‘Take care of these problems early,’ warns car air conditioning mechanic – commonly overlooked problem leads to ‘expensive replacements’

MECHANICS are issuing warnings about increasing stress on a car’s AC unit as the temperature rises.

Technicians said summer temperatures pose expensive repair risks for cars, but scheduled maintenance on some parts can help.

two

“When it gets this hot, the air conditioning system can only remove so much heat at a time, usually about 30 degrees,” Kevin Criswell, head technician at an auto repair shop, told the Tennessee-based NBC affiliate . WSMV.

“If it’s 90 degrees and you only have a 30-degree drop inside the vehicle, a lot of people get in.”

Criswell said several vehicle owners brought their cars to his shop as temperatures rose.

Several drivers have complained that their air conditioning units don’t fill the cabin with enough fresh air.

But he said a few quick maintenance tips can help keep your car’s climate in tip-top shape.

First, he suggested that drivers regularly schedule cabin air filter changes.

Next, he said drivers should check their AC refrigerant levels.

Criswell also warned that the heat could worsen existing engine problems.

“If you have a leaky AC system, what happens is the oil stops circulating and the compressor basically runs without oil,” he warned.

“Identifying these problems early, changing the system, refilling the system correctly, putting oil in them will go a long way toward keeping you from [from] replacing many very expensive components.”

MORE TIPS

Dozens of other mechanics offered tips for drivers to save money on AC tune-ups.

Famous YouTuber Scotty Kilmer (@scottykilmer) said drivers should invest an extra $25 and get a better AC refrigerant container.

“If your car’s air conditioning isn’t cold and you want to try adding some refrigerant, I’ll show you how to do it correctly so you don’t blow up the system,” he said.

Kilmer suggested that drivers buy the cans with the gauge attached to the coolant tube.

Without the meter, drivers can “easily overpressurize the system and cause it to explode,” he warned.

Other experts warn that air conditioning units are important for driving safety as summer temperatures rise.

Anleyn Venegas, a representative of the Auto Club of Southern California, told the San Diego-based CBS affiliate KFMB that drivers are more susceptible to fatigue when their cooling systems are not working properly.

Heat can also cause vehicles to strain harder and cause AC damage.

“The heat can really affect vehicles if maintenance is not up to date,” she said.

“Unfortunately, we see more accidents during the summer.”