Car's Air Conditioning Not Blowing Cold Air? Three Reasons Why
If the hot weather outside is making your car unbearable, you'll likely crank up your air conditioning to cool things down. However, you may discover that the air conditioner is actually blowing warm air out of your vent, which is the complete opposite of what you want. Here are some reasons why the air conditioner in your Lexus is not working properly:
Compressor Problems
Your vehicle's compressor is responsible for circulating the refrigerant, which is the key component that helps remove the heat from the air so that it is cold. Over time, the compressor may break down from wear and tear. This can happen from the compressor becoming seized, which happens when there are fluid leaks. There can also be problems with the belts that operate the compressor, causing it to fail. This is a part that is easy for a mechanic to identify if it is broken, and they can perform the necessary repairs to get the cool air flowing again.
Refrigerant Problems
Your vehicle's air conditioner relies on refrigerant just like your home's air conditioning. A common problem is that the system is leaking refrigerant, and it no longer has enough of this fluid to remove the heat from the air. A mechanic can fix this problem by searching for where the leak is coming from. Once the leak is repaired, they'll then need to put more refrigerant in the system so that it has the proper pressure in the refrigerant lines. The refrigerant doesn't get used up like gasoline, so if the refrigerant is low it is likely due to a leak.
Both of these things are hard to do on your own unless you have the right tools for the job. A mechanic can also help identify the right kind of refrigerant that needs to go into your vehicle so that you do not make a mistake.
Electrical Problems
Sometimes the problem is with the vehicle's electrical system. There are fuses that are designed to shut down parts of the system when things are wrong, which can prevent more damage from happening to your vehicle. In addition, there are simply things that can go wrong with an electrical system that cause problems with your air conditioning. A mechanic will check the electrical system after inspecting the compressor and refrigerant, since it is the next logical step for fixing your vehicle's air conditioning.
If you have more questions about parts of your vehicle that are not working properly, speak to your local Lexus auto shop services.