Seven Vital Facts About Your Car's Air Conditioning System
Air conditioning, which was once a great luxury, is now a common
feature on most motor vehicles. While the servicing of modern
car air conditioning systems is best left to professionals, you
can get the most enjoyment from your ac system if you know a bit
about how it works and what malfunctions you should be on the
lookout for.
1. Odd smells coming from the air conditioning may be caused by
bacterial buildups
As your car becomes older, or when the air conditioning system
is used infrequently, bacteria, micro-organisms, mold and fungi
may start growing, just behind the dash panel on the evaporator
causing some very unpleasant odors. Some even claim this can
result in headaches and flu like symptom sometimes referred to
as "sick car syndrome."
This problem can be solved by using an anti-bacterial treatment
that destroys the bacteria growth and leaves your car smelling
fresh again.
2. If you car does not feel cold enough, then you may need to
recharge your system
If you feel that your car doesn't feel as cold as your friend's
car, then your system may need servicing. The air conditioning
system in your vehicle is not usually covered by most
manufacturers servicing schedules and the refrigerant gas that
is used to operate the system depletes over time. On average
most vehicles lose up to 15% per annum. This leakage can be
caused when then system is not used during the winter months.
Thus allowing the small "O" ring seals to dry out resulting in a
gradual deterioration in system performance. If this continues,
eventually the system will not be able to operate at all.
Most problems of this type can be put right fairly easily by a
leak check of your system followed by a complete refill of your
air conditioning refrigerant, this is sometimes referred to as a
re-gas.
3. Running your air conditioning year round will help maintain
the system
If you run the air conditioning in the winter it will help to
keep the system well lubricated and leak tight. This is because
the refrigerant actually carries the oil that lubricates the
system and most importantly the compressor. It also keeps the
seals and hoses moist, thus preventing them from drying out and
cracking which can lead to leaks.
4. Strange noises coming from the air conditioning should be
attended to immediately
If your air-con system suddenly starts making noises you have
not heard before it is very advisable to have a qualified
vehicle air conditioning specialist to have a look at it. Some
noises could be early symptoms of a compressor failure (the
compressor is the air conditioning pump).The compressor is
usually the most expensive part on the system ranging from
approximately