact the ASE certified auto mechanics at Ace Auto in West Jordan Utah to quickly inspect and repair your AC unit. For an honest AC diagnosis and speedy repairs in West Jordan, schedule an AC repair appointment at Ace Auto or call 801-447-1693 for a FREE repair quote. Our ASE Certified master mechanics are experienced technicians that are certified and can repair any AC system problem and have your AC working properly again.
Sometimes Utah Summers feel like they take up about half of the year, and though we spend plenty of time cooling down our homes and staying hydrated, we often neglect to realize just how much damage excessive heat can do to our cars. Here are some tips to keep your engine cool even in the dead heat of July.
Check Your Fluids Regularly
You're going to want to check your fluids at regular intervals, in particular your oil and your coolant. You may be surprised how quickly you burn through coolant in the summertime, and your oil may need replacing sooner than you think due to the extreme temperatures. It may even be wise to simply get an oil change right at the start of summer just to be safe.
Check Your Hoses
Fresh fluids won't do your car much good if they're not getting where they need to go. Check your hoses for cracks and leaks, and if they're becoming very dry and brittle, consider having them replaced now, before they cost you money in repairs and wasted fluids.
Get a Check Up
If you don't know how to do these check ups yourself, you can take your car into the shop or seek out a friend who knows what they're doing, but you're going to want to check the radiator, thermostat and water pump if your car's going to survive the summer.
Don't Neglect an Overheating Car
If you do have issues with your car overheating, don't waste time, take it directly to your mechanic. The more you subject your car to overheating, the more damage it's going to do.
Dealing With Overheating
A good way to deal with your car if it starts to overheat while you're on the road and there's nowhere to safely pull over: turn on the heater. That sounds like the last thing that you want to do while driving in the hot Utah sun, but if you crank the interior temperature, you'll allow the engine to vent some of that excess heat. So if your engine starts to overheat and you absolutely have to deal with it now, crank the heat, roll the windows down, grab a bottle of water and keep an eye out for a safe place to pull off the road.
If you take good care of your car, then you shouldn't have too much of a problem with your car overheating. Just keep it tuned up, keep the fluids topped off and don't put off getting it checked out if you do have issues with overheating. Contact Ace Auto today for a free engine repair estimate.
It’s summertime and the living should be easy. That is, if the air conditioning in your car is working properly. Before you get hot and bothered by an A/C that isn’t keeping you cool, take time to go over a few basic steps. There are some parts you can check yourself to see if you can get it going again.
Buying a Recharge Kit
At the first sign of a unit that’s not functioning properly, go to your auto supply store and pick up an A/C Recharge Kit. Open the kit and read through the directions. Follow them carefully and see if the kit will solve the problems you are having. It is possible that by recharging your air conditioning it will start blowing cool air again.
Checking the Pressure Sensor
Another place you want to look is in the pressure sensor. Check your unit and try to locate the low pressure sensor to make sure that it is working as it should be. You can check the current pressure using a special gauge. If you see that the pressure is low, fill it using the recharge kit. Follow the instructions carefully so you are sure to fill it to the correct pressure. Once you start filling it, stop every 10-15 seconds so you can take another reading using the pressure gauge. This will give you the current level. Keep starting, stopping and checking until the gauge shows that you have reached the correct level of pressure.
Analyzing the Compressor Clutch
Check that your air conditioning unit’s compressor clutch is engaging. However, there are several things that can go wrong with this part of the unit. Depending on the problem, repairs can range from inexpensive to replacing the whole compressor clutch. For instance, if it is not engaging properly or if it is making a noise, there can be many causes and it is not always easy to pinpoint the exact reason. An example of these problems could be a clogged condenser, a faulty condenser fan, pressure that is too high or even an overcharge. In any of these instances, it is important to evaluate the entire air conditioning system to know which pieces need to be replaced.
Filling the AC Compressor
Once you've determined your compressor clutch is functioning, and your pressure is low, attach the recharge kit to the low pressure sensor and begin filling, checking the pressure gauge every 5-10 seconds. Once the pressure reaches 'normal' levels, go take a seat in your car and see if it's blowing cool air again. If it is, then you're done!
When to Get Help from a Professional
After trying to evaluate and fix the problems you are experiencing with your car’s AC, go ahead and turn it on and see if you have fixed it. If it is now blowing cold air, you did it! Get in and enjoy! However, if the unit is still not blowing cold air, it is time to take it to a specialist. Contact Ace Auto Repair today for a Free A/C repair estimate.
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