Why your car’s air conditioner is not functioning properly?

Think of a situation where you turn on the air conditioner of your luxurious Skoda car in the middle of a hot and humid day and find out that it is blowing hot air or there is a typical groaning sound from the engine. Circumstances like these are really very frustrating when you want to save yourself from the sweltering heat outside. To ensure smooth accessibility to the best quality air of your car’s air conditioning system, it’s important that you take your “dearest possession” to a professional car servicing center for a thorough A/C checkup. Here, we have listed up few common reasons that cause malfunctioning of your car’s air conditioner:-

Bad Compressor – The compressor serves as the heart of the car’s air conditioner by pressurizing the refrigerant and pumping it throughout the A/C’s necessary components. There are a number of reasons that can cause the compressor to fail, but the most common one is a lubricant leak. The compressor’s mechanism operates in a delicate balance, relying on a small amount of lubrication to keep its parts moving fluidly. If a leak forms, the motor will be unable to run well, if it is able to run at all. This often results in a compressor seize, which is sometimes evidenced by a squealing sound coming from the drive belt. In turn, a seized compressor can damage or break the belt and pulleys. A worn-out compressor or one with internal problems will not develop normal operating pressures with a full charge of refrigerant. So, it is advisable to go for a regular car servicing and get the compressor checked.

Using the wrong type of compressor oil for the application or the wrong amount can also lead to premature wear and failure. There are various grades of PAG oil, and using the wrong grade can cause problems. Do tell the motor mechanic in the car servicing center to use the type of PAG oil specified by the compressor manufacturer or vehicle manufacturer. Use only the amount specified for the compressor. Adding too much oil can cause cooling problems. Mineral-based compressor oil is only recommended for older vehicles (pre-1995) with R-12 compressors, and should never be used with a compressor in an R-134 A/C system

Refrigerant Leak or Low Refrigerant – Low refrigerant (Freon, 134A) is the most common cause of an automotive A/C system blowing warm air. The refrigerant is used to transfer heat from the passenger compartment to the outside. If your car does not feel cold enough, then it is time to recharge your air conditioning system. Cars today hold considerably less refrigerant than cars of the past, so even small leaks can affect A/C performance within a short period of time. If you find oily residue on the compressor, evaporator, condenser and hoses orthe clutch on the compressor is not turning, then it is for certain that there is a refrigerant leak. Take your car to a reputed car servicing centre for a pressure test and get the leaks repaired in real-time.

Blocked and Dirty Condenser – The condenser is a part situated in front of the radiator which is responsible for cooling the high-pressure refrigerant’s vapor that comes out of the compressor. If any kind of dirt is present in the condenser, it would lead to airflow blockage, which would then provide no cooling. In such a case, cleaning the condenser in a renowned car servicing center would certainly resolve the problem.

See to it that the car mechanic is using a good quality flushing agent to clean the condenser because this would vaporize quickly without leaving residue in the system. If the condenser has been used for many years and is now giving frequent problems, it’s time to have it replaced by skilled motor mechanics. For proper working of the AC system, it’s recommended to periodically replace the accumulators, receiver driers, and the expansion valve.

Clogged Orifice Tubes – The orifice tube is located between the condenser and the evaporator in the passenger compartment. If there is an obstruction in that tube, it will prevent the refrigerant from reaching the evaporator, causing your car’s air conditioner to behave abnormally. At the time of car servicing, remind the auto mechanic to check these tubes thoroughly.

Air or moisture Contamination – This is the most common cause of car A/C malfunctioning. The A/C must not be contaminated with air or moisture. If it is, it will not be able to work efficiently. Air reduces the cooling efficiency of the system, while moisture can freeze and form ice that causes blockages in several parts of the system. Inform your car mechanic at the time of car servicing, to carry out vacuum cleaning before filling up the system with  refrigerant.

The air conditioning systems used inside most cars are very complex and are made up of a system of interconnected components. Because of this complexity, it can be quite costly to have them repaired. More often than not, it is easier and less expensive to repair a car’s air conditioning system at the first sign of trouble, rather than ignoring the problem and allowing it to degenerate into a much more costly repair later on. It is better to take your vehicle to a car servicing center and to have the problem diagnosed by professionals.

How to choose the right car battery

Every car battery has a shelf life, whether it’s being used or not. Even brand new batteries stored on the shelves of automotive parts stores expire after a certain time. Since every battery comes with a certain timed guarantee, knowing when to replace one seems somewhat logical. However, depending on where you live, the type of weather you endure, a battery can last longer than the guarantee period or less – depending on the circumstances.

Car batteries normally have a life expectancy of 2-3 years, even if it says that they will last up to 5 years. If lately you have been facing ignition problems or sluggish functioning of your car’s electrical devices or experiencing the slow-start of your car and the battery has also passed its warranty period, it makes financial sense to invest in a new car battery rather than paying for repairs on an old one now and then.

With the vast array of auto batteries available in the market, choosing the right one is a bit confusing at times. Here are a few things you should keep in mind when it comes to replacement, of your car battery.

• Battery Group Size – This is the physical size of the battery, and most vehicles will allow for more than one group size. The wrong size might not fit securely or provide sufficient power. If the terminals are in the wrong place, your car’s cables might not reach, or it may not fit in firmly. Check your owner’s guide to find the battery group sizes that will fit in your vehicle.
• Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) – CCA determines how well your battery will supply enough power for 30 seconds at a temperature of zero degrees Fahrenheit. Batteries that only display hot cranking amps (HCA) or cranking amps (CA) are not as well suited for cold areas.
• Reserve Capacity (RC) – RC measures how many minutes the battery can supply power before falling below the minimum voltage level after the alternator has failed. In general, the higher the number, the better. This is an important factor to consider if you operate on the electrical components of the car keeping its engine off.
• Battery Date Code – Be sure to ask for the battery with a recent manufacturing date. A battery that’s been on the shelf for an extended period can lose some of its charge, and might not perform as well as the first time.
• Warranty – Look for a hassle-free warranty. Is the warranty nationwide so that you can obtain service wherever you are? How long is the free replacement period? Make sure that you are comfortable with the warranty.
• Consider value as well as price – Before taking professional advice from your motor mechanic, do search on the internet and look for discounted prices offered by various spares parts selling companies. It is certain that you will remain on the gainer’s side if you purchase your car battery online rather than buy it from a local store.
• Purchase a new battery before your existing one fails – Before you take a long trip, or when you are having your car serviced, have your battery tested. It will save you a lot of time and money down the road.

Car batteries need regular checkups, which if not taken care of, will reduce the life of the battery. We are providing you with some useful tips that will enhance your car’s battery life.

• Do not leave the headlights on for a long time after turning off the car engine.
• Do not leave the key in the ignition of the car overnight as some electrical device may stay on and can discharge the battery by the morning.
•  Never let rust remain on the battery terminals for too long.
• Do not leave interior lights on overnight; make sure to turn off all lights off and any other electrical accessories before locking the car.
• If you are not going to use your car for a long time, disconnect the battery from the car and manually remove it from the car altogether. This ensures that the battery will not get discharged when the vehicle is not used.

Maintaining an automobile battery, like checking the terminals and cables and keeping the connectors clean will free you from situations where the car refuses to start at traffic lights or get you stuck in the middle of nowhere without help at hand. Do not install used car batteries as they are extremely dangerous.To know how well your car battery is performing, do take your car to a proper service center like Carservicing4less, on a regular basis.