You slip into your car or truck for your evening commute back home. However, you live in Texas, so you crank the temperature down and fan up. Then, you start driving, waiting for that sweet moment when your car finishes blowing hot air and the cooling starts. You realize it has been more than a couple of minutes. You do not panic.
It is Texas. Your car has been sitting in the sunshine all day. You give it another minute or two. Then, you realize you are trapped inside a horror movie. You are facing the Texas summer with a broken A/C in your automobile. You need an auto A/C repair shop, and you need it now. Specialized Truck and Auto has you covered.
Why Choose Specialized Truck and Auto for A/C Repair?
STA is a full-service family-owned garage. And we have been in business since 2009, and our mechanics have over 25 years of auto industry experience. We stock frequently used parts and have quick access to other parts from our suppliers. We can diagnose and fix your air conditioning issue.
Six Signs Your Auto A/C May Need Service
While auto A/C units can die suddenly, they are more likely to experience a gradual death.
Here are six things that indicate you may need to have your A/C serviced:
- The fan is not blowing as hard as it once did.
- The air feels warmer or damper.
- You hear odd noises when you run the vehicle’s A/C.
- It smells funny when you run the A/C.
- Water pools in the cabin when you run the A/C.
What Is Wrong With My Auto A/C?
Automobile air conditioning systems are surprisingly complex. Any number of things can go wrong with them.
However, most air conditioning failures are due to one of these six problems:
- Compressor Wears Out
- Cooling Fan Clutch Not Engaging
- Blocked Condenser
- Leaking Refrigerant
- Electrical Issues
Once we determine the cause of the problem, fixing your broken A/C is straightforward.
That means we can handle repairs efficiently and get you back on the road in a cool car.
Broken Compressors
Your air conditioner’s compressor is what keeps the freon moving.
If the compressor stops working, the refrigerant stops circulating. That means that air may blow, but it will not get cold.
Compressors often fail from age and wear.
We do not have months where people stop using their auto A/C units. Compressors can fail for other reasons, too. If your air conditioner is blowing, but the air is not cold, it could be the compressor.
Broken Fan
There are a few reasons why the fans in your vehicle’s A/C may not be functioning correctly.
Cooling fans can be physically broken.
- They may get cracks from road debris.
- We cannot fix cracked fans.
- We must replace them.
Fans may also stop working because of electrical issues. Many people believe a broken fan would stop blowing air. Vehicle air conditioners are constructed differently than building air conditioners. The fan cools the condenser and is not the same as the blower. A vehicle that is blowing hot air may have a broken fan.
The condenser is where your vehicle’s AC lets the refrigerant shed heat. Re-cooled, the refrigerant travels to the evaporator, where it can cool the air blown into the cabin. Condensers are basically radiators. They can be punctured or damaged from road debris. They can also fail.
Blocked Condenser
It is more common for your condenser to be blocked than to be broken. Your condenser uses air that comes through the vehicle’s grill as you drive. If road debris blocks your grill, it keeps the refrigerant from getting cold. The result? The A/C will blow hot air. Before you bring your vehicle to a shop for repair, look at your front grill.
Is debris blocking it? Remove the debris and see if your air gets cool again.
The condenser is where your vehicle’s AC lets the refrigerant shed heat. Re-cooled, the refrigerant travels to the evaporator, where it can cool the air blown into the cabin. Condensers are basically radiators. They can be punctured or damaged from road debris. They can also fail.
Leaking Refrigerant
One of the most common reasons for an A/C problem is leaky refrigerant.
Your vehicle’s refrigerant system is a closed system. That means it should not be losing refrigerant.
If it is, there is a leak. Sometimes these leaks occur at the hose connections, but they can also be due to pinpoint holes in the hoses. Tracking down a leak can be frustrating and challenging.
How we fix the leak depends on a few things.
- Is there a visible break in a hose? If so, then we replace the hose.
- Are the hose connections loose? We tighten the connections.
We get asked by people if we can just recharge the coolant on a leaking A/C system.
In the bad old days, that is what people did.
- Freon was inexpensive.
- People were unaware of the environmental impact.
- It seemed like a cheap and easy fix.
We know better now.
Although the refrigerants we use today are less damaging to the environment than Freon was, they can still harm the environment.
- Cannot put them in a system we know has leaks.
- Understand that it is hot and you need air conditioning in your car.
- Happy to work with you to come up with safe and affordable fixes.
- Cannot recharge a leaky system without fixing the leak.
Electrical Issues
A catchall description, electrical issues can mean any problem getting electricity reliably to your vehicle’s A/C. We will inspect the wires, fuses, and electrical connections. Electrical issues may also be due to your vehicle’s computer system. Thankfully, your vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system can help us track down the root of electrical problems in your A/C system.
Will A/C Leak Sealers Fix My Auto A/C?
We get asked about whether you can use an A/C leak sealer to fix a broken A/C. You can. We just do not think you should. A/C leak sealers do what they say they will do. They react with water, and they harden to stop small leaks.
The problem is that they also clog other things, such as:
- Expansion valves
- A/C evaporators
- Condensers
- Disrupt airflow and cause up to a 10% reduction in system efficiency
In addition, they only work with small leaks. They cannot fix large leaks. They also cannot fix leaks around connections. If you try a sealer and do not fix the problem, we have to flush your A/C system before handling the repair.
Why Choose Specialized Truck and Auto for A/C Repair?
STA is a full-service garage with ASE and Ford-certified mechanics. We know cars and trucks. We also know Houston. It is hot. No one wants to drive around with a broken A/C. That is why we will quickly and correctly diagnose and repair your car or truck’s air conditioning problem.
