Why Do You Need An HVAC Service Before Spring Hits?

If your car's heating is right on point during the winters here in Bloomington Springs, that still doesn't mean you can skip out on a pre-spring car maintenance run to get your car AC in order for the summers.

A car's air-con unit is mechanical & can take a lot of wear & tear with repeated usage. Even worse is that a heater can disguise the signs of a faltering compressor!

Avoid putting your car's compressor at risk, and take Cumberland CJDR's advice on scheduling a service to get your cabin cooling back on track. Here are a few reasons why you need to have your AC compressor serviced!

The Compressor is Noisy

It's not as if there are rattlesnakes in your engine compartment, but there is a particular sound made by a compressor whose bearings have corroded & fallen out of sync. That makes the compressor's function highly strained and noisy.

The part is meant to pressurize & regulate the refrigerant via the suction lines to the heat exchanger, but the corroded bearings make it difficult for the part to turn on & dissipate heat evenly.

An adept mechanic can fix the bearings, but in the worst-case scenario, a compressor change is in order.

The AC Vents Warm Air

So, with a rattling compressor, the next most obvious sign is the reduced cooling capacity of the AC unit. Car owners assume that the cabin filters need changing, but that's not the proper prognosis.

Warm or hot air on the coolest AC settings indicates something is hindering the compressor from functioning properly, and it could be an electrical or mechanical fault. You might need the services of both a mechanic & a technician.

Luckily, Cumberland CJDR happens to have both types!

The ECU Lights Up

Always check the dashboard lights when you are about to leave home. The ECU light indicating a problematic compressor is not that evident unless you have an OBD-II tool lying around to delve into the actual error code.

Never ignore the engine warning light, especially in the air-con unit, because an overheating or strained compressor is not worth taking the risk for long drives.

The Clutch Gets Stuck

The compressor's clutch should engage the machine when the AC is needed to cool the cabin temperatures to the required levels, as sensed by the cabin thermostat.

The clutch is by the side of the compressor & powered by a bet that can wear out and cause the clutch to get stuck on the engaged or disengaged position. That means the compressor is either overworked or not working at all, sending warm air into the cabin. It's relatively easy to fix the issue, provided the compressors' internals are intact.

The Lubricant Starts Leaking

With so many moving components inside the compressor, an oil-based lubricant is needed to allow seamless bearing movement without compromising the seals.

Age & corrosion – coupled with a lack of maintenance – can result in the bearing weakening and fracturing to leak oil & refrigerant. Not only is the compressor working noisily, but you will also notice oil spots where the compressor has leaked. That calls for immediate mechanic attention!

Bloomington Springs is quite chilly for now, but soon enough, the warmth will break out, and you will need some air conditioning for your cabin.

Don't delay an HVAC check-up and ascertain the refrigerant levels by bringing it to Cumberland CJDR serving Bloomington Springs, TN’s adept auto mechanics.

We boast a top-notch auto service center and ASE-certified staff in addition to our new display of new CJDR models.

If you're new in Tennessee, you're still going to need AC.

Schedule a service over at our dealership ASAP!