Broken Air Conditioners Aren't Cool

It’s likely you don’t give the air conditioning in your vehicle much thought until you notice it’s failing or broken. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a vehicle with no air conditioning on hot Summer days. Fortunately, your local NAPA AutoCare experts are on hand to help you stay cool and comfortable. Before bringing your car or truck by for a check-up, here are a few things you can troubleshoot on your own when your vehicle isn’t cooling properly.

Air Not Cold Enough

There are several reasons why the air conditioner may be blowing cool air, but the air is not as cool as it should be. A clogged tube or hose, Freon™ or other refrigerant leak, failing compressor, damaged condenser, or a vacuum leak are just a few of the possible causes. When the air flow doesn’t seem as cool as it should be, save yourself some time and possibly money in the long run by dropping by your local NAPA shop for a diagnosis.

Low Air Pressure

It’s possible that your car is blowing cold air, but the airflow has become weak or nonexistent. Having poor airflow coming from your vents could have several causes, a common one being the cabin air filter needs replacing. This vehicle-specific part filters the air before it enters the car and can become clogged if not routinely replaced. Another reason could be a faulty or loose hose, which supplies the air to the blower unit. If this hose has become loose or damaged, your airflow will likely become significantly weaker.

Smelly Air

As if not having cold air is bad enough, there could be an odor associated with this due to smelly mold or mildew accumulating in a failing evaporator or in the air vents. Another cause could be due to dirt and bacteria accumulating in your cabin air filter or ventilation system, so we recommend you check your air filter routinely to ensure it is clean. Keeping debris away from the air vents can also help you avoid this problem.

These are just a few of the possible reasons why your vehicle isn’t getting as cold as it used to. The best way to diagnose a problem is to bring your car to your local NAPA AutoCare Center for a complete diagnostic check by our experts.

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Posted May 8th, 2014