How to diagnose car air conditioning problems
Your car’s air conditioning system will be checked as part of your regular car service, and your mechanic will make you aware of any problems as well as suggesting what can be done to resolve them.
Unfortunately, though, not all car problems happen conveniently when you’re about to have a service. So what should you do if you notice a problem with your car’s air conditioning system in between services? It can be helpful to know the signs of common air conditioning problems so you know when it’s time to seek professional advice.
Below, we take a look at some common air conditioning problems, as well as exploring what you can do if you think there’s something wrong with your car’s air con system.
Why does my car air conditioning smell?
When it comes to smelly air con systems in cars, the three most common culprits are a buildup of dirt, an air con system that’s overdue for a recharge, or a leak either into or out of the air con system.
If you haven’t used your air con for a while – for example, if the weather is starting to warm up after a cold winter – then it’s likely that dirt, dust and other debris may have built up over that period of disuse. Fortunately, this can be resolved easily by taking your car in to have the air conditioning system professionally cleaned. As well as getting rid of that musty smell, this can also help the system to run more efficiently in the future, helping to save on fuel and money.
Alternatively, if your air conditioning system is due to be recharged, then you can rectify that by booking your car in for an air con recharge. As a general rule, if your car hasn’t had the air con recharged in the last two years, then it’s about time you had it done. You should be able to find more specific guidelines in your vehicle’s handbook, and there may be records of when the recharge was last done in the vehicle logbook. This can be particularly helpful if you’ve bought your car from a previous owner in the last couple of years and aren’t sure what has been done when.
The third option is that a leak has developed. This could mean that the air conditioning coolant gas is leaking out of the system and causing the smell, or that some other component is leaking into the air con. Either way, you’ll need a mechanic to take a look, identify the issue and resolve it, so it’s a good idea to book your car into your local autocentre as soon as possible.
Why is my car air conditioning blowing hot air?
If your car air con is blowing hot air and there’s a funny smell, then it’s likely that either the system needs to be recharged or there’s a leak somewhere, as these causes can trigger both symptoms. However, there are also a few other problems that can cause your air conditioning system to blow hot air.
Essentially, most non-cooling air con problems boil down to either a physical problem or an electrical one. If your air con’s compressor or condenser parts have developed a fault, for instance, this can impair the system’s ability to cool air down as it passes through, resulting in warm or hot air coming out into the cabin. This kind of damage can happen during a bump, but it can also come about as a result of long periods of inactivity and buildups of dust and debris.
On the other hand, if all the components of your car’s air con are working as they should, then it’s possible that there’s a problem with the electricity supplying the system. Something as small as a blown fuse or a frayed wire can prevent the air con from working even if all the components are in tip-top condition.
Depending on the exact cause of your air conditioning problems, they should be resolved by getting a professional air con clean carried out, or by enlisting a mechanic to check and fix any issues with the system itself.
How to check car air conditioning
With so many things that could potentially be causing your air conditioning problems, it’s easy to be uncertain about what the actual issue is. For this reason, we would strongly recommend that the best course of action when experiencing a problem with your air conditioning is to take your car into your local autocentre.
In doing so, you can be assured that a capable professional will assess the air con system, identify any problems and advise you on what solutions are available. At your appointment, you can also ask about what, if anything, you can do to avoid the problem in future, as well as receiving advice on how best to look after your car’s air conditioning system.
