There comes a time when you’re heading towards an important meeting, sit inside your vehicle and notice the engine isn’t working. You are completely drenched in sweat and have to carry out the journey in your vehicle as it is. One of the possible reasons could be issues with the air compressor, and your vehicle needs a new one. Before that, let’s understand the role of the car’s AC compressor in the car.
What Exactly is a Car Compressor?
The car compressor plays a crucial role in the vehicle. The compressor takes the responsibility of cooling down the air moving inside the cabin of the vehicle. It is the main component of the AC system of your vehicle. Receiving cool air becomes impossible, especially with a poorly working compressor. The car AC compressor performs the cooling process by allowing the flow of Freon and specialized oil through the system.
What are the Symptoms of a Bad AC Compressor?
Check the AC compressor for the following symptoms, which clearly indicate that it has gone bad. Try not to commute in a vehicle in poor condition and replace the AC compressor as soon as possible:
High Temperatures than Normal in the Cabin
One of the biggest signs of a bad air compressor is that it doesn’t blow cold air as it did earlier. A damaged or failed compressor is unable to regulate the refrigerant flow with the AC system, due to which the AC starts working poorly. The degree of the car rises, and AC starts taking out hot air. It is possible in 3 cases: the first is low refrigerant levels, leak in refrigerant, and the third is compressor issues, and it’s time to replace the AC compressor.
Loud Noises While Compressor is Working
When the heating, ventilation, and AC system works, it produces a certain sound while moving. Loud noises generated by the AC clearly indicate the compressor issues that need attention. The moment the internal components within the AC compressor breaks, it produces every kind of noise. Know that it’s time to replace the entire AC compressor.
Moisture Leaks
One of the possible reasons behind bad car AC compressors is moisture leaks. The compressor makes the AC unit turn the warm air into cool air. The moment it runs out of chemicals, it starts releasing warm air. A refrigerant leak not only gives rise to health issues but also surges energy consumption.
Trouble Moving Compressor Clutch
The clutch enables the pulley to engage and disengage from engine power, and the compressor is only working as and when required. If there are serious issues with the clutch, it will be taken care of by the mechanic.
Tripping Circuit Breaker
Once you notice that the outside condensing unit starts losing power and tripping the circuit, know that there are issues with the AC compressor. Overheating and too much power makes the breaker trip. Don’t keep on resetting the circuit breaker and turn the system on. The breaker is doing its duty to safeguard you from fire events.
Suction Lines Are Broken
The refrigerant line present in the AC system may be blocked if the compressor isn’t working properly. This leads to the emission of hot air from the vehicle. Take your vehicle to the mechanic and get the issue resolved. The repairman knows how to fix the issue and needs to replace the lines completely in case the issue remains unresolved.
Damaged Wiring
Damaged wiring can become a safety concern for many of us. This is because ignoring the situation would lead to an electrical fire. Electrical problems make the compressor receive too less or too much voltage. It would damage the compressor completely and demands that one needs to replace the AC compressor.
How Much Does AC Replacement Cost?
Once you have identified the AC compressor issues, it’s time to get insights into the AC replacement cost. The compressor is a crucial component of the vehicle, and replacing the bad one won’t be cheap. However, buying the compressor from a trusted seller like ‘The Auto Parts Shop‘ would bring authentic products and help you save a lot of money. The best part is that the store offers valuable tips that can make the buying process hassle-free.
How to Buy the AC Compressor?
The buying process of the AC compressor is very simple. All you need is a few things to get the kind of compressor you are looking for. Keep information handy such as vehicle make, model, and manufacturing year. You might need important information such as the vehicle’s production date and is present in the car’s side door jam in a particular format. It is either in month/year format or in date/month/year format. You might not need the production date in certain cases, but check the vehicle and get the date if you do.
If you don’t have information pertaining to the year, make and model of the vehicle, obtain the information using the manufacturer’s part number. Many times this number is mentioned on the compressor or sticker or label of the part. Alternatively, place a call to the manufacturer to get the OEM number by handing them your VIN number.
Wrapping Up
Traveling without AC during hot weather can be a hassle. Determine the car compressor price and replace it for the smooth working of the AC.