Ohio summers are great, but there'll be days you need the refreshingly cold air from your AC. Over time, components will age or become damaged, and the AC won't work correctly. As your Toyota dealership, we want to tell you some signs you need to visit us for air conditioning maintenance. Is Your Toyota’s A/C Acting Up? Here Are the Signs It Needs Maintenance Refrigerant Leak Refrigerant is a colorless, odorless gas that's used to absorb moisture from the air and then chill it before the air is blown into your cabin. It moves through the AC system under high pressure and converts from gas to liquid, then back to gas during the process. Worn seals or damage to any part of the AC, for example, from gravel or other hard objects thrown up from the surface can cause a leak. more As refrigerant is lost, the AC temperature will blow progressively warmer air as the remaining refrigerant can't cool it sufficiently. You can't see a leak as the gas evaporates on contact with the outside air. We add a UV dye to the AC, then run the system and monitor the dye's progress using UV light. Once we find and seal the leak, we'll refill the refrigerant. Limited Airflow The blower motor controls the blower, and it connects to the AC speed setting on your dial or touchscreen. If you adjust the speed to a higher setting and the airflow doesn't increase, the vents could be blocked, or there's a problem with the blower motor. Air enters the AC system through a vent located below your windshield, and this vent can become blocked by dirt, leaves, or debris. The AC ducts can also become blocked by the buildup of debris over time, and in this case, you'll usually hear rustling or rattling from the air vents. A blown blower motor fuse will shut down the motor until the fuse is replaced. Finally, a damaged blower motor may be jammed on one speed setting. Our technicians will find the cause of the problem, then repair it. Jammed Compressor Clutch The compressor is the most important part of the AC system. It acts as a pump, pushing the air and refrigerates through each section of the system. The compressor clutch controls the compressor, switching it on and off as needed. The clutch can wear out, and if this happens, the compressor will remain stuck on or off. A compressor that remains on continues to run, and it will make strange noises due to the strain of continuous operation. If the compressor is off, the AC won't work, and cold air won't be produced. We'll repair or replace the clutch to fix this issue. If you have an AC problem, contact us today at Toyota of Kent in, OH.
