February 8, 2013 - The AC Compressor is the component within the automobile that makes the air conditioning system tick within the car. How much of a life saver is it? Imagine being stuck in traffic in the beating sun, huffing and puffing like a dog, struggling for air, well, your AC Conditioner can make life much easier.
It is so important to look after it, because you know how luck goes, if you let it just erode, then it will break when you need it most.
How It Works?
The AC Compressor pumps out refrigerated gas – typically Freon – and then transfers it to the condenser. It compresses and then expands as it moves through the AC system, which in turn creates cool air.
Then it fires out through the car dashboard, giving you a cool blast!
What Causes An AC Compressor Lock-Up?
There are a variety of issues which can cause a lock-up, such as failures in drive belt tension, air flow being blocked, oil staining, or service port caps not being there. These issues are all very easy to notice which is good, but anything beyond that requires a full Air Conditioning service by a qualified technician.
How To Keep It Working?
Run the air conditioner once a week for ten minutes – just sit in the car and run it for ten minutes – this will help maintain pressure in the gas chambers. This will keep the hoses from hardening up.
Clean out the moisture in the ducts by running it on “defrost”. This prevents a mildew issue – a real nightmare! – and stops that horrible smell that comes from a dirty AC system.
Use it in winter! This may sound strange – you are freezing cold as it is, chittering along the motorway – one of the main uses for the AC system is to remove humidity, and in the winter this will turn into condensation and fog up your windshield.
Make a point of having it checked at a garage every two years. Stats show that 10% of air-con gas comes from the AC system, meaning that you are missing out on some serious efficiency. I would recommend getting this done before the summer, as you do not want to get a broken AC system when the sun is beating down on you.
All in all, it’s not rocket science. Keep an eye on it and stay vigilant and you won’t need to replace your AC system for a long time. However, if you do to replace some AC parts Buy Auto Parts has unbeatable prices on all auto parts.
For more helpful information on AC compressors and other AC parts visit our AC How To section CLICK HERE
