The car air conditioner may not be a luxury in a country like UAE where summer can get extremely hot and humid. However, like any other car component, the air conditioning can also malfunction. Therefore, knowing how to identify the reasons for car AC compressor failure is a good way to prevent it before it completely stops working.
In this guide, we present to you some of the most common signs of car AC failures and what to do to prevent them.
Symptoms of a Bad AC in Car
As long as the AC compressor remains functional, you should have a stable flow of cool air from the vents. But like everything, an AC compressor can fail.
A weak car air conditioner can be linked to several breakdowns. This is usually a compressor failure, a refrigerant leak or an electrical problem. Keeping this in mind, we compiled this guide to show you which signs indicate that your car’s air conditioning may not work properly.
Air Conditioning Compressor Failure
The compressor is essential for the proper functioning of an air conditioning system. Its role is to circulate the refrigerant through other components. One of the signs of a bad car AC compressor is when the compressor fails, the refrigerant no longer circulates. The operation of the compressors varies according to the vehicles.
However, if the airflow in the system and the cabin is normal, but the car AC compressor is not working in hot weather, it could be a problem with the refrigerant compression cycle.
This problem can be caused by failures such as:
- Leakage in compressor hoses or valves
- Broken, missing or slipping compressor belt
- Improperly dimensioned compressor pulley
- Lack of lubrication in the compressor
Problems related to the belt and pulley can be identified visually or by ear, i.e. the sound of a car spinning when the engine is accelerated.
Air Conditioning Gas Leakage
The automotive system has several hoses, ducts and connections that are always subjected to trepidation and bumps that can compromise the circulation of gas, causing the air conditioning to stop cooling.
Without refrigerant gas or with low pressure, the system is not able to exchange heat properly. However, your car’s AC gas can be changed and refilled. Hence if your car AC runs out of gas, it is possible to get it refilled. Here is how you can fix an air conditioning leak in a car.
However, identifying the leak can be a difficult task. You can check hoses and connections for leakage. Just use a little soap and water to detect the points where there is a gas leak. If the soap begins to bubble that means there is a leakage
Defective Air Conditioning Filter
First, it is necessary to check the condition of the air filter. The air filter is responsible for ensuring the quality of the air inside the car. However, it is one of the biggest causes of malfunctions in the cooling system.
The role of the cabin filter is to prevent impurities and dirt from entering the air ducts. When it is defective or clogged, impurities will easily enter the vehicle, affecting the performance of the air conditioning and heating. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the air filter periodically.
This maintenance can be done at home. Just consult your owner’s manual for replacement recommendations and filter models.
Electrical Problem in the Air Conditioning
Electrical failures are also very common on an air conditioning circuit. Whether fuse boxes, relays, and even switches, all of the vehicle’s electrical components can cause car AC failure. Therefore, these electrical components should not be neglected.
A Faulty Sensor
The role of the sensor is to measure the pressure and to communicate the information to the air conditioning computer. The most probable risk that can cause due to a faulty sensor is that it communicates false information which can lead to an overestimation of the temperature in the vehicle.
Signs of a Car Compressor Failure
When a compressor starts to fail, it usually produces some warning signs. For example:
- Reduced Cabin Cooling: Since the compressor is responsible for pressurizing and dispensing the refrigerant, a faulty compressor will no longer be able to regulate flow and as a result, the rest of the system will not function properly.
- Noises when AC is on: For example, a high-pitched sound could be caused by a damaged compressor or clutch. A scraping sound may indicate low levels of lubricant.
- Clutch not working: The clutch allows the pulley to engage and disengage the engine, so the compressor rotates only when necessary. A stuck clutch will result in the compressor running permanently. Consequently, a broken clutch will interrupt engine power delivery to the compressor.
Tips to Extend the Life of Your Car Air Conditioner
A few simple car maintenance tips can increase the life of your car’s air conditioning system.
- Clean the air conditioning filter regularly.
- Turn on the air conditioning daily to help lubricate the system.
- Avoid turning on the air conditioning after leaving the car in the sun for a long time. as this causes a temperature shock, taking too long to cool down.
- Don’t forget to do maintenance every six months.
By following these basic tips and paying attention to problems, it is quite likely that your air conditioner will always be up to date. You can also check these few useful tips to get maximum cooling from your car’s AC.
That’s the wrap of our guide on the common causes of car AC failure. Besides, if your car AC is failed, try other ways to stay cool without AC in your car.
If you are living in the UAE and want to repair your car’s AC then check out these car AC repair shops.
If you are looking for a fully functional AC car then browse through these used cars for sale in the UAE and enjoy a comfortable ride during hot weather.
Stay connected to the UAE’s leading car blog, if this guide helped you in identifying your car’s AC failure causes.
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