How to Repair Car Air Conditioners

Anyone who has had to drive in a car that does not have a working air conditioner in the middle of the summer knows how miserable that experience is going to be. If a car becomes stalled or stopped in traffic, particularly if the outside temperature is exceptionally high, it can also become a life-threatening situation.Car air conditioners can often be repaired with a minimum of effort. This is especially true if you can find a car air-conditioning repair kit for the make and model of car you have.

Things You'll Need

• Car air-conditioning repair kit
• Fuses
• Screwdriver
• Wrench
• Testing sensor
• Vacuum cleaner with crevice attachment (the long thing that looks like a circle where it attaches to the vacuum cleaner, and the other end looks like a slit)

Instructions

1. Determine exactly what is wrong with the air conditioner.

2. Use the vacuum cleaner with the crevice attachment to clean out the vents on the inside of the car, located between the windshield and the hood of the car. Also clean any vents that lead from the air conditioner itself to the car (or vice versa) under the hood.

3. Use the screwdriver and wrench to remove any vent covers, air filters or other removable parts (that you are sure you can put back on yourself). Clean them thoroughly (or change filters, if necessary) and re-install them.

4. Replace any fuses that may have blown. Refer to your owner’s manual for the type of fuses to buy and where the receptacles for them are located.

5. Use the air-conditioner kit to replace any parts that may be broken or simply worn out. Follow the directions that come with the kit.

6. Determine if the air conditioner has enough coolant, using a testing sensor. If the coolant is low or has all leaked out, a professional will have to replace the coolant for you. (See Warnings for additional details.)

7. Open the hood. Cover any parts that need to stay dry (such as electrical parts) with aluminum foil or plastic. Give everything a good spraying off with a water hose. This will loosen any dirt or debris that may be blocking vents or outlets, which may be causing the air conditioner to malfunction or operate poorly.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase an auto air-conditioning repair kit for your make and model of car, if possible. The kit, if available, will contain at least a condenser, plate and fin evaporator, block valve, drier and compressor.

• The compressor in the kit will most like be a reconditioned or refurbished one, but that’s OK. It will work.

• Don't forget to turn the car engine OFF before attempting any repairs.

• Make sure the car is on a level surface, either in park, neutral or a proper gear ensure it will not roll either forward or backward. Place blocking devices under the wheels for extra security.

• Make sure the car engine and other parts under the hood are cool to the touch before starting any repairs. Severe burns can result from touching hot surfaces.

• You probably will NOT be able to re-fill the air conditioning system with the chemical used to accomplish cooling, as the sale and usage is strictly controlled. Don’t try to get this product or use it if you are not authorized to do so. You could get into legal trouble.