Two Automobile Air Conditoning Questions And Answers

16 March 2015
 Categories: , Blog

Share

Your car's air conditioner is essential for keeping the automobile comfortable on a hot day, but these are highly complex systems that most drivers do not understand. Unfortunately, these systems can malfunction, and when they do, a driver may not understand what is needed to safely repair it. More precisely, there are two routine questions and answers that every driver should know about this part of their car. 

Can You Simply Recharge The Air Conditioner?

One day, you may start your car only to find that it will not cool off on the interior. When this happens, people will often buy a kit that adds more coolant to the system. These recharge kits can provide a temporary solution to this problem. However, it is likely to return to its previous condition. In instances where there was no coolant in the air conditioner, a leak is present and the recently added freon will simply drain away. 

Unfortunately, it is generally not advised to repeatedly use these kits because they can corrode the car's air conditioner system. This is the case because many cars are designed to work with specific fluids, and the recharge is unlikely to meet these exact specifications. As time progresses, this will result in more wear and tear, which will cause problems to become more common and severe. 

What Does It mean When The Air Conditioner Is Contaminated?

A contaminated air conditioning system can be extremely damaging and expensive to repair. This problem occurs when either condensation or small metal fragments make their way into the air conditioner's cooling. The condensation can cause corrosion as well as a dramatic decrease in efficiency, and the metal fragments can gradually wear away at sensitive internal components. 

When this problem stems from condensation, it can usually be repaired by simply changing the coolant and patching the problem that allowed the moisture into the system. Unfortunately, if the contamination results from metal fragments, there is a chance that the entire air conditioning system may need to be replaced. While you may be able to avoid this outcome by having the problem repaired early, many people will wait until the damage has progressed beyond the point of repair. As a result, you should always take your car into a repair shop at the first sign of trouble with the air conditioner. 

Your car's air conditioner is likely a part of the vehicle that you take for granted every time you drive, but when this system encounters a problem, you can quickly find yourself inside a sweltering box. Fortunately, understanding the limitations of recharge kits and the threats from contamination will help you avoid being forced to pay for extremely expensive repair bills. (For more information, contact Aamco Transmissions & Auto Repair)