Auto Air Conditioning Repair
There’s nothing worse while driving down the road on a hot summer day than to have your car’s air conditioner go out. With the heat and humidity that Iowa summers can bring, it’s important to have a car or truck A/C that’s working properly. At Brandon’s Body Shop & Repair in Wapello, we can diagnose and fix any auto air conditioning issue. If you’re having trouble with your vehicle, bring it to us today!
When Was The Last Time Your Car Had A/C Service?
If it’s been a few years since you had your car’s A/C looked at, now could be the time to do it. Without proper maintenance, your auto’s air conditioner could give out at the worst possible moment, such as when you’re leaving on a long road trip in the middle of July. Each year, the A/C loses a certain percentage of efficiency, which means that over time, it’s less able to keep up with your cooling needs.
How Does Your Car’s A/C Work?
Each vehicle’s air conditioning system functions in basically the same way, regardless of make or model. At Brandon’s, our team of experts knows how to investigate and find the cause of any auto A/C issue. However, it’s good for each driver to understand how their air conditioner works.
The A/C compressor runs off of a belt, and essentially “squeezes” the refrigerant gas in the system. Once the gas is pressurized, the condenser, which has several finned tubes, converts the gas into a liquid. This liquid moves through a dryer that removes excess moisture so that you don’t get ice crystals in the system. Once this is done, the liquid enters the evaporator through the thermal expansion valve. The liquid boils, returning to its gaseous state, and the excess heat is absorbed as the evaporator coil cools. The system’s fan then blows the cool air into the vehicle’s cabin, keeping everyone comfortable on even the hottest day of the year.
Common Auto A/C Problems
Now that you know the basics of your car’s A/C system and how the compressor, condenser, and evaporator work together to keep you cool during the summer, it’s a good idea to know what common issues can arise.
1. Refrigerant Leak
This issue can be tough to detect, since if there is a leak, the refrigerant will evaporate as soon as it touches the outside air. It’s best to trust a professional mechanic to test your A/C system for a refrigerant leak, since they have the proper tools and knowledge to do so. If your system is completely out of refrigerant, the system will have to be flushed and recharged before you can use the air conditioning again.
If you think your A/C is leaking refrigerant, you can look and listen for these signs before calling us:
A/C continuously cycles on and off
A/C seems to click when you turn it on
A/C emits a hissing sound when the car is off
Residue around the A/C hoses and fittings
Whatever the reason for the refrigerant leak, it’s best to leave the repairs to a professional. Bring your car to us and we’ll have everything working in no time!
2. Fan Motor Isn’t Working
Your vehicle’s A/C system relies on the fan to push cold air into the cabin and keep you and other passengers cool and comfortable. If the fan stops working, there won’t be any way to distribute the cooled air throughout the vehicle, which defeats the whole purpose of having an A/C system. We can check for fan motor failure, blockages, and other issues that could be affecting its performance.
3. A/C Refrigerant Needs Recharged
If your car’s A/C seems to be working fine, with no odd noises or airflow problems, but there just isn’t any cool air, then the refrigerant may need to be recharged. If the refrigerant in the system is old, or it’s been several years since the A/C was recharged, then our team can take care of everything for you in little to no time at all. It is possible to recharge the A/C refrigerant yourself, but unless you know what you’re doing and have the right tools, it’s best to leave it to the pros.
How Often Should You Have Your Vehicle’s A/C Serviced?
While there’s no set schedule on how often you should have your vehicle’s A/C serviced or recharged, it’s important to keep an eye (and ear) on things. If you noticed that the A/C doesn’t cool as well as it once did, or that it takes longer to get to the desired temperature, then it’s best to have your vehicle looked at sooner rather than later. It is possible that even with a small efficiency loss each year, your car’s A/C continues to function well enough for your needs.
What you don’t want to do is to wait for the A/C to stop working completely before you bring it in for service. We know that it’s not necessary to schedule service for every little thing you see or hear with your vehicle, but when it comes to the air conditioner, it’s better to play it safe and have an experienced mechanic take a look at it.
What to Expect From Our Service Team
When you bring your car or truck to us for A/C service and repair, we want you to feel confident that you made the right choice. We will get to work right away on your vehicle, searching for the issue based on the information you’ve given us. If you think that the system might be leaking refrigerant, we’ll add ultraviolet fluid to see if there is low pressure within the system. If that doesn’t yield results, we’ll continue our search until we find the source of the problem. From there, we’ll inform you of what the issue is and what the proper repairs are that we recommend. Once you give the go-ahead, we’ll make the necessary repairs and get you back on the road as soon as possible.
Schedule Service Today
If you’re concerned about your vehicle’s air conditioning system, please schedule service with Brandon’s Body Shop & Repair in Wapello today. We treat every customer and their vehicle with honesty and respect, and we’ll gladly answer any questions you have about our services. We never try to upsell or recommend repairs that your vehicle doesn’t need. We want you to know you can trust us with anything your car requires.