Air Conditioning in my car
It is almost summer time in Bel Air Maryland. If you are like me, you have just turned on your AC
button in your car but the air is not blowing cold no, or
maybe not at all. I’m having this issue right now with
my 2004 Audi S4.
On the first really hot days here in Bel Air, I tried my AC for the first time since last fall. All I got was a lot of hot air. My Audi has 86,000 miles on it, and the first thing I did was to have it re-charged. Most times a simple $100.00 AC recharge will fix the problem. But it didn’t for me. In fact, it caused the Air Conditioning compressor to fail, making a loud death rattle for about a week until it finally totally died.
What is unique about the Audi is that the AC compressor is driven by the timing chain and not the serpentine belt like most cars running around here in Bel Air. To replace the air conditioning compressor the whole front of the car had to come off. While I was there I went ahead and had the serpentine belt, the idler pulleys the water pump, and the thermostat changed. I did that because these are typical parts that fail at moderate to high mileage especially in the summer heat.
With the new air conditioning compressor, the air conditioning works, but just a little. It is not exactly what you would call cold AC. So my problem is not completely fixed yet.
Another unique feature about an Audi AC system is that if the car senses that there is a problem it will turn off the AC compressor in an effort to save the part from failing. What happens with my car is if you set the Air conditioning to say 63 degrees, and leave it on Auto, the A/C works, but just barely. But if you crank it up to “low” and keep it on auto, you get semi-cold air for about five to ten minutes and then the system shuts off until you restart the car.
Somewhere in the entire Air conditioning system is another, un-discovered problem. The reason I spelled out these issues in such detail is because modern cars have very modern and intelligent air condition systems. And whether your car is a v8 powered Audi S4 or a maybe just a run of the mill Toyota Camry, your car has a unique Air conditioning system designed specifically for your car. All air conditioning systems function on the same basic mechanical principals and use the same types of parts to make cold air for your car.
This is why it is important to take your car to a professional auto mechanic like us here at Ward Automotive in Bel Air. We fix all cars and have the training and tools to fix all makes and models.
So what else could be wrong with my car’s AC if it has a brand new compressor?
Well, I haven’t fully diagnosed the problem yet but it could be a faulty High-pressure switch, evaporator, condenser, or even a malfunctioning electrical control.
Stay tuned to the next installment as we dig deeper into what could be causing my car’s Air conditioning system to not work properly even though it has a brand new compressor
In the meantime, don’t let your car’s broken AC make you lose your cool, take your car, truck or SUV to Harford County’s Ward Automotive in Bel Air for air conditioning inspection, diagnosis and service. The service could be as simple as a recharge of the refrigerant—or the inspection could call for other service, like a new compressor. It takes an expert to tell, so take your car to Ward Automotive and let the experts give you the peace of mind knowing that your vehicle will keep you cooler and safer.
If you are interested in this article you may also like
https://www.wardautomotive.net/blog/bid/182274/Why-isn-t-my-car-s-air-conditioning-working