Category: Auto Repair

Your car AC compressor is designed to pressurize the refrigerant that is running through the air conditioner. That’s what makes your car’s AC system produce cool air. To keep the refrigerant flowing through the AC system, and keep it under pressure, and at a high temperature, the AC compressor must work properly. But, naturally, AC compressors eventually need repair or replacement. Here we’ll look at the most common symptoms of a broken AC compressor.

How Does The AC Compressor Work?

The AC compressor compresses the vapor of the air conditioner refrigerant to convert it from its low-pressure state into a high-pressure gas. Under high pressure, the high temperature of the gas causes it to circulate and release cold air. Because of the refrigerant circulating through the vehicle’s air conditioning system in this state, the air coming from the air conditioner’s dashboard vents is cold when the AC is turned on.

Symptoms of Bad AC Compressor

Of course, as with any other working part on a car, the AC compressor goes through a lot of wear and tear over time and, at some point will need repair or replacement. The AC compressor will show signs that a repair is needed, which will help you figure out what is wrong.

Air Conditioner is Not Cooling

If you find your vehicle’s AC not cooling the inside of your car, that is typically a symptom of a bad AC compressor. A damaged or worn-out compressor can no longer regulate refrigerant flow as necessary for normal functioning, so the air conditioner does not cool properly. You may find your car AC blowing hot air. Or, you may find very little or no airflow at all coming from the AC vents when the AC is turned on. These are signs that the AC compressor is no longer functioning and needs to be replaced.

Loud Clattering Noise

A loud rattling noise coming from your car’s air conditioner when it is turned on is a symptom of a problem with the AC compressor. The compressor consists of an assembly of various component parts. If one or more parts break, the unit may make a clattering noise. Often a broken AC compressor will try unsuccessfully to turn off and on. The best solution to this problem is to replace the AC compressor rather than attempt to repair it.

Fluid Leaking

If there is fluid leaking from your AC compressor, that is an indicator of a malfunction in the part. The AC compressor has bearings inside that stop fluid from leaking out. When the bearings are damaged or become worn out from long-term use, fluid can leak from them. Refrigerant leaking from an automobile AC compressor can cause the air conditioner to stop working. It can also present a potentially serious health risk. So, as a priority, while looking for signs of an AC compressor problem, check to be sure the system has refrigerant still in it.

AC Compressor Clutch Not Working

When the clutch of an AC compressor is not moving, that is a sure sign of a problem with that auto part. The clutch enables the AC compressor to draw power from your car’s engine only when needed to run the AC. If the clutch is seized up, it cannot keep the compressor engaged continuously. If the clutch is broken, the compressor can’t receive power from the engine.

AC Compressor Maintenance

To keep your car cool and comfortable in hot weather, the AC refrigerant must continue to flow without disruption through the car’s AC system. It must remain consistently under high pressure and at high temperature to keep your AC blowing cold air. Your car’s AC compressor must be properly maintained for these conditions to stay in balance.

That includes keeping the AC drive belts clean and in good condition. Additionally, you should run your vehicle’s air conditioner for a minimum of ten minutes once each week to circulate the fluids and keep the gas from the refrigerant inside the chambers of the AC unit.

Car AC Repair Near Me – Ace Auto, West Jordan Utah

If you live in the Salt Lake City, UT area and need to have your vehicle’s AC checked, we offer our region’s best auto maintenance and repair services. We provide a one-stop service facility for all your car care needs. See our services page and contact page for quick, transparent quotes. All Ace mechanics are ASE Certified and keep current with industry technology updates for modern high-tech vehicle systems.

For problems with your car’s AC, call Ace Auto Repair at (801) 803-6016 for a free repair quote or schedule an appointment. All of our auto services are guaranteed!

Download PDF

When is it time to get your anti-freeze flushed? If you're a new car owner, perhaps you don't know what an anti-freeze flush is. Let me explain. An anti-freeze flush is the same as a cooling system flush, and it really is good for your vehicle. It removes rust, dirt, sludge, and dirty coolant from your radiator, water hoses, water pump, and all your engine's cooling passages. And, of course, a coolant flush is helpful, too. It's a flush that adds cleaner to the coolant system, in order to remove sediment and rust. Then, the system is flushed thoroughly, and new anti-freeze is added to your car. 

What is Anti-Freeze?

Coolant, a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water, flushes out your car's cooling system and is definitely part of a regular maintenance for your car. It prevents your engine from getting too hot. This, in turn, means you won't be sitting on the edge of the road waiting for a tow truck! If you only drain your radiator or fill it, you won't be getting to the crux of the problem, though. You'll definitely need to do a complete flush to get to the core of your problem, and this is necessary to prevent your car from getting way too hot and breaking down on you.

When Its Important To Have An Antifreeze Flush?

