Top 3 Signs Your Car’s AC Needs Professional Help

Aug 18, 2016

Through the course of a hot summer, air conditioning is a lifesaver. You may have to walk through the sweltering heat to get to your car, but you know that as soon as you turn the key, you’ll be greeted by waves of fresh, cool air. But what if you turn on the AC and nothing happens?

In this kind of heat, a broken air conditioner can be almost as dangerous as it is uncomfortable. By being able to recognize when your AC is failing, you can get professional help before experiencing too much discomfort. Here are three signs that your car’s AC needs professional help.

Loud Noises

Abnormal, loud sounds are never good, especially in the case of a vehicle. With so many moving parts within the engine, any kind of loud sound indicates an issue. And any issue indicated by a loud noise should be taken care of ASAP, because neglecting to do so could lead to even greater issues. When belts slip or get too worn, you may hear a loud squealing coming from the air conditioner. A similar squealing may also indicate a worn or leaking bearing. If any component of the AC compressor breaks or seizes, it could bang around and grind against other pieces.

Since every part of the air conditioning compressor relies on each other, when one thing goes wrong with a compressor, the entire thing usually needs to be replaced.

Warmer Air or No Air Coming From Vents

If you turn on your car and don’t hear any loud sounds, but no air or warm air is coming out of the vents despite the AC being on full blast, you may have another issue. If air is coming out but it’s warmer than normal, you could have an issue with your refrigerant flow. A broken or failing AC compressor cannot properly regulate the flow of refrigerant, which really is what cools down your air. It may also simply be that the refrigerant needs to just be topped off or recharged.

If no air is coming out of the vents, it may also indicate that the vents are clogged with debris. No matter what the issue may be, any of these issues warrant a trip to a nearby dealership for repairs.

Water Stains

You’re probably used to seeing water drip from the bottom of your vehicle. This is perfectly normal with a properly functioning AC compressor. If there isn’t water draining, or if you have seemingly unexplainable water stains within the vehicle, you could have an issue with the draining system. These stains typically appear under the dashboard or near the floor mats. If you see this in your vehicle, it means that the drain is either damaged or clogged, and requires service.

Paying for a professional dealership to conduct repairs can be daunting, but trusting the team at Scott Clark Nissan will end up saving you more money than if you allowed the damaged AC to further deteriorate. You deserve to drive in comfort, so if you’re experiencing any of these issues, come on down to Scott Clark Nissan.

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