Auto Air Conditioner
If you own a slightly older vehicle, chances are that you have had problems with your auto air conditioner at some point. While many times we take these repairs to a certified mechanic, the truth is that usually we can complete these repairs ourselves. The mechanics of the auto air conditioner are not that difficult to understand, and in essence they are very similar to the refrigerator components in that they help to circulate cooled air through the vehicle and remove the hot air from the inside extracting it outside. There are a few major components of your auto air conditioner, and once you know what these are and how they function, you will find it much easier to work on the system yourself.
One thing that you will have to know before you start to work on your auto air conditioner is whether or not it uses the R-12 type Freon. Most of the newer model cars and trucks use a substance that is known as R-134(a), but if you have an older model car then you likely still rely on R-12. If this is the case you will have to take the car to a person who is certified to work with this form of coolant, and you should know that it is quite costly. One thing that you can do is to take the vehicle to a specialist and ask them to convert the auto air conditioner to the cooling substance that is now more commonly used, R-134(a). After this conversion you will be able to work on the vehicle yourself because this substance is far more readily available and you do not have to be certified to work on the system.
If you are able to work on your auto air conditioner then you will want to make sure that you have a repair manual that is specific to the make and model of your vehicle. This is important because while many auto air conditioner systems are similar, you will have to know the placement of certain key items in order to fix it the way that it should be repaired. You can find many of these auto repair manuals at bookstores, online, or even at auto parts stores. They will be able to show you in great depth through diagrams and in writing how you can test and work on your auto air conditioner. As a rule, this manual is a must for those who are thinking about repairing their own vehicles anyway, so it is a good thing to have on hand.
If repairing your auto air conditioner is not something that you think you can handle on your own then you will want to make sure that you get your system checked at least once a year to anticipate any potential problems. This is important because having preventative maintenance done can help to pinpoint small problems before they turn into larger ones, and this can in turn save you money. A routine check of any system in your car is not a bad idea if you can afford it, and it is often recommended as a way to catch problems before they get out of hand, and this idea is no different for the auto air conditioner. If you cannot afford to take the car to someone for a preventative maintenance check on your auto air conditioner, then one thing that you can do on your own to make sure that everything is okay is to check the level of coolant that is in the system. This is because the system is a closed system and you should not lose any coolant levels unless there is a leak. If there is a lowering in your coolant levels, then you know that you will need to start looking for the leak.