How to Replace a Car Air Conditioner

A car's air conditioner can be one of the first and most expensive things to go. Whether due to leaking coolant or compressor problems, checking to see if you can repair it yourself will save you time and money. Although challenging, it is possible to repair or replace your car's air conditioning. Read on to learn how.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Become familiar with your car's air conditioning system and its parts. There are a number of car care manuals available on the Internet or at your local book store.

2. Check for coolant leaks. Most auto supply stores carry a fluorescent die kit that allows you to check for leaks.

3. Recharge your system if it has a slow leak. You can purchase air conditioner recharging kits at your local auto supply retailer for a fraction of the cost of fixing the entire system.

4. Look for a bad compressor clutch. If the blower is working and the compressor clutch isn't turning under the hood, then the clutch may be bad.

5. Search for other problems that may fix your system without replacing the entire thing. This includes fuses, switches, fan belts or seal failure inside the compressor.

6. Determine your problem and decide what part or if the entire system needs to be replaced. Some parts can be taken into an auto supply store and tested to see if they are working properly.

7. Remove only the parts that are faulty. You can also clamp off parts of your system that aren't functioning. For example: if you have a van with rear air and the refrigerant is leaking from the back system, clamp off the back system hose to allow the rest of the AC to keep working without future leakage.

Tips & Warnings

• Use great care when dealing with pressurized systems like an air conditioner. If you're not totally comfortable with the parts and processes associated with air conditioner maintenance, leave it to a professional.