The Importance of Proactive Car Repairs

If you are driving around and notice your car is becoming hot, you will turn the air conditioner on. However, if you go to turn it on and cold air doesn't begin to blow out, you have a problem. If you aren't very handy around automobiles, your first instinct may be to take it to a mechanic to have it inspected and repaired. However, there are a few things that even those who are completely unfamiliar with cars can do that may solve the problem. Here are a few basic ways you may be able to solve an auto AC that isn't working.

Remove Leaves and Debris From the Condenser

Once your car has sat idle and cooled, pop the hood. When you look inside, you will want to find your car's condenser. The condenser is located toward the front of the car, on the opposite of your car's grill. It is dead center between the two headlights. The condenser is a rectangular metal plate with ridges and grooves on it. Once you have located this part, use a soft-bristled cleaning brush, or an old toothbrush, to remove dust, dirt and other debris, such as leaves. This debris can impede the flow of air into your air conditioning system, which, in turn, impacts how much cold air your car can produce.

Look for a Loose Hose

If removing dirt and debris from the condenser doesn't solve your problem, the next thing you will want to do is look for a loose hose. There are two hoses that branch out from your car's condenser. Locate both of these hoses. One is at the top of the condenser and the other is near the bottom. Follow both of these hoses with your hand. The longer of the two hoses connects to the evaporator. The shorter hose connects to the compressor. A third hose connects from the back of the compressor to the evaporator. If one of these three hoses are not connected to anything, you have found your problem. Simply pick up the end of the loose hose and attach it to the connector. Also, while you are doing this, ensure the hoses are tightly attached to the connectors by turning the connectors by hand a few times to tighten them.

Look for a Crack in any of the Above Parts

The last thing you can do is inspect the hoses, condenser, compressor and evaporators for cracks or leaks. If you notice any cracks or fluid dripping from them, the part needs to be replaced. A crack can cause refrigerant to leak out. Refrigerant is responsible for cooling your air, so a lack of this item will lead to warmer air. A crack can also allow air to escape, which may reduce the amount of cold air in your car. Unfortunately, repairing these parts is more challenging and you will want to take your car to an auto AC repair shop if you aren't familiar with cars. But at least you have identified the problem for them.

If you aren't very familiar with cars, or are not handy, you may feel that you can't fix the problem if your car's air conditioner stops working. This isn't always the case. Removing debris from the condenser and looking for and connecting a loose hose can solve your problem. And even if you can't fix the problem, you may be able to identify the issue by looking for a crack in the parts that make up your vehicle's air conditioning system. To learn more, speak with a business like Modern Auto Air.