Aug 4, 2023

A photo of a malfunctioning AC system in a car near Anderson, Indiana​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​On a hot summer’s day, we all depend on our car’s AC to give us the necessary cooling air. Your AC system, unfortunately, can develop problems over time. This could result in your car AC not working. As your Chevy dealer in Anderson, IN, we’d like you to know some signs you need to visit us for an AC repair.

Leaking Refrigerant

Refrigerant is a colorless, odorless gas that is essential for your AC. Refrigerant changes between gaseous and liquid states as it chills the air for your AC. These changes require the AC system to operate under high pressure, and over time, this pressure and external damage can result in a leak.

The first indication of a leak is that your AC will start to produce steadily warmer air as the air in the AC is no longer being chilled. Our technicians will solve this problem by running a UV dye through the system. They use a special UV monitor to trace the refrigerant and locate the hole. Once we’ve located the leak, we’ll seal it permanently and refill the refrigerant.

Damaged Compressor Clutch

The compressor is the center of your AC system. The compressor compresses and circulates the refrigerant through your AC. During this process, the compressor will switch on and off. The compressor’s operation is controlled by the compressor clutch, which starts and stops the compressor at the appropriate times.

In time, the compressor clutch can become jammed. If the clutch jams off, the compressor won’t operate, and your AC won’t work. If the clutch is jammed on, the compressor will continue to run, gradually overheat, and then burn out. If you don’t hear a slight click when you turn on your AC, call us right away, so we can check your AC and fix the clutch.

Air Isn’t Cold

If you switch your AC to the max, your cabin should rapidly get very cold. If the air feels cool but not cold, you most likely have an AC problem. The three main causes of this are a refrigerant leak, a worn compressor, or a damaged condenser. We’ve already seen the effects of a refrigerant leak above, so let’s look at the other two issues.

If the compressor isn’t working, your AC won’t run correctly. As the compressor struggles, likely, it won’t chill the air sufficiently. The condenser takes liquid refrigerant, removes the heat, and turns it back into a gas. If your condenser is failing, your AC won’t supply cold air. We’ll need to examine your AC to diagnose the problem, then repair it.

Don’t let AC problems spoil your summer driving. Call our service department today at Ed Martin Chevy.