I think we’ve all had a problem or two with our car a/c units before. I was out yesterday helping a sweet old lady with her a/c unit issue, I had to put my automotive engineering degree to use. When it’s very hot outside, this is not a fun experience. So, let me pay it forward for you. Here are some things you can be mindful of this hot summer, whether you have an a/c unit now or not.
First, if you feel your car not cooling of quick enough on a 95 degree day, you should call your mechanic or shade-tree mechanic and schedule an appointment for them to take a look at it. Your a/c unit may need refueling (Remember R-134 refrigerant is the new qualified brand, if your system is set for the old R-12, you may need to retrofit your system).
If your unit is not blowing or you only feel hot air coming from your a/c unit, check the following (How it’s supposed to work):
- Your a/c unit is made of a compressor, condenser, evaporator and expansion valve
- The refrigerant is compressed in the compressor (hot gas), hot gas turns to liquid state in condenser, then returns to expansion valve where it goes to low- pressure state where it is rapidly cooled in the evaporator
- Now your fan blows cool air into your car
Here’s what you do:
- If you are familiar there is nothing is jamming the condenser, this normally is located near the radiator
- Look for any loose wiring around the condenser or a/c unit components
- Review all engine belts, they should not be loose, detached or shredded, this could be a big issue
- If your fan or fan speed is an issue, you will need to check the circuit, maybe replace the resistor. If the fan is not actuating properly, your mechanic will need to review this
Hope this helps and was not too detailed, I generally speak in engineering language.
Until The Next Time,
MBG