A/C Compressor Failure?
Air conditioning is something that many people take for granted… until it fails to function properly again. During a hot day, it might be inconvenient to reach down to turn on your air conditioner only to find that all that comes out is hot air. More importantly, a faulty compressor might be hazardous to one’s health. The compressor can become stuck if the bearing in your compressor fails, and your engine can seize as a result. If you are driving at a high rate of speed and the automobile shuts down, you will no longer have power steering and your brake booster will not function. There are a variety of reasons why your air conditioning system can cease operating, and the AC Compressor is at the heart of the problem. Here are a few methods for diagnosing an AC compressor failure in a car.
If the air temperature does not begin to reduce after the air conditioning system has been activated, there is a significant likelihood that the AC compressor has failed. If the air conditioner is still operational, check to see if the temperature fluctuates while the system is in operation.
Locate your air conditioning compressor and carefully inspect it for signs of rust, physical damage, oil leaks, or paint deterioration. All of these are indications that the car’s air conditioning compressor has failed. When there is insufficient oil in the compressor, it will not perform properly and will prematurely wear out. When the air conditioning system is activated, the additional friction will also result in unpredictable temperatures.
Check your belts to make sure they are properly tensioned and that they are not damaged in any way. Belts that are cracked or torn might cause additional harm to your air conditioning compressor. They should be replaced with a new compressor if they are in poor condition.
Check the clutch, which is placed at the front of the air conditioning compressor, to ensure that it rotates easily. When you turn the clutch hub, there should be only a slight amount of resistance. It is certain that a defective clutch will result in a bad compressor, and vice versa. It is recommended that if one fails, the other should be replaced as well.
While the engine is running, adjust the temperature of the air conditioning and the fan speed to the highest setting. Open the hood and listen for the AC compressor and clutch to engage, which should be audible. A failed car air conditioning compressor will not engage and will frequently result in skipping and screeching due to friction between the belt and the compressor.
Locate any refrigerant leaks that may exist. When the air conditioning system is closed, there should be no leaks and the refrigerant level should not be low. A low refrigerant level indicates that there is a leak in the system. The most effective method of checking for leaks in your system is to use an electronic AC refrigerant leak detector, which can detect even minute amounts of refrigerant. There are also other tests that make use of a particular dye that only appears when exposed to ultraviolet light.
If you have followed these instructions and still believe your vehicle’s air conditioning compressor is failing, it is advisable to replace it. Whenever you repair your air conditioning compressor and clutch, we recommend that you also replace the accumulator, expansion device, and O rings. It is possible to be guaranteed that the job will not need to be repeated more than once if you replace all of these components.