5 Signs Your Auto's Ac Compressor Is Acting Up!
Your AC will become all-important come spring, and it's horrible to find it faulty despite the cabin filter change. Learn how to detect early signs of a failing compressor.
'If the heater works fine, the AC will work okay come summers!', one always wonders in Tennessee winters.
Unfortunately, just like cars need servicing of their major mechanical components, the air conditioning calls for care every once in a while. AC compressors can last over a decade if cared for, but they wear out earlier from lack of maintenance.
The experts over at Cumberland Auto Center, serving Crawford, TN, assure you that just hopping for the AC to work fine in summer is not going to cut it. You may need to keep your eyes and ears open to see and hear all possible signs of your compressor acting up before summer has even begun!
1. The Hood Rattles
Well, not literally! The hood is clamped on tight, but it's the component behaving underneath that makes the rachet.
The compressor is like a series of metal donuts encased in a housing unit or bearings in a box, and they keep turning amid countless refrigerant regulation cycles, eventually wearing out, loosening up, and creating the sound. That means your compressor needs a change!
2. No Cool Air
An obvious sign that accompanies the rattling is that warm air hits the cabin instead of the cool setting you dialed the AC to.
It could be clogged cabin filters, but that's inconsequential compared to what compressor problems can really be like. A mechanic might be better able to diagnose the problem.
3. ECU Error Lights
Onto the next stage of cascade failures! The rattling & warm air are often preceded by the ECU warning light for air-con malfunction.
Now, you can either leave the proper diagnostics in the hand of our adept technicians or, out of curiosity, you can plug in an OBD-II tool and look up the exact error code for a faulty compressor.
However, it can be another component malfunctioning in the HVAC unit. The code you are looking for is P0534.
4. Faulty Clutch
Have you ever felt the AC compressor 'kick in' when you're driving?
It's a distinctive but muffled sound, and there is nothing to worry about that. You ought to worry if you don't notice that sound and instead see the ECU light up with less cool air exiting the vents.
The AC clutch engages the compressor when needed for regulating the cabin temperature, and it can get stuck, leading the AC to get overheated or not function at all.
5. Refrigerant & Lubricant Leak
The compressor's many internal bearings require a small amount of contained lubricant to move seamlessly. When the bearings are worked out too much, the compressor seals are compromised, resulting in refrigerant leaks and oil drips.
If you haven't serviced your car in a while but notice oil spots when your car's parked, try turning on the AC to check if it's working, chances are the compressor needs a check.
Crawford, TN, may be cold today, but the sun is just around the corner for when you will need a seamless air-con unit. Your compressor deserves just as much TLC as the rest of your car.
Cumberland Auto Center, serving Crawford, TN suggests you come over to our dealership for a complete car component inspection & servicing at the hands of our capable technicians!
We offer flexible payment options for OEM parts & services.
