Living in Scotland, we can often travel in our vehicles for months at a time without needing to use the air conditioning. Then one spring day the sun comes out and you turn on the AC to cool down but you find it doesn’t work or it just blows warm air at you.
This article explains what maintenance your vehicle air conditioning system needs and highlights some of the common problems.
Air Con Servicing & Maintenance
The best way to keep your vehicle air con in tip top condition is to have it serviced every 2 years. Vehicle manufacturers recommend this as a typical vehicle will lose 10-15% of it’s air con gas every year.
Most people ask their garage to do this when their car is in for a service and / or MOT, as an additional service. The filters will get cleaned, the gas refilled, any repairs fixed and where necessary, at Lawson AutoTech we will carry out an air con leak test. This means it is unlikely you will have to suffer a boiling hot vehicle on a sunny day or a slow windscreen defrost because the air con system is broken or needing refilled. Catching faults early can save money in the long run.
car Air con common Faults
- Warm Air
The most common sign that a vehicle air con system needs some attention is that it blows out warm air. You should expect to feel chilled air coming from the vents that cools the vehicle interior temperature.
In most cases, the gas will simply need to be refilled. However, if you have had this done within a year, there could be a leak that needs investigated. It can be a multitude of things within the system so pinpointing the root cause is key. - Smelly
When you turn on the air conditioning, you should not be aware of any smells.
A cabin filter that hasn’t been replaced for several years can result in a horrible smell and bacteria being blasted into your vehicle. - Unusual Noises
The air con system should not rattle or make any unusual sounds.
A damaged cooling fan is one possible reason for an unusual rattle. You should get any unusual sounds checked out as what could be a simple repair now could result in a broken part if you ignore it. - Less Air Being Circulated
You notice that it is taking longer for your vehicle to cool down as there seems to be less air coming from the air ducts.
This could be due to a blockage that will be fixed by simply removing what ever is blocking the air duct. - Not Working At All
When you switch on the air con, nothing happens at all.
This could be due to many reasons from a sensor issue to a blown fuse, a broken fan or a leaking condenser. In this case, a full leak test would be required.
In all these scenarios, your local garage will be able to fix the problem. The air con may simply need a gas refill or a filter changed, but it could be a bigger problem that requires a replacement part.
Lawson AutoTech’s Air Con Services
At Lawson AutoTech, we offer car air conditioning repairs, servicing and refills. We will always carry out a leak test before refilling the gas. Please get in touch to book your vehicle in for air con maintenance to keep it performing at its best.
