It’s never pleasant to start driving on a hot summer day only to find your car AC not working. There are various possible causes for faults in an air conditioning system. You’ll usually need a technician at your local Ford dealer to fix it, especially if a part needs replacing. The following are six common causes of malfunctioning car AC.

Broken Condenser

In modern Ford vehicles, AC systems can be expected to last a good 10 years or more without fault. When they do occasionally run into trouble, it’s often due to an issue with the condenser.

The condenser rests beside your radiator at the front of your car. It’s responsible for turning the refrigerant into liquid form, which has a cooling effect. Algae, rust, or congealed refrigerant can sometimes clog up a compressor, in which case it only needs to be cleaned. But if your compressor’s been cracked by a stone or some other impact, you’ll probably need a new one.

Faulty Sensor

If your AC is only working intermittently, warm air’s blowing out, or you can hear strange noises, then the sensor in your refrigerant pressure switch might be malfunctioning. This sensor detects drops in pressure that indicate a leak.

But if the sensor itself fails, then your AC system might start acting as though it has a leak, even when it doesn’t. Sensors are not the most expensive parts to replace, although you’ll need a technician to do it for you.

Broken Hose or Gasket

An actual refrigerant leak will also bring your AC to a halt. On the rare occasion when leaks occur, they will most often stem from a cracked hose or gasket. Look for an oily colorless substance around these areas.

Broken Fan

There are various different fans throughout an AC system. The fans that draw air in from outside the car sometimes become blocked or cracked by external debris. If a fan within the refrigerant circulation suffers a broken blade, tiny shards of metal can flow through the system, causing further damage and even leaks.

Blown Fuse

Whenever an electronic accessory in your car stops working, always check the fuse. You can use a test light or multimeter to see if the fuse is blown, or you can pull the fuse out to check if its wire element is burned or melted. A blown fuse might indicate some underlying problem in your vehicle’s electrical supply.

Electrical Interruption

A broken wire might have interrupted the power to your AC system, causing it to shut down. If more than one accessory has stopped working at the same time, then you might have a problem with your battery or alternator, which supply the car with electricity.

Have your AC inspected and repaired today at Bob Maxey Ford Detroit. We offer excellent vehicles and service to drivers in Detroit, Highland Park, Grosse Pointe, and Hamtramck.

Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay

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