There are a lot of things we love about summer. We love that our kids are off from school, so we can take those family trips we’ve been planning all year! And the days last longer, so there’s still some sunlight left after we get out of work. But one thing we don’t love is the heat, even less so if we find our car AC not working! But luckily, your local Toyota dealer can help.
Leaking Refrigerant
A car’s AC system works by using a refrigerating liquid, called freon, to cool down either the inside or outside air and then circulate that cooled air through the cabin. So, it follows that if this important liquid is leaking, the AC unit isn’t going to function properly.
A freon leak could be caused by a few different reasons, but the most common of these is that the rubber seals and hoses that contain them have degraded over time, resulting in small cracks or holes that the freon can escape through. You can take a look at the connections of your car’s AC unit and see if there is any oily substance gathering around them to know if there’s a leak.
A Blocked or Broken Condenser
Once the refrigerating liquid, freon, has cooled the air sufficiently, it itself can become quite warm, and the car needs a way to cool it down again. This is where the condenser comes in. The condenser takes the air coming in through the front of your car, condenses it, and uses it to cool down the freon once again. But as you drive, debris, rocks, dirt, or other things can actually get into the condenser and block it.
But if you or your mechanic take a look at the condenser and don’t see anything that might be in the way, another possibility is that the condenser has been broken. This is commonly due to a piece of debris passing through the grille of your car and damaging some part of the condenser. A mechanic will have to confirm the condenser is the issue and replace it in order to get you on your way again.
Electrical Problems
One of the most challenging problems with car AC units to actually diagnose is an electrical problem. Faulty, frayed wires can inhibit the AC unit from receiving power to its fans or other electrical components. It might be difficult to locate exactly which wire is causing the problem, so it could take a while to fix it. But once found, it can be fixed with simple electrical tape.
No matter what might be causing your AC not to be working this summer, we can take care of the problem at our DARCARS Toyota service center in Rockville, MD. Schedule a service now, or feel free to stop by and see us today!
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