Why Your Used Car’s Air Conditioner Isn’t Cold Enough?

The air conditioning system in your car is a complex and delicate system. It relies on multiple components working together to produce cold air. If one of those components is not working correctly, it can affect the entire system’s performance.

Here are some common problems that can cause your car’s air conditioner not to work properly:

Refrigerant Leakage

A refrigerant leak is a common culprit for air conditioner malfunction. Refrigerant is a chemical that cools the air in your car’s cabin. Refrigerant leaks can happen anywhere along the lines of hoses and seals that transport refrigerant from the compressor through the system and into your engine compartment.

If there is any wear or damage to these lines, they may become cracked or broken over time. As a result, refrigerant escapes from them and into the atmosphere. This will result in a failure of your vehicle’s AC system and a buildup of internal pressure within that system, eventually damaging the compressor.

Restricted Airflow

Hoses or air filter issues are mostly to blame for airflow restrictions. If there isn’t enough coolant circulating through your system to cool it down properly, the engine works harder to keep things cool. This can cause your system to overheat. The good news is that all of these components are easy to replace.

After you buy a car from used car dealers Calgary, ensure that you replace the air filter every 12,000 miles (20 000 km). If yours has seen better days and needs replacing, now is as good a time. You can also check for leaks in your cooling system by adding dish soap to your radiator. Bubbles mean that there’s a leak somewhere in the system.

Thermostat Concerns

You may have a thermostat issue if your car’s air conditioner isn’t cold enough. A thermostat is a valve that regulates the flow of coolant through the engine. If your vehicle’s engine is running hot and you notice that your car’s air conditioner doesn’t work as well on hot days, this could indicate that your thermostat is stuck open.

On the other hand, if you’re driving in extreme temperatures and notice that your car’s air conditioner works well only when it’s cold out, replace the thermostat with a new one.

Engine Coolant Concerns

The coolant fluid cools your car’s engine and transmission. If your car is leaking or foaming when parked, have a technician look at the system to determine the cause of this issue.

The recommended interval for changing your vehicle’s engine coolant depends on how many miles you drive each year and what type of driving you do (stop-and-go traffic vs. highway). If you suspect your engine is overheating, check for leaks around hoses and radiators as well as level problems in the radiator reservoir.

Don’t neglect air conditioner maintenance. If you buy used cars Calgary that is older than five years old, consider having a full inspection of all cooling system components before summer. This will ensure that everything is working properly and ready for the summer heat when you will need the air conditioner the most.

Related reading: What Makes a Great Family Car?