The saying goes that nobody remembers Santa Barbara until it thunders, and this also applies to car air conditioning. Only when the high temperatures begin to emerge, as is the case now with the sunniest days of spring, do we need to activate the air conditioner. In this way we manage to cool the passenger compartment and obtain a pleasant temperature to drive without interfering with our conditions.
However, obtaining a comfort temperature, which the employers of the ITV stations set in a range that oscillates between 19 and 22 degrees, will depend on whether the air conditioner works correctly. When it comes to activating the mechanism responsible for blowing cold air into the passenger compartment for the first time in many months, we can find ourselves with the unpleasant surprise that it does not work or does so poorly.
To avoid a situation like this, it is convenient to check that the air conditioning works normally before the high temperatures are extreme and affect the passengers of the car. Therefore, it is advisable to test the car’s air conditioning as soon as possible so as not to encounter the problem in the middle of a heat wave.
In most cases where the air conditioning does not work, the problem is caused by a leak. Although it is also very likely that the gas level is low and that it is necessary to recharge.
Air conditioning leaks are a very common problem in car air conditioning. To prevent them, it is advisable to start the vehicle’s air conditioning system at least once a month for 15 minutes. Gas leaks only occur when cold air is activated. When turning on the heating there is no possibility of this type of failure happening since the hot air does not need gas, the Feuvert workshop chain indicates on its blog.
If we follow the advice above and periodically test the car’s air conditioning, we can more easily detect if there is a leak. The greatest evidence that we are facing a failure like this is given to us by the presence of a water stain inside the passenger compartment. Generally, it usually occurs on the passenger floor mat.
In addition to this small water stain, a noise in the engine area can indicate that the compressor is faulty. Likewise, the bad smell given off by the air conditioning ducts when the system is activated is an unequivocal sign that there is an accumulation of humidity in the aeration tubes or that there is excess dust, fungi or bacteria in the circuit.
In the event that the vehicle’s air conditioning system has a leak, it is best to go to a mechanical workshop. There, a professional will check the cabin filter, the condenser, the compressor and the expansion valve, among other elements that make up the system.
As a general rule, manufacturers recommend servicing the car’s air conditioning every 20,000 kilometers. In these tests, the air conditioning system is thoroughly checked to detect possible leaks before carrying a load. Feuvert professionals, for example, carry out a review of the circuit pressures, the temperature inside the passenger compartment, the start-up of the compressor and the belt, and the condition of the filter.
