Signs Your Car is About to Die

Hello, my name is Roy. For many years, I drove a 1976 Ford estate car around Sydney. The car had belonged to my grandpa. It was passed down to me when I had just passed my driving test at the age of 18. That was in 1986 and the car was already in a pretty bad condition then. Fast forward to 2006 and I was now aged 38 and still driving the same car around. Sometimes the car wouldn't start, white smoke came out of the exhaust and the gearbox made a terrible sound. I did my best to patch it up, but eventually, I had to scrap the car and buy a new one. I decided to start a blog to encourage others to service their cars.

Key Signs That a Car's AC System Needs Recharging

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When it feels sweltering outside but cool and breezy inside your vehicle, you should thank the air conditioning system. The AC's primary function is to keep your car's cabin as comfortable as possible all year round, regardless of the prevailing climate. However, optimal performance is only possible with proper AC system maintenance. That said, the more you use a car AC, the faster the refrigerant diminishes, causing inefficiencies in the system. Luckily, AC refrigerant can be replenished in a process known as regassing. This article highlights key signs that you need to regas your AC system.

Warm Air 

When you crank up the AC knob on your dashboard, you expect cool or cold air to flow through the vents. Therefore, when you feel warm instead of cool air blowing into the cabin, it could signify that the refrigerant reservoir is running low. It makes warm air one of the key indicators that an AC needs regassing. Notably, the refrigerant is the only agent that cools warm air drawn in by a car AC system. Therefore, inadequate refrigerant makes the entire AC system inefficient at cooling the warm air it receives. Consequently, the warm air drawn by an AC is delivered as it is through the vent into the cabin. Therefore, check the refrigerant level when you feel that an AC system is gradually losing its cool.

Windows/Windscreen Demists Slowly

In wet seasons, the temperature difference between the outside and inside of a car causes water vapour to settle on the windows and windscreen. The quickest way to demist or prevent the windows from fogging up is to crank up the AC's heater. Raising cabin temperature above the dew point dries vapour, preventing it from transforming into moisture. Notably, demisting car windows using the method often takes a minute or so. Therefore, when it takes longer than usual to demist, the AC is probably running low on refrigerant. Avoid the effects of driving with a foggy windscreen by having your AC system recharged immediately.

Suspected Refrigerant Leaks

Leaks of whatever kind are not a good sign for any car owner. Therefore, when you spot fluid leaks beneath your car's hood, you should immediately establish its source. You can distinguish AC refrigerant leaks from others by the glossy film they leave on surfaces. Other leaks, such as transmission leaks, leave a dry patch on hoses and fittings. However, it is advisable to seek the services of a professional to determine the correct source of a leak. If it is from an AC reservoir, you must regas to replace the lost refrigerant.

Contact an auto air conditioning repair service to learn more. 

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15 February 2022