Anti-freeze is a product that flows through your coolant system and keeps your engine and cooling services in your car at the right temperature. If your anti-freeze gets too low or too dirty, it can be one of the main overheating engine causes, which is just about the last thing you want. If your engine overheats in today's world, it's sure to lead to a huge meltdown, and you're sure to have to spend your hard-earned money on expensive repairs to get your car back to normal. If your coolant isn't changed regularly, there will be several signs that you can look for, to make sure you get your coolant checked out:

• Low coolant warning light
• Engine temperature gauge is red zoned
• Low coolant levels, if you check yourself
• Steam leaking from under your hood
• Overheating engine
• Cold air coming out of your heating vents (instead of hot air)

If you notice any of these things, it's super-important to get your anti-freeze flushed, or at least come have your vehicle checked out by one of our mechanics at Ace Auto Repair in West Jordan Utah. You want to make sure you avoid, at all costs, the meltdown that can occur when your coolant levels get dirty or low. You will save yourself money if you get your coolant checked and refreshed regularly, and you're sure to avoid the same kinds of things that you hear about from folks you know who've spent ALL their money repairing their vehicle.

How Often Do You Need To Change Your Coolant?

If you're wondering, just by chance, how often you need to change your anti-freeze, here are some tips. If you have the owner's manual to your car, you can start by looking at it, but sometimes, the easiest thing to do is just to check under your hood and look at your coolant levels. You can easily see if you need to get more coolant. If your coolant levels are less than desirable, it will look brown and a lot less clear. If your coolant levels are desperate level, then it will be really sludgy. You'll know then that you need to change it as soon as you can, and getting a coolant system flush is by far the best way to go to make sure your vehicle is ready to be up and running safely again.

Let Ace Auto Repair Handle Your Cooling System with an Antifreeze Flush

At Ace Auto Repair, we have been rated the #1 auto mechanic in West Jordan Utah and would love to take care of your coolant flush for you.

If your car is showing signs of needing the Anti-Freeze flushed, stop by Ace Auto Repair in West Jordan, Utahfor a free repair quote. Feel free to give us a call at (801) 803-6016 for any questions!

Download PDF

"Hey, does anyone know of a good mechanic?"  We frequently hear this from our acquaintances or see this post on social media.  Car repairs can be expensive, and, as consumers, we want to make the best choices possible when it comes to automotive services.  Word of mouth is one way to find a good mechanic, but perhaps we should ask the larger question, "how do we avoid being ripped off by a dishonest mechanic?"

Know Your Vehicle

Start by looking to your owner’s manual for regular maintenance recommendations.  Dishonest mechanics know that the easiest people to rip off are the ones who know nothing about their cars or what is being done to it. When you lack knowledge on a subject matter, you're more likely to believe whatever you're told, and therefore, stand a higher chance of being ripped off.

Ask Questions, Questions, and More Questions

A great mechanic wants his customers to be well educated about their vehicle and the services he provides.  Ask him to describe the vehicle’s problem in detail, including what should be done to fix it, what parts will need to be replaced, and how the problem affects the vehicle’s overall performance.  If you do not understand something, make sure to ask follow up questions to clear up any inconsistencies or misunderstandings.  A great mechanic will be eager to explain repairs to you and answer your questions; after all, it’s an opportunity to show off his expertise!

Ask to Have the Old Parts Returned to You

If a mechanic tells you that you need to replace a part, ask to see the part that needs to be replaced. Some "mechanics" will tell you that you need a part replaced, and then bring you the part, but it is not actually the one from your car. If have any suspicions, you can even ask to go back in the garage so you that you can examine the vehicle yourself.   When a mechanic knows that you want the broken stuff back, the mechanic is more likely to actually do the work even he originally had plans for dishonesty.

Read Online Reviews About the Repair Shop

Along with traditional word of mouth recommendations, online reviews are an excellent way to gather information about your mechanic.  Start with a general Google search to read online reviews of the mechanic’s shop.  Searching the mechanic by shop name along with the city and state will yield some important information including internet posts by satisfied and unsatisfied customers.  Read all posts carefully.  A single unhappy customer does not necessarily mean the mechanic is dishonest, but a pattern of unhappy customers means you should steer clear of this particular shop.  Google+, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau’s online search tool are excellent ways to gather information about your potential mechanic.

Get a Detailed Auto Repair Estimate in Writing

A detailed written estimate is critical to have in hand prior to authorizing the performance of any service work.  Have the repair shop give you an estimate of exactly what they will be doing, what they are replacing, the tests they will be doing (if any), the parts they plan to replace and the amount of time they think it will take.  A written estimate amounts to a basic contract in most states and protects the consumer from unauthorized work and expenses.  With an agreed upon written estimate, the mechanic cannot perform any repairs that are not on the estimate without your approval.  Just as you would never sign a blank check and hand it over to your mechanic, NEVER sign a blank authorization form.

Check for Mechanic Certifications

Just as you would expect from any professional, the mechanics who work on your vehicles should have industry certifications.  Look for ASE certifications.  Possession of such certification means that your mechanic has passed rigorous testing to prove their expertise in auto repair.  A mechanic who has not passed these tests should not be allowed to work on your vehicle.

Honest Mechanics West Jordan, Utah

Leave dishonest mechanics in the dust.  Looking for honest mechanics in West Jordan, Utah?  Visit us online at Ace Auto. We provide free written estimates and a guarantee on all of our work.  Give us a call at 801-803-6016 to discuss your automotive repairs or schedule an appointment today.