If you’ve noticed your car’s air conditioner is no longer as cool as it used to be, it could be a signal that the system needs to be serviced. Before you head to the auto repair shop, however, there are some things you can do on your own that may make a difference. As long as your system has refrigerant, it will keep your car cooled. Your compressor turns on  to send pressurized refrigerant to the condenser. Most cars now have electronic ignition systems that only turn on when needed.

 

First, check the reservoir and make sure there’s enough coolant inside. If not, fill with distilled water up to the line and re-start the engine. You’ll likely need 2 oz of water per gallon of air conditioning refrigerant in order for it to function properly again. If the reservoir is empty, you’re in for a long haul and you may even need to replace the entire system. 

 

If that doesn’t work, there’s more to it than just coolant levels. Check out your service manual to determine if there’s a recent recall on your car and what that entails. This may help you determine whether or not it’s time to take it in for repairs or if there are other things that need attention before getting a mechanic involved.

 

Don’t forget to check the air conditioner’s compressor. You may have a clogged vent screen or dirty air filter, which could potentially lead to a lack of coolant flow. If this is the case, you’ll need to clean the screen and check for a clog by vacuuming out the system, as well as unplugging the unit and washing it out with soap and water. If there’s no sign of blockage or dirt build-up in there, then you’re all set.

 

Finally, check your car’s radiator fluid level. If it’s low, it can cause heat to build up in your car, which will result in an un-fun hot and muggy car ride. You should be able to buy radiator fluid at any auto parts store and it’s super cheap. Just make sure you top up the fluid before adding coolant to the air conditioning system.

 

You might want to discuss these problems with a mechanic before making repairs yourself as over-filling can be hazardous and lead to compressor failure. Cars we own are expensive enough so we don’t want them to break down on us for no reason at all.

Conclusion

It’s not so easy to fix air conditioners in cars. You have to invest a lot of money to fix it. However, if you can’t afford to spend money on more advanced models then you should have a look at the car air conditioner reviews. The review will tell you about the best and the cheapest one according to your needs. After all, we don’t want our cars to create problems on us during hot days. That’s why it’s very important to not just buy the cheapest model you can find, but also look at the features of each unit. You’re buying a piece of equipment that is going to be there for many years. So it’s important to get one with a number of features you will really use.