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(239) 992-2626
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2019
Having a less than effective (or worse yet a non-functioning) air conditioning system in your vehicle can be absolutely miserable, especially in the unpredictable climate of Southwest Florida. If you have noticed that your car’s AC is not blowing as cold as it used to, or if it has completely ceased producing cold air altogether, there are a number of possible causes. In this blog we will discuss the 3 most common reasons why your vehicle’s air conditioning is malfunctioning.
If your vehicle’s AC has stopped blowing cold air the common cause, by far, is that the system is low on refrigerant, as the result of a leak. If your vehicle’s air conditioning system does, indeed, have a leak, simply recharging it will not solve the issue. Although it can be rather difficult to determine the exact location of such a leak, the vast majority of the time the leak is located at AC unit hose connections, such as at the condenser, evaporator or compressor. It is sometimes possible to identify the source of the leak, as there may be an accumulation of an oily substance at a particular connection.
Regardless of whether you believe you have identified the leak’s location, the best solution to your air conditioning woes is to bring it to a professional. An experienced mechanic can evacuate your system of any existing refrigerant and recharge it with a refrigerant that has a special UV dye added to it, allowing for easy identification of the source of the leak.
The compressor is responsible for keeping the air in your vehicle’s air condition system moving at all time. If the compressor is not working correctly, your system will be incapable of circulating refrigerant and your AC will never blow cold air. The most common cause of a failed compressor is long, extended periods of non-use. For instance, if your vehicle sits for extended periods of time without being started this lack of use often shocks the system and can cause your compressor to fail when it is finally started again. The best strategy to prevent a compressor failure is to run your air conditioning system for at least 15 minutes about once a month, regardless of the temperature. This helps ensure that the compressor remains fresh, efficient and will help extend its lifespan.
Your vehicle’s air conditioning system contains a number of electrical switches, blend doors, controllers, and relays that are essential to the system functioning properly and running at peak performance. There are a multitude of electrical issues that can cause a vehicle’s air conditioning system to malfunction.
Don’t wait until the scorching Florida summer sun returns… If your car, truck or commercial fleet vehicle has begun to experience air conditioning issues, contact AAMCO of Bonita Springs for all your AC system diagnostic testing, maintenance and repair needs. (239) 992-2626