You’ve turned the AC all the way down, but your car still feels like an oven. You’ve left the windows down as much as possible, but summer is well on its way, and you really miss that cold, refreshing blast from your dashboard.
When you park in the sun, temperatures inside your vehicle can rise as fast as one degree per minute. If you’ve noticed any warning signs that your car’s AC might be failing, don’t wait until temperatures become unbearable; have your vehicle inspected now.
Is Your AC Blowing Hot Air?
No matter how low you set the thermostat, are your vents still blasting hot air in your face? This problem could be due to a leak in your car’s refrigerant. Refrigerant is a fluid that absorbs and releases heat. Since this fluid cycles throughout the whole AC system, there are multiple places where a leak could occur. If your mechanic suspects a leak, they will add dye to the refrigerant to help find where that leak is.
A faulty compressor could also cause warm air to come from your vents. Your compressor pressurizes the refrigerant, cycling it throughout the AC system. If the problem is the compressor, you might also hear a grinding or squealing from under your hood.
Is Your AC Blowing At All?
Even with your fan turned as high as possible, are your vents barely blowing at all? If that’s the case, you should check your AC’s blower motor and fuses. The blower motor may sometimes work at certain fan speeds while turning off at others. If your blower motor is dying, you may hear strange noises from your vents that get louder as you turn up the fan.
If your vents struggle to put out air, you should also inspect your cabin air filter. Over time, this filter will become clogged with pollutants and may cause the AC air to smell odd. To avoid any airflow issues and keep your passengers breathing fresh air, change out your cabin air filter around every 30,000 miles.
If you’ve noticed any signs that your car’s AC is beginning to fail, make an appointment with L&D Automotive today. We’ll thoroughly inspect and repair your AC so you can stay cool this summer.