Air Conditioning at Scotlands Ash Garage.

Located near Oxford, Didcot and Newbury providing car repair and MOT services.

Once Air Conditioning and Climate Control were limited to luxury cars, but now they are common to almost all new vehicles. Whilst the servicing of you're A/C system is best left to the professionals, here are the top seven things you should watch out for, which will help you to maximise the efficiency of your system as well minimise large repair bills.

1. Does your car feel as cold you would expect? If not, you may need to recharge your system.

If you feel that your car doesn't feel as it has done or someone else's A/C system, then your system may need servicing. The refrigerant gas that is used to operate the system depletes over time, (on average up to 15% per annum). This leakage is normally due to the small "O" ring seals drying out when the system isn't used in the winter moths, allowing small amounts of the gas to escape. If this continues, eventually the system will not be able to operate at all, and you can damage the compressor (or pump) which moves the gas around the system.

Most of this type of problem can be put right fairly easily with leak check of your system followed by a complete refill of your air conditioning refrigerant. This is sometimes referred to as re-gas.

2. Do you hear strange noises coming from the air conditioning system? If you do, these should be looked at immediately.

If your A/C system suddenly starts making strange noises you have not heard before, you need to get it checked by a qualified vehicle air conditioning specialist. Some noises could be early symptoms of a compressor failure ( the compressor is the air conditioning pump). If the compressor breaks down it can contaminate other parts of the system with fragments of metal,which may not only damage other components of the system, but will also mean a complete reflush of the system. This along with replacing the other damaged parts along with the new compressor can be an expensive repair.

It's far better to catch the compressor on its way out, before it fails.

3. Have you noticed odd smells coming from the air conditioning? These may be caused by bacterial build-ups.

As your car becomes older, or when the air conditioning system is used infrequently, bacteria micro-organisms, mould and fungi may start growing, just behind the dash panel on the evaporator causing some unpleasant odours. There have even been some claims that headaches and flu like symptoms have occurred as a result (sometimes referred to as "sick car syndrome.")

This problem can be easily solved by using an anti-bacterial treatment that destroys the bacteria growth and leaves your car smelling fresh again.

4. Have you noticed a pool of water under your car when you run the A/C for a while? Don't be alarmed - this is normal.

Water dripping from the bottom of the car when the A/C system is in use is a normal function of the system - it is only water dripping from the air conditioning evaporator. The air conditioning system removes moisture vapour from the air inside the car. This moisture in warm air is what causes us to feel "sticky" and uncomfortable. The evaporator has a drain tube fitted which allows the condensation from the evaporator to drain away from the vehicle.

5. Are your carpets damp or are you getting excessive misting? Excessive moisture inside the car can be easily fixed.

Occasionally the drain tube from the evaporator can become blocked or detached, allowing the condensation to build up inside your evaporator. If this occurs, moisture will build up in your car to the point where the carpets will become damp and / or you will get high humidity problems in the car.

A simple low cost A/C system check will solve this problem.

6. Do you use your air conditioning in the winter? Running the system all 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. 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.

7. Even if you don't have an obvious problem, you should have your air conditioning serviced regularly to prolong the life of the parts.

As with any other part of your car, the air conditioning system needs regular servicing to keep things working properly. The compressor needs oil to prevent it seizing up. The filter needs to be cleaned from collected moisture and other debris. If the filter becomes blocked, then the performance of the system will deteriorate and it can even stop working entirely.

It is generally recognised that the refrigerant gas in a car air conditioning system should be recharged completely within two years of the manufacture date and every two years after that.

As annual servicing of your car's air conditioning system will guard against problems in the compressor and other vital parts of the system. Regular maintenance will save you money in the long run and guarantee you comfort in the hottest months.

 

For a friendly genuine service why not call in today.

Hours of business
Monday to Friday 6:30am to 5:00pm
Saturday 6:30am to 12:00 noon