Taking Care of your Car’s A/C System

Air conditionerThis summer, air conditioner problems are all too common, especially because our vehicle’s A/C system is working overtime just to keep the passengers cool despite the high temperatures and humidity outside. Thus, it is very important that you should know the warning signs of possible A/C malfunctions as well as basic preventive maintenance methods you can do by yourself. Here are some warning signs of a deteriorating air conditioner that you should pay attention to:

  • A/C is unable to cool to your desired temperature and produces warm air instead.
  • Water and condensation builds up on the floor of the car.
  • The A/C vents produce a musty odor while on operation.
  • Loud noises come from the engine or A/C when in use.
  • Overheating of the engine when the A/C is in use.
  • If you notice any of these warning signs, then it is highly recommended that you have your vehicle inspected. Proper maintenance and early detection of defects can save you a lot of money. Usually, your auto technician will check the coolant level, look out for leaks and tears in the hoses and check the belts in the air compressor.

    A/C CondenserOf course you can have your technician do every A/C related repair you need. However, there are also some tips you can do by yourself to save time and money.

  • When driving at city streets, use windows instead of your air conditioner. This will help you save up on fuel costs.
  • Meanwhile, at higher speeds or when on the freeway, use the air conditioner. Your car will consume less fuel compared to when you leave your windows down because drag on your car is lessened.
  • Replace air filters every 15,000 miles to avoid build up of dirt and debris which can lead to A/C malfunctions.
  • Regularly check and replace your vehicle’s A/C condenser. The condenser can become clogged with debris over time blocking cool air from entering your car.
  • Keeping cool during the summer months and still keep fuel costs down is easy if you know these simple steps and recognize the warning signs of a defective A/C system.
  • Posted by Rowan Pierce in Auto News, Car Care and Maintenance |


    This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 8th, 2006 at 9:00 pm and is filed under Auto News, Car Care and Maintenance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


    One Response to “Taking Care of your Car’s A/C System”

    1. Volksbloggin.com » Blog Archive » AC Tips for the Dog Days of Summer : Reviews, opinions and rants on all things Volkswagen Says:

      [...] Although we might be on the tail end of a record heat wave across the U.S., it’s still hot as hell out there(well, maybe not quite. But it’s still pretty hot). And as we count the days until Fall, we can’t forget to pay attention to the trusty AC system our car provides to make our commutes cooler. So The Auto Blog has posted a nice list of warnings and pointers to make sure that we stay cool for the remaining days of summer. Some points to note: [...]

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