Spring is in the air!

What a beautiful time of the year. The cold and dreary days of winter are gone. There is a rebirth in our yards and along the roads. The trees are in blossom, birds are returning to build nests, and the flower beds are coming back to life. The days are getting longer and the temperatures are getting warmer.

These changes have an affect upon your car, and what you expect from it as well. Ironically, after having complained about the cold all winter long, as soon as it warms up we all want to turn on our air conditioning!

On most vehicles the air conditioning will work without any problems for five to seven years. Last year our most prevalent models for air conditioning repairs were 1999 to 2001 model year vehicles. There is no preventative maintenance to be performed on air conditioning systems. Use all the cold air you want, until it isn’t cold any more.

Some vehicles will operate in a manner where there is cold air in the mornings and at night, but in the afternoon the air is luke warm at best. These vehicles usually have a marginal amount of Freon remaining. Other vehicles simply will not make cold air at any time of the day.

Most typically in either situation, some or all of the Freon has leaked out. Enough Freon may remain to make cold air as long as it is not too warm outside. There is a device in front of your radiator that has to cool off the Freon after it has made cold air inside the car. Just as your refrigerator produces warm air at floor level, so too does your car’s air conditioning make warm air ahead of the engine. When the Freon level is low and outside temperatures increase, the air conditioning system will stop making cold air.

In this situation you should have your air conditioning system diagnosed. Most commonly it is a low Freon level, but it can also be several other problems. The diagnosis will usually include measuring how much Freon remains, putting in a full charge, and testing for leaks. If the system is found full, or nearly full, there are several different sensors and controllers that can be causing the problem.

One of the most common leaks found is at the compressor shaft seal. The compressor contains the only moving parts in the system, so it is logical that this area is prone to leaks. A leak here requires replacing the compressor. There are several other components that must be replaced when the compressor is replaced. These devices, if not replaced, will likely result in premature failure of the replaced compressor.

We recommend using only a new compressor. Either a new or a remanufactured compressor will last the initial year of the warranty. A new compressor will probably cost $100 more than a remanufactured compressor. Our experience has shown that the remanufactured compressors will often fail in the second year. This results in having to repeat the entire repair after the warranty has expired.

One other item to consider replacing is the pollen filter for your air conditioning system. Many vehicles in the higher accessory range of a particular model will have a filter for the air entering the vehicle and recirculating within the car. This filter traps pollen and dust. It also absorbs odors. It should be changed every 30,000 miles. Be aware, though, that replacement is for your comfort only. There is not a vehicle reliability concern if you do not replace this filter.

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.