Air conditioning servicing
Does car air conditioning need recharging?
You may not think about your air conditioning frequently until it stops working in really hot weather. More than just an inconvenience, faulty air conditioning can cause potential problems, especially if you’re stuck in traffic with the temperature soaring inside your car.
If you realise your air conditioner is not blowing cool air, it’s time to take it to a professional, such as Tony's Tyre and Autocare for an inspection. We offer air conditioning services to solve any issues your air conditioning and climate control systems may have.
Signs your A/C needs recharging
Most of the time, when an air conditioning system isn’t blowing cold air, the first thing to suspect is that the refrigerant has leaked out.
Recharging your A/C refers to the process of adding refrigerant to the cooling system to allow it to resume blowing cold air.
Many issues could arise if your air conditioner is malfunctioning. That’s why it’s important you are aware of some of the most common signs your air conditioner is not working properly.
Your A/C is blowing warm or hot air
One of the most common and easiest ways to tell if your air conditioning is malfunctioning is that your vehicle is blowing hot or warm air.
The evaporator core will not reach the optimal temperature for cooling if your car is too low on refrigerant or your system has a blockage somewhere. The air may start out cold but then blow warm or it won’t cool down at all.
The air coming from your vents smells weird
Generally, if you notice a weird smell coming from your vents, it means mildew or water is present in the system.
There are many reasons for this happening. The smart thing to do is to take your car to your local repair shop to have it assessed.
After you resolve the mildew issue, it’s a good idea to turn your air conditioning off a few minutes before you turn your vehicle off while leaving the fan on to clear any remaining condensation from your ducts and vents.
Your car refrigerant is leaking
It’s hard to detect a refrigerant leak without specialized tools. Sometimes the use of an ultraviolet dye and a special flashlight can pinpoint leak joints in your AC system.
The clutch of your A/C is not engaging
An A/C clutch converts your car’s engine energy and delivers it to the compressor. Typically, the clutch engages and starts spinning to transfer the power when you turn on the air conditioner.
Additionally, it’s in charge of keeping the air conditioning from running constantly.
So, if the refrigerant of your car is too low or too high, there is a safety pressure sensor that prevents the air conditioning clutch engagement. Therefore, the refrigerant won’t circulate and your vehicle won’t cool.
How to recharge your A/C?
If the refrigerant level in your car is low, it’s very likely that your air conditioning system has a leak. A temporary fix would be to top off the refrigerant so your A/C blows colder air instead of warm or hot. However, it’s very likely the issue will return.
The air conditioning system of a car is a very complex structure. If the incorrect amount of refrigerant is added, it will cause the system to work poorly.
Therefore, it’s crucial you book an appointment with an expert A/C diagnostic or service such as Tony's Tyre and Autocare. In order for your A/C system to run cold again, the old refrigerant gas should be removed from your A/C unit. Then it is replaced with a new refrigerant. Since it’s a complex process, you should always have your AC system regassed by a qualified professional.
How often do you need to recharge your A/C?
Compared to an oil change service, your A/C shouldn’t need to be charged very often, if at all. It’s essential you check your owner’s manual for the suggested maintenance schedule.
Generally, air conditioning inspections should be done every 2 years. But A/C systems only need recharging when they're not used enough and the seals dry out.
Recharge your A/C with Tony’s Tyre and Autocare
When experiencing issues with your air conditioning and climate control systems, contact Tony's Tyre and Autocare. We serve in Quakers Hill and surrounding areas.
We also stock a wide variety of tyres and wheels to fit different types of vehicles, including performance cars, and eco-friendly or off-road vehicles.
Come in and see Tony, Daryl, and our experienced team at 1/402 Quakers Hill Pkwy, Quakers Hill. Alternatively, you can call us on 02 9837 4455 or book our conditioning service online.