A/C Repair
Benefits of A/C Repair
The A/C system consists of a cooling fan, water pump, thermostat, radiator, heater core, heater valve, and various other parts that primarily work together to dissipate and remove heat from a vehicle’s engine. Your vehicle’s A/C is responsible for reducing the temperature inside your engine and preventing possible overheating. Excess heat can build in a variety of places in your vehicle’s engine. When the engine reaches maximum operating temperatures, the thermostat opens and releases antifreeze from the engine to the radiator, which initiates the circulatory flow to absorb excess heat. The antifreeze is also responsible for keeping other engine fluids from boiling or freezing. After the antifreeze flows through the engine, it cycles back to the radiator, where the excess heat escapes through the radiator’s walls. The antifreeze is cooled by the cooling fan and readied to be re-released into the engine to dissipate additional heat.
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Since antifreeze helps regulate your engine’s internal temperature, it is important to check antifreeze levels often. Coolant levels should only be checked when the engine is completely cool, because engine coolant can be hot enough to burn. Significantly lowered coolant levels usually mean you have a leak, or your engine is running too hot. Driving your vehicle on old engine coolant is a leading cause of cooling system failure. The purpose of any cooling system flush is to rid your vehicle of its old antifreeze. Our service staff can drain antifreeze from your radiator, flush out your cooling system, and add new antifreeze to your radiator. We are happy to do cooling system flushes on vehicles of all makes and models, and our knowledgeable service staff will approach your cooling system flush and fill with complete competence to deliver quality repairs.
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The cooling system plays a very important role in regulating the internal temperatures in your vehicle. Unfortunately, cooling systems are not impervious to damage. Leaks can occur when corrosion is present, and these leaks may be hard to find. Because antifreeze helps maintain consistent internal temperatures while preventing corrosion and lubricating internal components, a cooling system leak left untreated will eventually lead to bigger problems. If you spot a leak, be sure to visit us for a cooling system pressure test. Our pressure test can locate the source of the leak. Once a leak is identified, a member of our service staff can determine the proper repair procedure. Our cooling system pressure test is effective and dependable, and we are confident that we will be able to make the cooling system repairs that your vehicle requires.
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An AC condenser is the part within an air conditioning unit that’s responsible for cooling down and condensing incoming refrigerant vapor into a liquid state. Though considered a single component, it’s made up of several parts, such as a motor, fans, tubes, condenser coil, circuit board, and a compressor. If your AC condenser is about to experience failure, you may notice one of the following warning signs:
1. Loud and abnormal noises coming from the unit
2. Significantly reduced cooling capability from the unit
3. The unit is leaking a noticeable amount of fluid past the typical amount of condensation -
Like most aspects of car maintenance, treating a problem with your vehicle’s air conditioning system early can help prevent major repairs. For example, an air conditioning system operating on low refrigerant due to a leak will eventually damage the compressor. Replacing or repairing the compressor can be more expensive than sealing the leak and refilling the refrigerant. Some symptoms to beware of regarding a faulty air conditioning system include an inoperative fan or blower, an unusual amount of noise during regular operation, and, of course, reduced cooling capability. Stale smelling air is another sign that something is wrong with your vehicle’s air conditioner. A clogged compressor, evaporator, condenser, or expansion valve can contribute to AC system failure. Routine maintenance now can help you avoid major AC repairs down the road.
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Heating system repairs may stem from mechanical and electrical issues. Stains under the passenger side of the dashboard are indicators of coolant leaks, which may be the result of a corroded heater core or cracks in the heater hoses. Sometimes the culprit of heater system problems is hard to pinpoint, which is why a heating system diagnostic may be necessary. During our heating system diagnostic, our service staff may inspect the heater core, blower motor, heater control valve, water pump, thermostat, and other components. We may also check your coolant levels, inspect your heater control valves, or troubleshoot your blower motor. By the end of a heating system diagnostic, our service staff will have isolated the heating system issue, repaired the component, and restored full functionality to the heating system. The next time your heating system breaks, just give us a call or contact us.
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Because the heating and cooling systems work in tandem, problems with the cooling system will affect the heating system. Low coolant levels, for example, can affect the heating system’s ability to warm your vehicle’s interior. Leaking coolant can be attributed to a damaged heater core, radiator, heater hose, or cooling system. Sweet smells coming from the air vents are a sign of a coolant leak. Other common issues that plague heating system components include a vacuum leak, heater valve failure, fan motor failure, heater core failure, or stuck thermostat. One of the most common causes of breakdowns is overheating, but heating system maintenance can help prevent this from happening. Consult your owner’s manual for recommended inspection intervals for the various heating system components, and be sure to seek out heating system repairs when necessary.
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If your air conditioning system creates an unusual amount of noise while running, produces an abnormal odor, or blows stale air instead of cool air, then you may need the assistance of our service staff. During an AC diagnostic, we will inspect the belts for cracks, the compressor for leaks, the electrical components for connectivity, and the entire system for low pressure. Our service staff may also evacuate and recharge your system with refrigerant according to your manufacturer’s specifications. During an air conditioning system diagnostic, we will use professional leak detection tools to locate the problem plaguing your system. Watch for early symptoms for an air conditioning system in need of repair, and contact us online or call us when you are in need of service.