A Texas summer is no time for an AC on the fritz, especially if the mercury hovers around 90°F. If your AC isn’t serviced regularly, problems can develop as seals weaken and components wear out due to age and usage. As your Acura dealership, we’d like you to know a few signs you need to visit us for air conditioning maintenance.
Wet Front Carpet
A wet front passenger seat carpet means there’s an AC problem. During the cooling process, the refrigerant absorbs moisture from the air, so it’s dry before it’s chilled and blown into the cabin. The water in the evaporator heater box drains through a drain hose onto the ground.
The evaporator heater box is located behind the fireboard in front of the front passenger seat. Bacterial growth or dirt can block the drain hose, causing the box to fill and overflow. When the water overflows, it passes through the fireboard and soaks the carpet. We’ll replace the drain hose and clean the carpet with an antibacterial cleaning solution.
Jammed Compressor Clutch
The compressor acts as a giant pump, pushing refrigerant and air through the AC system during the various stages of the cooling process. During this process, the compressor switches on and off several times, and if you listen carefully, you’ll hear a slight click as it turns on and off. The compressor clutch job is to start and stop the compressor as needed.
The clutch can jam due to age or damage, and the compressor will remain switched on or off. If the compressor is switched off, the AC won’t work, and only air blowing in through the radiator grille will enter the cabin. If the compressor jams on, you’ll hear laboring sounds as the compressor is overworking and will eventually fail. We’ll replace the damaged clutch to ensure your AC is working correctly.
AC is Noisy
A healthy AC doesn’t make any sound beyond the slight click from the compressor clutch. Strange noises like rustling, rattling, or grinding mean something is wrong and needs to be investigated. Rustling noises are usually caused by dirt, leaves, or other debris drawn into the AC with the air. This debris will move around in the ducts due to air movement.
Rattling noises are usually made by something loose. A bolt may have loosened or broken, allowing one of the AC components to move slightly. Grinding noises, on the other hand, are caused by a lack of lubrication for AC components or a damaged bearing. Our technicians will investigate and fix the problem.
If you have an AC problem, contact us at Fox Acura of El Paso in El Paso, TX.
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