Submitted by Courtesy Auto and Tire Service of Tacoma
Most Tacoma drivers wait for their air conditioning to fail before they service it at Courtesy Auto Service and Tire of Tacoma. That’s because most motorists don’t really understand that automotive air conditioners need to be serviced periodically to function properly. The following are some of the reasons why they fail.
First, like every machine, the vehicle’s air conditioner parts need to be lubricated. Because the lubricant is actually mixed in with the refrigerant (that’s the stuff that makes the air cool), sometimes, even though the air conditioner is still making cool air, the oil that lubricates the parts has just been used up — and un-lubricated parts can fail in all cars.
Now here’s a tip for Tacoma drivers: You should run your air conditioner every so often during Washington winters. This helps circulate the lubricant, keeping the seals from drying out.
The air conditioner actually removes some of the moisture in the air. So if you have trouble with fogging on your windshield during the winter or during a rain storm, running the air conditioner on the defrost setting should help. On some cars you can’t run the air conditioner at the same time as the defroster. Don’t ask me why, but I suspect lawyers were involved.
Air and water can also get into an air conditioning system. This can reduce the efficiency of the system and can also lead to damage causing corrosion. Tacoma drivers should periodically purge the system and replace the refrigerant to clear out the air and water.
Tacoma drivers should be aware of early warning signs of trouble: One might be that the air’s not as cold as it used to be. Or, you may hear an unusual noise when the air conditioner cycles on. These are two signs to get your vehicle into Courtesy Auto Service and Tire of Tacoma in Tacoma before the damage gets worse.
Following the recommended service intervals in your vehicle owner’s manual can help prevent mechanical failure of your air conditioning system. You’re air conditioning system contains some expensive components like the compressor, condenser, dryer, etc. Because of this, whatever you can do to lengthen the life of your vehicle’s air conditioning system is well worth it.
