Troubleshooting Problems with a Car Air Conditioner

Troubleshooting Problems with a Car Air Conditioner

As the hot months of summer drag on, car air conditioner repair jobs will pile up. It can be difficult to know exactly what problem is going on with a car air conditioner. That is why we gathered the most popular troubleshooting problems with a car air conditioner that you’ll run into. Some problems have easy solutions, but others may give you a harder time.

Foul Smelling Air

If the air conditioner is working but blows smelly, pungent air, there might be a problem with the air cabin filter. This is easy to fix most times—you can just replace the air cabin filter. However, if the smell persists or the cabin filter is new, the problem might be mold in the evaporator. Fixing mold problems deep within the air conditioning system involves drilling a small hole into the evaporator case and filling it with a mold-killing solution. You’ll then fill the hole back in when you’re finished. Mold can cause health risks if left unsolved, so be sure to clean it out entirely.

Leaks

When car air conditioners aren’t putting out any or as much cold air as they used to, a leak could be at fault. Residue around the vents might indicate a leak. You can also use a UV light to detect some refrigerants that may be leaking out. You can also use a leak sniffer device to detect the chemicals being pushed out. The common cause of leaks is old age and corrosion, though part failure can happen at any time. Leaks can be on any of the connectors or valves in an air conditioning system. If they go undetected or unfixed, the leak can affect other parts in the car, causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage. Be thorough when fixing leaks to save your clients a headache down the line.

No Cold Air Blowing Out

Your air conditioning problem may not be a leak, but rather a part failure in the air conditioning system. Check the fans for rust, check for blown fuses, and look for clogs in the system. Weird sounds from the air conditioner can be indicative of fan or compressor problems. If no air is being blown out at all, check the car’s fuse box to make sure that electricity is running to the air conditioning system. If you notice that cold air comes out at first but stops during operation, there might be a freezing issue. Letting the air-conditioner sit unused to thaw can fix it temporarily but may not be a permanent solution; therefore, the system may require flushing.

Car Black Death

Outside moisture meeting refrigerant failure can lead to the endgame of troubleshooting problems with a car air conditioner through what is known as black death. It’s not a virus, but rather corrosive sludge that builds up and blocks up the insides of the car. It can spread to other engine parts and should never be taken lightly.

At Tooldom, we have all the essential car repair tools you’ll need for handling car air conditioning problems.