Monsoon rains might have tamed our triple digit temperatures, but that doesn’t mean you can comfortably drive around Tucson without cool air blowing from your car’s air conditioner. Are you worried you’re on the verge of needing a car air conditioning repair or service appointment? Here are a few of the most common signs that your car’s air conditioner is about to go out.

1. It’s blowing warm air.

This might sound like an obvious sign, but many car owners who only take short trips in their car don’t recognize it. They blame the hot temperatures for their air conditioner to take longer to cool down, when the problem might be a lack of refrigerant.

If your air conditioner isn’t cooling down as fast as you’d like, bring it by and we’ll check the refrigerant level to make sure you have enough to keep your air conditioner running well.

2. It’s not getting enough air flow.

A leak in your system might cause your car’s air conditioner to slowly stop cooling. This won’t happen instantly, which makes it harder to detect. Instead, it’ll happen slowly as your refrigerant level gets lower and lower. Signs that you have a leak include slightly warmer air blowing out of your vents, or your air conditioner not blowing as hard as it used to.

If you suspect you might have a leak, bring your car by our shop and we’ll take a look under the hood.

3. You have ice on your compressor.

In the Arizona heat, it’s hard to imagine that an air conditioner could stop working because of ice. However, if you have a leak that’s causing excess moisture to get on the compressor, that might be the case. Another reason for excess moisture is a poor system flush. In either case, you need to service your compressor to get it back up to par.

4. There’s a blocked hose.

Your car’s air conditioner uses drip condensation. If a hose is blocked, water might not be able to get to the air conditioner. Instead, it will back up into your car causing a funny smell or damp interior carpets.

If you notice any type of mildew smell or unexpected wet carpets, let us take a look to make sure all of the hoses are running smoothly and are properly connected.

5. You hear strange noises.

Strange noises coming from under your hood is always cause for alarm. These noises could be directly related to your air conditioning system. Grinding or grating sounds might signal a problem with your car’s fan. Or, if you hear a squealing noise or any other high pitch tone, you could have a problem with your belts. In either case, it’s important to get it checked out before your air conditioner goes out completely.

If you have a hunch that your air conditioner isn’t working well, chances are there’s a problem. Bring it by before it goes out to save yourself from a potentially costly repair. Let us fix the issue before it turns into a major car concern.