3 Signs your Car Air Conditioner might need repairing
You may not realize it but do you know that using the A/C while driving significantly reduces your fuel consumption on the highway. Heat and lots of moisture from the surrounding air in the car is removed through the use of energy and this consumes more fuel in the car because of the added engine load.
But just how does this little nifty contraption work you might ask. Let us dive right into it and demystify or further understand the A/C and its main components that is the compressor, condenser, and evaporator, that achieve the cooling purpose that we all so much enjoy. Let us take a quick look at each to better understand the expertise Jack frost is offering when you come in for a quick fix or better yet when we come to you.
Main Components Of Your Car A/C System
Car Air Conditioner Compressor
Refrigerant, in low pressure and gaseous form, is drawn into the compressor; the compressor does what it does best and compresses the gas once it is inside the car’s pump. The belt, which is connected to the engine’s crankshaft, drives the car pump, which translates to putting the gas under-pressure and forcing it out to the condenser.
Car Air Conditioner Condenser
The condenser acts like a radiator in your car and serves more or less the same purpose that is, radiate heat out your car. The refrigerant leaves the compressor as a pressurized-gas and enters the condenser. There is air moving around the
There is air moving around the twisting-tubes of the condenser and its main function is to cool down the refrigerant turning it into liquid as there was heat created during the pressurizing process
Car Air Conditioner Evaporator
This, in most motor vehicles, is usually located on the passenger side of the car and is also known as the evaporator core and depending on the manufacturer of the car there are usually two of this strategically placed under the instrument panel.
Not only do they look like but also act like the radiators in the car just a bit smaller in size and made out of aluminum. Now as we know, heat travels from a warmer area to a cooler area as is the law of nature. Cold air circulates in the car by action of the car blower-fan inside the passenger-compartment pushing air over onto the very outside of the car evaporator but for all this to take place the refrigerant which is cold and at low pressure has to moved into the evaporator, vaporizing and absorbing heat from the surrounding air in the passenger compartment.
Just like any other mechanical part of the car, this system is not immune to wear and tear and definitely not damages. It may break down and may at one point need professional servicing or repair. There a couple of red flags to look out for when it comes that might suggest that it’s time to have it professionally inspected and repaired or replaced.
Need more information? Read our article on how your car air conditioning system works.
3 Main Signs Your Car Air Conditioning is Failing
1. Loss in cooling capability of the system
The most obvious symptom that a vehicles air conditioning might have issues is that there will be a noticeable loss in the overall cooling capability of the AC system. You may notice that the air is not blowing as cold as it was before or is not blowing cold air at all. It may also not offer the right temperatures which you require in the car.
2. You hear strange noises from the system
Strange noises coming from under your hood is always a cause for alarm. When you turn on your A/C, you should hear the fan blowing cool air, but if you hear a banging or rattling sound, something is wrong. These noises could be directly related to your air conditioning system. Grinding or grating sounds might signal a problem with your car’s fan.
Or, if you hear a squealing noise or any other high pitch tone, there could be a problem with your belts. In either case, it’s important to get it checked out before your air conditioner goes out completely.
3. Bad Smell
If you notice a bad smell when you turn on your A/C, your system may be failing. That bad smell may indicate that mold is growing inside the system. This problem cannot be ignored because breathing in mold is not safe for humans and could cause allergic reactions and other breathing-related problems.
Conclusion
We hope that has shed some light on how the A/C button in your car magically makes you forget how long you have been stuck in traffic on that very hot day. But if you have any further questions or explanations you may require we are happy to be of service. We pride ourselves in providing expert repair services to the entire Brisbane area and your happiness and convenience here at Jack Frost is our joy. So the next time you need your air conditioner repaired, give us a call and we can come to you if you are not in a position to come to us, saving you time and money.
Scott says:
January 10, 2017 at 6:28 pmI like that you point out that one sign that your AC needs to be serviced is that there could be a rattling noise when you turn it on. I can see why this would be an easy way of noticing that something is wrong. The AC in my brother’s car stopped working last summer and he hasn’t gotten it repaired since then. I’ll have to ask him if he heard any rattling before it went out.
Jack Frost says:
January 12, 2017 at 12:02 amThanks, Scott, we appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment.
