Weird noises? Weird smells? Is your auto air conditioning system refusing to blow out cold air? This may mean it is time for a repair. Especially with the summer heat in Australia, a fully functioning auto air conditioning system is a must to keep cool while driving around.
A faulty air conditioner can cause more damage than you think. It is imperative that if a fault occurs, your air conditioning system is repaired as soon as possible.
Repairing your automotive heating and air conditioning system may sometimes only need a few simple tweaks. However, if you have no idea what you are doing, it is best that you visit an auto air conditioning repair service.
In saying that, if you are a handy-man/women at heart and feel confident in carrying out a DIY repair, we have all the steps you should take!
DIY: Automotive heating and air conditioning repair
Sometimes repairing an auto air conditioning system will not work. This is because improving a system means that something is broken. Therefore, it must be fixed or replaced.
Usually, auto air conditioning systems face the problem of running out of refrigerant or having a low car battery. Repairing involves refilling the refrigerant or recharging the battery.
Refilling or recharging a battery may seem like a piece of cake! However, repairing these little issues require specialized machinery, which is much easily carried out at an auto air conditioning service centre.
However, if you want to, you can do it at home with some substitutes that can be found at your local hardware store. These include a can of refrigerant and a refrigerant dispenser.
We have compiled a short guide to help you repair your auto air conditioning system and have it running smoothly!
Refilling refrigerant: automotive heating and air conditioning repair
You must have all the necessary equipment and understand safety measures before starting.
- Before you start, make sure you have gloves, goggles, refrigerant and a single pressure hose/refrigerant dispenser. It is also essential to ensure you wear gloves, goggles and a long sleeve shirt to protect your body from any accidental liquid spraying onto body parts. If the refrigerant is exposed to the skin, it instantly freezes, causing frostbite.
It is also significant to note the kind of refrigerant your car operates on. The tag is located near the radiator, which must be checked before buying the refrigerant. All vehicles use different refrigerants based on the year of manufacture, so be sure to observe this correctly.
When filling the refrigerant, you must be careful to stay away from anything you are unfamiliar with and remain distant from the engine bay. You will need to touch the fill port located on the left-hand side of the engine bay (pipe shape with two hoses).
Now is the time to check the air conditioning system. If the air conditioner is entirely out, you will probably need two cans of refrigerant. However, if it is still blowing soft, cold wind, one can suffice.
- Turn off the engine
Ensure the engine is off for a couple of hours before you try looking for the hoses of the fill port.
- Connect the hose
As you put the hose on, you must twist the can. Located the low-end port (L), remove the cap and connect the other side of the hose to the low-end port. Ensure it is tight, and there are no leaks.
- Let out air
After you connect the hose, you must then loosen the end of the can to let any air out. Loosen it for one or two seconds and tighten it back.
- Turn on the car
Turn the engine on, and make sure the auto air conditioning system is on the highest setting.
- Start recharging the refrigerant
You must go back to the can and turn the pin around the other way to unblock the airway. Refrigerant will the flow back into the air conditioning system.
- Remove the hose
Once done, turn off the engine and lock the pin on the hose. Remove the hose and close the (L) cap.
- Enjoy the air conditioning system
Now you will be able to enjoy a cool breeze or warm wind from your A/C system.
If you haven’t managed to follow all these steps, take your car to an auto repair centre! They can provide you with reliable car services, eliminating the hassle!