If not properly maintained, many things can go wrong with a car’s air conditioner. Generally, a good rule of thumb is to have the AC inspected every spring to make sure that the system is operating as it should be. The Shop Tire and Service Center can inspect your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s air conditioner so you can count on it all summer long. Let’s talk about the things that can go wrong with an air conditioner.
Condenser Failure
Your AC system has many parts that work together to produce the cold air you enjoy blowing through the vents. The condenser is what keeps the refrigerant cold. Once it is hot, the refrigerant heads to the condenser to be cooled off by vents and a fan. The condenser uses the air that blows through the grille to help keep the refrigerant cold. If the condenser is damaged by road debris or the vents get clogged with dirt, it will fail and be unable to cool off the hot refrigerant.
Condenser Fan Failure
As we just mentioned, the condenser has a fan to help it keep the refrigerant cold. This fan can malfunction over time and die on its own, or there may be an electrical system problem that prevents the fan from working. Either case means the fan cannot help the condenser cool off the refrigerant.
Compressor Failure
The compressor changes the refrigerant gas into refrigerant liquid. The next thing it does is circulate the liquid through the air conditioning system so the air can blow over it to get cold. The compressor tends to fail if it is not run frequently. Naturally, you do not use your car’s air conditioner in the winter. This can leave you with a malfunctioning compressor in the summer.
Electrical System Failure
As we mentioned above, the electrical system can fail and prevent the condenser fan from running. It can also fail at the AC switch on your dashboard. Any electrical system failure will cause the air conditioning system to malfunction. In fact, it may not even run.
Low Refrigerant Levels
Finally, low refrigerant levels can occur if you do not have your air conditioning system service every spring. As you learned above, the refrigerant comes in two forms. First, it is the gas that is compressed into a, second, liquid. It can evaporate in the former form and leak in the latter form.
The Shop Tire and Service Center in Elk River, MN, would be happy to inspect your car’s AC to make sure it will run as needed throughout the summer. Call us today.