Gone are the days when staying cool on the road meant manually winding down the windows and slowing to 80km/h on the highway. These days, your car can be a true oasis in the peak of an Australian summer, offering cool relief from the sweltering and oppressive heat. So stay cool this summer with some of our tips on keeping your air conditioning running smoothly.
What is car air conditioner regassing?
Your car air conditioning system isn’t so different from your home climate unit, or even your fridge! At its most basic level, the AC takes the warm air in your vehicle and cools it to a comfortable temperature. Under the bonnet is a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, receiver and evaporator. These elements work together with a refrigerant gas to convert warm air to cool liquid, and then back to air again in a much cooler form.
It’s essential to the efficiency of the system that the refrigerant gas maintains high-pressure, so from time to time you will need to have your car air conditioner ‘regassed’, which involves safely evacuating the existing refrigerant, testing for leaks, and re-filling and re-pressurising the system. Most vehicles will need to be re-gassed every couple of years, although many can continue to operate for much longer periods. Having your air conditioning (and car heating) inspected regularly is a great way to keep on top of this, so you can spot any leaks in the system before you lose pressure or cool air.
Warning signs your air conditioning is faulty
Is your air-con struggling to keep up with the heat of the day? Weak or warm airflow? Do you hear a squealing noise or rattle when you turn the climate control knobs? Is your car AC smelling like vinegar? These are all signs that there may be a fault in your air conditioning system. The moment you ask yourself ‘isn’t the air usually cooler than this?’, chances are it’s time to have things checked out.
Don’t wait until you’re stuck by the side of the road on a stinking hot summer’s day, bring your car in and have us inspect the system for you! Book your car in for a service and tell us about what you’ve noticed – we’ll give your system a thorough once-over and provide you with a loan vehicle (complete with air conditioning!) to keep you on the road in the meantime.
Leaking car air conditioning system
It’s normal for a small amount of water to drip or leak from under the front of your car from time to time if your air conditioning system has been operating for a long time or under particularly hot conditions. But if you’ve noticed water leaking from under the front of your car on a regular basis, or you’ve got AC water leaking inside the vehicle, it’s time to bring your car into to see us at Cox Auto. We’ll check over your condensate drain pan and pipes and identify the fault for you.
If your air conditioning system initially blows cool air and then very rapidly loses its cool, you may have an issue with a refrigerant leak, causing a loss of pressure and efficiency. It’s important to have this looked at by a professional, as working with refrigerants can be unsafe and damaging to you and the environment.
If it doesn’t feel, sound or smell right – come and see us!
Trust your instincts with your car’s air conditioning – if it doesn’t seem normal, get it checked out. Like almost everything when it comes to the health of your car, the best cure for faulty air conditioning is prevention, so keep up that regular service history! Drop in or give us a call. We’re always happy to talk you through your concerns and help where we can.
We’ll keep your car cool and on the road, and if your air conditioning needs a full service, we’ll keep you on the move with our premium customer service experience. Ask about our complimentary loan cars and flexible prepayment options.
Learn what else is included in a car service in Australia!
