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With the best summer we've had in the last 10 years, the car's air-conditioning will be getting a good workout. During the past seven to 10 years, most cars have come standard with air-conditioning and as such, most people now regard it as part of the car and forget the units need looking after.
The servicing of the units is best left to professionals but here a few things to keep an eye on.
As your car becomes older, or when the air-conditioning system is used infrequently, bacteria, mould and fungi can start growing just behind the dash panel on the evaporator, causing some unpleasant odours. Using an anti-bacterial treatment that destroys the bacteria growth and leaves your car smelling fresh again can solve this problem.
If you feel the car doesn't seem as cold as it used to be, the air-conditioning system may need servicing. The air-conditioning system is not usually covered by the vehicle manufacturer's servicing schedules and the refrigerant gas that is used to operate the system depletes over time.
On average, most vehicles lose up to 15 per cent of the refrigerant gas during the course of a year.
This leakage can be caused when the system is not used during the winter months, thus allowing the small seals to dry out, resulting in a gradual deterioration in system performance. If this continues, eventually the system will not be able to operate at all.
Most problems of this type can be put right easily with a leak check, followed by a complete recharge of the air-conditioning refrigerant.
Running your air-conditioning all year round is not likely in New Zealand but it will help maintain the system. If you run the air-conditioning in winter, it will help to keep the system well lubricated and leak-tight. This is because the refrigerant actually carries the oil that lubricates the system and most importantly the compressor. It also keeps the seals and hoses moist, thus preventing them from drying out and cracking, which can lead to leaks.
Strange noises coming from the air-conditioning should be attended to immediately. If your air-con system starts making noises, you have not heard before, it is advisable to have a qualified vehicle air-conditioning specialist to have a look at it.
Some noises could be early symptoms of a compressor failure (the compressor is the air-conditioning pump). The compressor is usually the most expensive part of the system and, if the bearings in your compressor break or if the compressor seizes up, it means other components can become contaminated with metal particles.
A flush of the system would then be needed as well as replacement of the compressor, the receiver/drier and the expansion valve.
Don't worry about a pool of water forming under your car after using the air-conditioning. If you do see water on the ground, usually under the passenger side, don't be alarmed. This is a normal feature of the system as it is only water dripping from the air-conditioning evaporator. The evaporator has a drain tube fitted to allow the condensation from the evaporator to drain away from the vehicle.
Excessive moisture inside the car can be fixed easily.
Sometimes the drain tube from the evaporator may become blocked or detached, allowing the condensation to build up inside your evaporator. If this occurs water will just build up inside the car to a point where there are damp carpets or window misting problems. These can be solved with low-cost servicing.
Have your air-conditioning serviced regularly, even if there are no visible problems.
The compressor needs oil, or else it will seize up. The filter collects debris and moisture. If the filter becomes blocked, then the performance of the system will deteriorate and it can even stop working entirely. Usually, the refrigerant gas in a car air-conditioning system has to be recharged completely after four years from the manufacture of the unit and then every two to three years.
Regular maintenance will save money and guarantee comfort.
