Auto Service: Why You Need to Maintain Your Car

Welcome to my blog. My name is Ken. One day, I was driving home from work when the engine in my car failed. While I waited for the recovery truck to arrive, I realised I didn’t have a clue what went on underneath the bonnet of my car. I signed up for an auto service course at my local community college, so I could gain the skills I needed to properly maintain my car and repair it if something when wrong while I was on the road. I wanted to start a blog to pass on these skills to other people so that they can look after their automobiles.

If Your AC Doesn't Cool, Start Looking at the Condenser

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If you jump into your car on a typically hot Australian summer afternoon, the last thing that you want is for your AC to blow hot. Yet this is exactly what is going to happen if you encounter a problem with the condenser unit, and you'll want to take action as soon as possible if this ever happens to you. Why is this component so important, why should it fail and what should you do next?

Staying Cool

An air conditioning system is undoubtedly a marvellous invention and has certainly made life down under a lot easier. While a lot smaller, the system fitted to your vehicle is similar in concept to the one at home and relies on a special substance called refrigerant gas.

Why the Condenser Is So Important

In order to work properly, the refrigerant has to be pressurised and converted from a gas to a liquid and back again through a cycle. To begin with, the compressor pressurises the gas and pushes it through the condenser. This is a small radiator at the front of your vehicle that removes the heat when exposed to the outside air. This action causes the gas to condense into a liquid before it is passed through a dryer to get rid of any excess moisture. It'll then flow through an expansion valve, dropping the pressure back down again. The cooler, low-pressure liquid then goes through the evaporator while warm air from the cabin is blown across it. This will complete the process as the refrigerant will absorb the cabin heat and blow super cool air in its place.

Mounting Problems

As you can see, the condenser is a critical part of the process, and if it were to fail, other components along the way could also overheat. In fact, you may even notice a burning smell in the cabin when things go badly wrong, as well as a warning light on your dashboard. When you jump out of the vehicle, you may also see a large pool of refrigerant liquid on the floor.

Deterioration

Inside the condenser are individual tubes and seals that can deteriorate as time goes by. They are particularly vulnerable to any microscopic debris that may flow through the system, and this can also cause premature failure.

The Next Step

Take your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible for them to conduct a systems check. Unfortunately, they may need to replace the condenser as it cannot be independently serviced. Either way, they will recharge the refrigerant as needed and restore normal service for you.

For more information about auto air conditioning repair, contact a local auto shop.

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13 January 2022