It can be quite frustrating to get into your car, ready to hit the open road, only to find out your car’s air conditioner is not working. With the summer months bearing down on us, having a working air conditioner in your car is practically a necessity. In this day and age, there is no reason why you should be miserable from the heat during your travels. So, what do you do when your car’s air conditioner fails? 
The following tips will help you determine where the problem may lie and what you can do to fix it.
The most common resource for your car’s air conditioner to stop working is a lack of refrigerant. Your system may be losing refrigerant due to a leak. If you suspect a leak, you need to pinpoint it. It may be a cracked hose, a pinhole in the condenser, or a leaky compressor. You can add a special dye to your system to help find the leak.
You can check the clutch of your compressor by turning your air conditioner on and seeing if the clutch engages. If it does not engage, you may have a blown fuse or the clutch may need replaced. If the clutch engages, but does not turn the compressor, you may need to replace the compressor.
If your car’s air conditioner is noisy, your compressor may be the culprit. The problem may also be other parts under the hood. If your compressor is working right and your system is still noisy, check the hoses, support brackets and other components to locate the noise.
If your system has intermittent cooling, it may be freezing up. Air and moisture in the system can cause this to happen. You should use a vacuum pump to rid the system of moisture and air.
When all else fails, take your car to your auto technician and have your cooling system serviced. Your auto technician will be able to diagnose any problems and make the necessary repairs to ensure that your summer driving is cool and comfortable.
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