A leak might be to fault if you’ve noticed your vehicle’s air conditioning is losing its chill. Car A/C leaks, unlike motor oil leaks, aren’t often easy to identify. Keep an eye out for these signs that your car’s air conditioning is leaking.
WHAT IS AN A/C LEAK IN A CAR?
The air conditioning system in your automobile cools the air and adjusts the humidity level within the cabin. It is made up of many primary components, including a condenser, evaporator, and compressor.
The A/C system circulates a colourless (and largely odourless) refrigerant to keep your cabin cool and comfortable. Refrigerant swings through liquid and gas stages as it passes through your A/C system, allowing it to “suck” heat from the evaporator in the cabin, push it out of the condenser under the hood, and then fan cooler air through the evaporator and into the vehicle.
At any time throughout this cycle, refrigerant might leak, especially if portions of the system become loose, worn, or broken. Because A/C refrigerant is a gas during some phases of the cooling cycle, a little crack or unnoticed hole might allow it to escape, making leaks even more difficult to detect until symptoms appear.
HOW DO I DETECT A CAR AIR CONDITIONING LEAK?
1. THE A/C IN YOUR CAR IS BLOWING WARM AIR.
You may be losing refrigerant if your automobile A/C seems like it’s blowing 80°F even if the temperature setting on the dash is at its lowest point. However, leaks aren’t the only reason your car can be spewing hot air, so have an A/C performance check to figure out what’s causing your problems.
2. YOUR A/C MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN IT IS ON.
If you hear a clicking noise while your car’s air conditioner is operating, it’s possible that your compressor is short cycling. Some drivers describe the sound to a loud switch that is constantly turned on and off. It’s especially evident if you’re standing outside of a car with the air conditioning on.
Short cycling of the automobile A/C compressor can be caused by a variety of circumstances, including low refrigerant levels as a consequence of a leak! The driver’s best alternative, like with other bothersome automotive A/C problems, is to seek expert diagnosis rather than DIY fixes.
3. YOUR DASHBOARD NOTIFIES YOU OF PROBLEMS.
Although not all automobiles have a specific air conditioning warning light, yours may! A car A/C issue, such as a leak, may set up the check engine light in some vehicle types. A dash light may not be triggered at all in some cases! Checking the warning light and indicator section of your owner’s manual is the best approach to determine whether or not automobile A/C problems may cause dash lights or warnings.
WHY ARE CAR AIR CONDITIONER LEAKS SO HARD TO SEE?
Car A/C refrigerant, unlike motor oil and brake fluid, is a colourless, odourless chemical that cycles between gas and liquid phases. Because of its peculiar qualities, A/C refrigerant seldom leaves a visible trail, stain, or odour when it escapes, making it difficult to detect with the naked eye.
When it comes to tracing the source of any A/C leaks, the experts at Smart Mechanics in Bishop Stortford utilise modern methods. In other circumstances, technicians employ UV leak detection by cycling a small amount of UV dye through the car’s A/C system. When the dye cycles through the system, it exits through any leaks, which are then spotted with the use of a specialised flashlight.
In other circumstances, personnel employ an electronic “sniffer,” which functions similarly to a metal detector but is specialised to detect refrigerant residues. When the sniffer finds excessive refrigerant concentrations, it sounds a sequence of high-pitched beeps, which aids the operator in locating the leak.
Don’t break a sweat over a hot or poor automobile air conditioner! Professional diagnostics are available at your Smart Mechanics Car Servicing in Bishop Stortford, Essex, and Stansted.