Auto Air Conditioning Repair

Kentucky has one of the most drastically changing climates in the US. Working up a sweat is a great thing to do in a gym around Lexington, but not in your car. Keeping your AC system well maintained can help prevent expensive repairs. Be aware of early warning signs like; an unusual noise when the AC cycles on or the air not cooling like it normally does.

Damages or leaks can affect the performance of your vehicle’s air conditioning system. If your car’s AC quality is not working properly, schedule an appointment today at Auto Tech Service.

Air Conditioning Services
Warm weather or cold, Lexington drivers still need to think about their vehicle’s air conditioning. We have over 55 years of experience in Auto AC repairs and inspections. Here are some of the services we offer:

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Air Conditioning Inspection

When your car’s AC system has a problem, you’ll often feel it right away. Do you hear loud noises under the hood when you turn on your air conditioner? Do you only get cool air from time to time or no cooling at all out the vents? If so, it’s time to get your air conditioner checked. Here is a rundown of how we do an air conditioning inspection.

Visual Inspection
Air conditioning service at Auto Tech Service starts with a visual inspection of the components for signs of damage or leaks.

AC Compressor and Belts
The AC compressor is driven by a belt from the engine, most often the serpentine belt, so it’s inspected for cracks or wear. The compressor and other components are checked for proper operation.

Air Flow in your Car
The most preventable problem with air conditioning is related to airflow on your car. The largest component of the air conditioning system is the ac condenser, which is located in from of the engine radiator, and often gets leaves, dirt, trash bags and other road debris blown against it (inside of your car’s grill) and that restricts the air that passes through it; that air is what cools the system back down after sucking all of the heat out of the inside of your car. Then a performance test determines if the system can hold vacuum.

Recharging Refrigerant
If it can, then the system is evacuated to remove any old refrigerant and recharged with clean, fresh refrigerant. With the huge improvement in manufacturing processes, and the heavy restrictions imposed by the government, modern systems should be able to hold the refrigerant in the system indefinitely. But failures do occur. We see many cars from the early 90s still arriving in our shop on their original charge.

Leak Identification
An ultra violet dye is added to the system for leak identification. A final test ensures the vehicle’s air conditioning is outputting a good vent temp and working properly. Many times small leaks will not be detectable on the first visit. If cooling does diminish the dye we installed will help us identify quickly where the leak is and make necessary repairs to your system. It is often these same leaks that lead to the most dreaded component failure: the AC compressor. As the refrigerant leaks out of the system, so does the ac oil that circulates through the entire system which keeps the ac compressor lubricated. Once low on oil the compressor bearings will fail which leads to a very thorough and expensive repair, and a repair that often can be prevented.

Upgrade Freon to R134-A

New environmental laws have stopped the manufacture of Freon, a refrigerant that was common in cars made before 1993. If you have an older vehicle that uses Freon, we can retrofit your system to use R134-A Refrigerant. It will pay for itself in the long run. So, if your AC is just a lot of hot air, bring it in to Auto Tech for your Auto Air Conditioning Repair.

Car AC Tips

There are a few things you can do to keep your car’s AC in great condition …

Once a week, keep the AC on for about 10 minutes.
Turn the fan to its highest and coldest setting. This helps maintain gas pressure to keep the compressor working properly.

Run the defrost mode for 5 – 10 minutes.
This prevents mildew and cleans excessive moisture, which can lead to unpleasant odors in your car.

Tip for Lexington KY Drivers
You should run your air conditioner every so often during KY winters. This circulates the lubricant to help keep the seals from drying out.

Replace your Cabin Air Filter

In addition to proper AC performance, there’s one more thing that is directly related to air conditioning service and will impact the quality and volume of air moving inside in your vehicle. And that’s your cabin air filter. This filter cleans dust, pollen, pollution and other impurities in the air that comes from the heater and air conditioner. The cabin air filter needs to be replaced when it’s dirty, so ask your Auto Tech Service service adviser to check your cabin air filter at the same time they’re doing your air conditioning service. Not all cars have a cabin air filter but most newer vehicles will. Next comes the cabin air filter, which most cars being made today have.