Guide to Fixing Auto AC:

There is nothing frustrating in a hot summer than to have the inside of your car hotter than the air outside. Learning a few things about the AC system can reduce your frustration and also save you some money. Things necessary to check include the AC coolant level, whether there are leaks, and the condition of the cooling fan.

Checking the Coolant: One simple thing to check that is often ignored is the AC coolant. Make sure the fluid level in the radiator is at the recommended level. There is usually a gage to determine that. If for some reason the fluid level is very low, check for possible leaks. One of the easiest ways to determine if your vehicle is leaking is to examine the driveway for some greenish liquid. In case the coolant level is low, wait for the engine to cool before filling it to the right level. It is dangerous to fill the coolant while the vehicle is hot because you can sustain serious burns. After the coolant is filled, turn on the vehicle for a few minutes to get the fluid circulating through the vehicle. Again turn the engine off to allow it to cool and check the fluid level again. If needed, add more coolant.

Checking for leaks: One of the easiest symptom for leaks is to find some droplets on the driveway, but this is when the situation has reached a worse condition. At best it is better to detect the leaks earlier and this requires some understanding of some internal connections. Most vehicles have an evaporator towards the back of the engine, and this is connected to the compressor by a series of hoses. The compressor is the attached to the condenser at the front of the vehicle, behind the grille. Because vehicle designs differ, you will be better off referring to the manual that came with the vehicle for the exact location of the parts mentioned. Check all the hoses and fitting for leaks, not forgetting to check the area of the condenser first, because the condenser is how the engine pumps the coolant through the engine.

Checking the cooling fan: The cooling fan on the compressor must function for proper cooling. Failure of the cooling fan can contribute to AC malfunctioning. To check if the fan is working, keep the engine running, turn the AC on, and open the hood and observe if the Fan Motor is turning. Check your vehicle manual to confirm your cooling system, because some older models of vehicles have a Fan Blade while others have a cooling motor that turns a blade that is enclosed in the compressor.