A car is a complex machine, and requires due care & regular servicing to run at its best. Like many individual components in a car that need occasional checking, the air conditioning unit needs a spruce-up once in a while.
The seldom used AC in winters (obviously!) can lose refrigerant, or the bearings can corrode, or gases can leak. So by the time summer arrives, you might have a faulty AC compressor on your hands.
To save yourself the inconvenience in the summers, Feldman Chevrolet of Lansing, serving Marshall, MI suggests you take your car out for a spin and focus on the behavior of your car’s AC. It will help you schedule service at the right time!
Signs of a Choking Compressor
1. Clanking Sounds
Since the compressor has to work overtime with all that debris contaminating the system, the smaller components in the unit also experience critical failure and become loose.
This causes the death rattle rounds that may be easily discernable with the squealing fan belt that powers the compressor. It’s best to have the entire engine bay checked & the part fixed or replaced.
2. P0534 Code Comes on
If you are mech & tech-savvy, you will have an OBD-II tool for this. All post-2011 cars come with an OBD port, so the next time your otherwise quiet car’s ECU lights up, this is a signal for an engine bay component problem.
You can plug in the OBD-II to find the diagnostic code P0534 that signals a problem with the air-con compressor unit. Off to the mechanic you go!
3. Diminished Cooling
An undeniable sign is inefficient cooling when you turn the AC on. That’s because the refrigerant is leaking, the bearings are damaged, and the heat exchange is not occurring with all the debris build-up. You not only need your compressor fixed, but you need a change of air filters, too.
4. AC Clutch is Stuck
This is a different clutch, not the one that engages a gear on the drivetrain of manuals (and autos have torque converters!).
The AC clutch is designed to engage or disengage the cooling process to optimize the load on the compressor. With use, the clutch gets stuck, keeping the AC on constantly or not working at all. This can result in all the symptoms mentioned above and fluid leaks.
If you notice a slight rattling, the ECU warning, or even a squeaky fan belt, don’t panic; just roll over to Feldman Chevrolet of Lansing, serving Marshall, MI, for a world-class service experience from one of the industry’s leading experts in auto excellence. Faulty compressor? No problem!
We offer service specials & OEM parts for your beloved ride with financing available.
Schedule an HVAC service with us today!
Connect with us
