We understand how frustrating it can be when you realize that your car’s AC isn’t working anymore! Unfortunately, this isn’t as uncommon as you may think. There are a few reasons why your A/C isn’t working – let’s talk about what those might be, so you know how to fix it ASAP.
1) Blocked Condenser/Broken
Your vehicle’s condenser is designed to re-cool hot refrigerated air; this is one of the mains units of your car’s air conditioning system. If your condenser is blocked by debris or other random items that get picked up along the road, you will soon be able to tell because you will begin to notice that your A/C isn’t as cold as it was last week then you might have something blocking your condenser. If your condenser is broken, you will be able to tell because your engine could start to “smoke,” overheat and your A/C isn’t working anymore. For either of these issues, the best thing to do is crawl under your vehicle to see if you can identify if there is a blockage. If you don’t see anything blocking your engine, then you will want to call us at Chapman Auto Repair to have your vehicle brought in for repair.
2) Electrical Issues
Same as your house, sometimes you get an electrical shortage, which is why we buy surge protectors. The same thing can happen to your A/C unit in your vehicle. We suggest to visually inspect to see if you can identify broken or frayed wires if you do notice damage – bring it in
3) Leaking of the Freon
Have you ever opened your refrigerator and enjoyed that first blast of fresh air hits your face as you are searching for the milk or juice? That blast of air is freon, the same freon that keeps your A/C cold. Leaks are prevalent around the connection clamps or hoses; this happens because of wear on the tubes. If you can find on your own or you take your car to a technician, the fix is easy; you can buy a sealant at any auto parts store or use gorilla tape to secure the leak. This is an excellent temporary fix. Eventually, we suggest that you replace the hoses or connection clamp that leaked.