With the heat and humidity that summer months bring, long drives in your car are almost impossible without cranking the air conditioning to the highest setting. If you feel like the air conditioning is not cold enough, even on the highest setting offered, there might be a leak or a compressor issue that you need to look into. You do not have to stress out, since it is not a very rare thing, especially regarding used cars in Calgary. We will discuss the reasons for your air conditioning is not cool enough, a few quick fixes as to what you can do to remedy it, and also tips on how you can prevent future instances.
Let us have a quick look at how a car’s air-conditioning system works first. It is always good to have at least basic knowledge of the inner workings of your car, especially if you are eyeing Calgary used cars for sale. The air-conditioning system in your car does not “create” cold air. It works by removing the heat and the moisture in your car, hence leaving a colder atmosphere for as long as you run it.
Following are some of the problems that could make your air conditioning not work properly and not create a cool enough environment within your vehicle.
Cool but not enough
When you can feel that the air conditioning is working, but it is not cold enough for your liking, the first thing you should check is if the cooling fans on the condenser/radiator are working properly. This is a very recurrent problem that occurs when there are dirt and bugs etc., accumulated in them over time. It is fixable, but keep a close check for these problems if you are looking at used car dealerships in Calgary for your next car or if you bought your car from one of them.
Issues with the compressor
When it comes to issues with the air conditioning of a car, one of the first places you should check is its compressor. It is often considered the “heart” of the car’s air conditioning system. You can check this by having your engine run and setting the AC to its maximum setting and observing the way your clutch is engaging on the compressor. If it is showing problems, you can use a voltmeter to see if the compressor is getting a sufficient amount of power to run. When there is a good indication of voltage and if it is still not working, the problem may be with your clutch, and you need to get a qualified professional to handle it. Car dealers in Calgary often have their own mechanic to do these checkups for you when you are buying a used car.
Problems with leakage
One of the most prevalent issues associated with faulty air conditioning, especially when it comes to it working but not being cool enough is the leakage. There are A/C leak detection kits that you can buy to perform these checkups yourself. If you finance a used vehicle from a dealership, check with them if they have any promotional packages where they perform all these checkups for you as well. Following are some of the spaces that are most likely to have leakages which you should thoroughly check.
- Fittings
- Compressor
- Schrader valves
- Condenser
- Evaporator
Whether you determine what is causing the air conditioner not to cool the interior of the vehicle enough yourself, or decide to hire a technician, the following are some of the ways that a professional will go about fixing it.
Checking for leaks
This includes connecting the vehicle’s air conditioning system to a machine that removes the refrigerant oil to create a vacuum which allows them to conduct a checkup. They refill the oil after the procedure.
Replacing components if a leak is found
Carrying out regular checkups and servicing of the vehicle and being aware of the dirt buildup in the condensers and radiators will allow you to avoid these issues in the future.