It’s Air Conditioning Season Again

With the return of warm weather, some of us are going to discover that the car’s air conditioning system isn’t blowing cold air like it used to.  Most cars will enjoy five to seven years without any air conditioning problems at all. There used to be cars with chronic air conditioning problems, but manufacturers have improved designs to the point where most cars are experiencing this duration of problem free operation. After this period, there are several areas where problems can arise.

Most cars use two pounds of the refrigerant gas, previously called Freon and now called R134a. Vans and SUV’s will use as much as four pounds of gas. The air conditioner will work without a noticeable difference until it is one half pound low. When the system looses one pound or more the air conditioner will no longer produce cold air.

The first step in determining the cause of the problem usually begins by suctioning out all of the Freon gas from the A/C system. The amount recovered is compared to the specified amount for that vehicle. The system is then re-charged with a full charge of Freon. You should only have to pay for the additional Freon, not the full charge.

An electronic Freon detector is used to detect the location of any leaks. It is not uncommon to have more than one location leaking. The Freon detector sounds like a Geiger counter. It slowly beeps until it comes into the presence of Freon, at which point it begins to beep very rapidly. A certified A/C technician moves the detector throughout the system to determine any of the points where it may be leaking.

Another problem that has become more common is with the damper that blends the hot and cold air behind the dash. The problem could be the actuator that moves the damper, the damper itself can break, or it could be both. The damper is a plastic door, with plastic tabs for hinges, in a plastic case. After several years of use the plastic will sometimes break. If your car will produce luke warm air when selecting either very cold or very hot, then you may have problems with the blending damper or actuator. Usually this problem requires replacing the entire plastic case inside the dash.

A common source of a leak is the air conditioning compressor. This is the only moving part in the system. This is also the point of highest pressure. Replacing the compressor is generally about $1,000 in total repair – whether it is on a Cavalier or a Cadillac. The present value of the car has no bearing on the cost to repair it.

Lastly, keep in mind that there are many areas that can develop a leak. Repairing one problem does not mean that you will never have to worry about the air conditioning again. Think of it as a garden hose that has lain out across the back yard for 6 years. The entire hose has been exposed to the water pressure and the weather for this time. If the hose develops a leak in one spot, and you repair that spot, it remains likely that another spot will also develop a leak.

Brian Klaubert has written for the Neighborhood News for four years, and owns Christian Brothers Automotive – Hamilton Mill on Braselton Hwy in Dacula. They have been voted Best of Gwinnett in both the Gwinnett Daily Post and Gwinnett Magazine.