How do you fix ac in a car

October 13, 2021 10:21 pm

It might be fall, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t use your vehicle’s air conditioner until next summer. Whether it’s an unusually warm day or you’ve got a van full of active children, the last thing you want is for your car’s air conditioner to quit unexpectedly.

Table of Contents Show

General tips
Refresh your refrigerant
3. Connect the hose
4. Let out air
5. Turn on the car
6. Start recharging the refrigerant
7. Remove the hose
8. Enjoy the A/C!
What causes a car's AC to stop working?
Why is my car AC not blowing cold?

Here’s a quick AC fix to try if your auto AC suddenly stops working:

General tips

Here’s what you need to do first:

Diagnose the problem: First, try to figure out what the exact problem may be. Turn on your car, and let the air conditioner run. If the air is not as cold as it should be, there may be an airflow issue. If there’s an unpleasant smell, replace the cabin air filter, and try again. If the cooling fans on the radiator aren’t running, there may be another problem.
Look to see if the air compressor is running: Next look to see if your air compressor is running. You want to see if the center of the pulley is rotating with the pulley itself. If it doesn’t, you may need more refrigerant.
Check the AC compressor wiring: Now check the AC compressor wiring. There should be a wire that leads to the electric clutch. Unplug it, and touch it to your battery’s positive terminal. If it’s functioning properly, you should hear a loud clacking sound.
Look for leaks in the system: Finally, look for leaks. There are leak-detection kits you can use to find out if this is the issue.

Refresh your refrigerant

If there are no leaks in your AC system, you can try adding more refrigerant. This is a temporary fix for your car’s AC unit. Here’s how to do it:

Get the ambient temperature: You need the ambient temperature level so you can appropriately read the AC gauge.
Find and clean the low-side service port: Vehicle AC systems use two service ports: high and low. Find the low-side service port, and clean it off with a soft rag.
Connect the charging hose: Next attach the charging hose to the low-side service port. Consult your owner’s manual if you need help finding it or connecting the hose.
Add refrigerant: If your vehicle was made after 1995, it uses R134a refrigerant. Vehicles made before 1995 use R12, which you cannot refresh on your own, so you’ll need to take your vehicle into the shop. Be sure to get the right refrigerant; then follow the directions to add to your AC system.
Replace caps: Finally, disconnect the hose, and replace your service port cap. Turn on your vehicle. and run the AC to see if it works.

Quick fixes when your car’s AC stops working may not solve the problem permanently, but they can help. When you want to solve your air conditioner problems once and for all, bring your vehicle to the experts at Auto Air & Heating, Inc. We’ll help you stay cool all throughout the year. Reach out to us today, or stop by for an appointment.

Categorised in: Auto AC Repair

This post was written by Writer

3. Connect the hose

Twist the can as you put the hose on it. Don’t lock the pin just yet. Now, find the low-end port of your A/C. It should have an L letter printed on the cap. Remove the cap, keep, and connect the other end of the hose to the low port. Make sure it’s tight and that there are no leaks.

4. Let out air

Loosen the end of the can to let any air out. The larger the noise, the more refrigerant you have left inside. Unleash it for only one or two seconds, and tighten it back.

Now, turn the pin on the can clockwise and let it pierce through the can. Nothing is going to happen, yet.

5. Turn on the car

Turn on the engine after you’ve done the steps above. Turn on the A/C and turn it to its highest setting. Also turn it to its coldest setting.

6. Start recharging the refrigerant

Now, go back to the can and turn the pin the other way around from step 5 to let loose the pin from blocking the airway. Refrigerant will begin to flow into the A/C. Watch the gauge and it should be nicely going up to the blue zone.

Don’t shake the can vigorously, but move it around to let the refrigerant flow into the A/C system.

7. Remove the hose

Once it’s all out, turn off the engine and lock the pin on the hose. Remember to turn it full and make sure it’s locked. Remove the hose from the A/C system. Close it back with the L cap.

8. Enjoy the A/C!

And there’s the quick guide to recharging the R12 into your system. It’s pretty simple and safe if you follow the procedures accordingly and make sure that you wear safety equipment.

Now, what if there’s a leakage? The good thing about refrigerant these days is that they also come with UV dye that allows you to see if there are any leakages around the hose. Use UV light to find it.

Sometimes, the refrigerant may not be the problem it might just be the fan. You can try replacing it yourself, but it does require you to open up the dashboard, the filters and lots more. So, the better way to do this is to call us at Sandgate Auto Electrics at (07) 3269 3158 or drop by at our autoshop on 113 Connaught Street Sandgate, QLD, 4017 . We provide the fastest, most reliable car service to the people of Queensland. We also take the proper measures and truly fix everything about your A/C to make sure that there will be no problem for at least a few years to come.

What causes a car's AC to stop working?

The most common reasons could be a clogged filter, cooling fan problem, radiator trouble, or it could simply be that you need to recharge (regas) your air conditioning.

Why is my car AC not blowing cold?

Car A/C Not Blowing Cold Air There are a few reasons that can lead to this issue: Failed compressor or compressor clutch. Clogged expansion tube or refrigerant charging hose. Damaged or failed condenser or evaporator Vacuum leaks.