| Q.
How do you know for sure when your car needs its air conditioning
serviced? I mean besides when it quits blowing cold air. Can I do any of
this at home?
A.
As a rule of thumb, a competent automotive air conditioning system
should produce air from the panel vents that is up to 40 degrees lower
than the outside air temperature. High humidity and idling in traffic
can reduce performance, as can a host of system problems.
Try testing your system
with a thermometer inserted into the center vent with the blower speed
set to medium and the vehicle operated at 35 mph or higher.
A large reduction in
performance with the vehicle stopped might be caused by condenser fan or
shrouding problems.
Cool, but not enough so?
The most common cause is a low refrigerant charge due to O-ring, hose or
seal leakage. Your system has a half-dozen or more hose connections,
which are common leakage points, as well as a seal behind the
compressor's pulley. If any of these areas shows more than a pinch of
damp-dirty buildup, leakage is indicated, and should be investigated.
Your best bet is to keep
the condenser (large-flat finned component in front of the radiator)
free of bugs and debris, watch for leaks, and have the system serviced
before performance degrades substantially |
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