Yes forward this post onto him and have him check if any of these issues are occurring. If so he will need a potential Car AC repairs, including a condenser replacement
Devon Horn says:
March 9, 2017 at 11:50 amI like the portion mostly that represents the signs by which one can know that the air conditioning system in his car is not working properly. 2-3 times I had also heard some strange noises coming from my car A/C but I had ignored It due to which I spent a lot in repairing my car A/C later on. So, it is always better to take proper car of car air conditioning system in order to remain cool and comfortable while driving especially in hot summer days. On a final note I can say that your blog is very help for me and I am sure it will help many more in near future. That is why I simply want to say thank you for sharing this.
http://www.jacksgermanauto.com/services.html
John Patricia says:
May 10, 2017 at 12:40 pmWell, owning a car requires a lot of care and love. The air conditioning system being an integral part of car should be properly inspected and maintained well. So, if someone notices any kind of trouble or anything that may seem not to be functioning well, then make sure to get it serviced as soon as possible. I like your blog very much as it is dealt with some warning signs related to car ac failure. It will surely help to address the cause of the problem. I would like to suggest that scheduled maintenance is the best way to keep the car and car ac in well-running condition.
Saara Caitrona says:
June 29, 2017 at 12:25 pmYes, when you uses your air condition while in driving, you need to remember that heat and moisture from surrounded air in the car is removed through use of energy. The compressor compress the gas once it is inside the car pump. The most noticeable signs of a/c to be replaced is when there will be significant loss in the overall cooling capability in the air conditioner system. If you hear a noise it might be a problem with your belt. It is therefore optional for you to check the condition before air condition get completely out of control. If you notice bad smell , then it might be a case of mold that is growing inside the system. Timely fix the a/c is essential and therefore do notice the symptoms in a/c and prevent any mishap to happen. Nice blog to appreciate. http://www.christensenperformance.com/
Sharon Lee says:
July 4, 2017 at 11:11 amHere, you have delivered a useful info based on warning signs behind car ac failure. Well, in this regard I can say that car’s air conditioning system is one which keeps the car and its occupants cool during the hot summer. That is the reason why, it has become a common feature in many modern cars. But it is quite unfortunate to say that many people overlook their car’s air conditioning system because they think that their car’s air conditioning system is only useful in summer. But this is not the real scenario, as it not only gives cool air in summer but also delivers dehumidified air in winter and makes the journey easy and comfortable. So, don’t ignore the warning signs, rather it must be inspected on a regular basis by taking the help of an expert, such as: https://www.garbersauto.com/ to keep it in a good working condition.
Wyatt says:
April 8, 2018 at 4:30 pmI have noticed that my AC was not cooling so well, then I went to have it refilled, it cools better now but cuts sometimes. There are times when it blows cold air all day and other times I have to turn off the ac and back on before it works. But is it necessary to empty the old air before adding new gas to the compressor?
Jack Frost says:
April 9, 2018 at 6:14 amDiagnosing intermittent problems vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle, yes the system must be decommissioned completely first then hydrogen/nitrogen pressure tested.
If it passes these tests it is then Gassed with the specified weight of gas, simply Re-Gassing the a/c system won’t fix an intermittent problem.
It could be a faulty clutch relay, clutch coil or clutch fault itself.
If it a later model European car it is more than likely a faulty control valve in the compressor.
Please confirm your booking ASAP as we are booking up very quickly in this warm weather and are unable to hold bookings without confirmation.
Regards,
Justin
JACK FROST CAR AIRCON
Issabela Joseph says:
April 12, 2018 at 7:29 amIt doesn’t matter what type of vehicle you drive, at some point in time your car’s going to need some type of repair. Fantastic article.
John says:
April 5, 2019 at 10:49 amThe air coming out of my car’s vent smells bad and I didn’t know that there were so many things to look at with maintenance! So, I’m going to hire a professional technician to take a look at it before summer arrives.
Kate Hansen says:
August 9, 2019 at 4:03 pmI like how you said that if you notice a bad smell when you turn your AC on your system may be failing. My AC has been having a bad smell every time I turn it on. I’ll make sure to keep this in mind while I search for an auto shop repair service. http://www.lonsdaleautoelectrical.com.au/car-4wd-air-conditioning
Rolly Cafuir says:
February 3, 2020 at 2:23 amWhen stuck in traffic for 20 or more mins, coldness diminishes until none, sometimes the engine stops, then restart it what’s seems to be the problem?