Reasons Your Vehicle's Air Conditioning Isn't Working: Subaru Ownership Tips At Capitol Subaru

 

4. Your System Needs To Be Recharged

Air conditioning systems do more than just pump cool air through the climate vents. They're actually sophisticated heat pumps that draw heat out of the cabin and replace it with cooler air. This is achieved through the phase change of a special refrigerant in the system. This refrigerant is changed from a liquid to a gas in the system. And when it's in its gaseous phase, it can slowly leak out of the system. Eventually, you'll need more refrigerant added to your vehicle. This is called "recharging" the system. If your climate controls seem to be working correctly, but the A/C just isn't blowing as cold, have an expert inspect the system and determine if a recharge is all that's necessary.

 

3. Your Blower Fans Are Not Working

Behind your vehicle's dashboard, blower fans push air through the climate vents. These fans draw warm air from the heater and cool air from the air conditioning system to keep you comfortable no matter what the weather. If you can get neither A/C nor heat to come through the vents, an electrical problem with your vehicle's blower fans could be to blame. We might also take a closer look at the wiring of your vehicle and the fan speed regulator, which are related components.

2. Your Condenser Is Blocked

Once heat is sucked out of your vehicle's cabin, it needs to be sent somewhere. Right behind the vehicle's front grill, a condenser is a system of fins where the hot refrigerant is sent to cool down. Airflow passing over the condenser as you drive cools the refrigerant so it condenses back to a fluid. If you've got an obstruction in your front grill, like a piece of litter or debris, this can prevent sufficient airflow from reaching the condenser -- leading to poor A/C system performance. There might even be a problem with the condenser itself, such as a leak, accident damage or corrosion.

 

1. Your Compressor Has Failed

The centerpiece of your car's air conditioning system is the compressor. On most cars, this is a belt-driven accessory, meaning as the engine spins, it drives a belt to deliver power to the A/C system compressor. But if this belt slips or becomes damaged, or the pulley on the compressor isn't spinning right, the compressor won't work and neither will your A/C system. Furthermore, it's possible that your A/C compressor has simply worn out and may need to be replaced if your vehicle is old enough.

The above list isn't comprehensive, so be sure to get the help of an expert at Capitol Subaru if you have any problems with the A/C system on your car. We'll restore its performance so you can stay chilled out on your commute!