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Now that the sun occasionally pops his head out of the clouds, the guys at Total Car Care would like to remind you to check the operation of your vehicle air conditioning system.

Most vehicle a/c systems sit dormant or not touched during the cold or winter seasons and owners sometimes encounter problems when requiring the luxury of icy cold air in their faces the very first time it’s used.

It is always advisable to use the a/c system at least once a week to firstly confirm the operation of the system and secondly to make sure that the internal lubricating oil is circulated to prevent the compressor pump and other parts from seizing up.

It is also a well-known fact that the screen demists immediately with the a/c switched on as it dehumidifies the air within the car.

This is not normally a concern when vehicles have climate control as the a/c system switches on and off automatically.

However, if you are experiencing poor performance from the a/c system by the result of poor cooling or warm air, the system itself could be inoperative mechanically or electronically, but in 95% of cases, the refrigerant gas in the system is low or has fully escaped.

If your air conditioning is not blowing cold air, it could be low on refrigerant. An a/c system requires a certain amount of refrigerant to cool properly. If low, it works less efficiently and does not cool the air well.

But an a/c system can still produce cool air even if it’s lost up to 50% of its original charge of refrigerant. Even so, output will be reduced. After that the pressures will be too low even for the compressor pump to operate.

Most a/c systems leak a little refrigerant over time. Newer systems are tighter and leak less than older ones, which may lose up to several ounces of refrigerant a year. After four or five years of service, it’s not unusual for the system to need some additional refrigerant or ‘re-gas’

If you’re a/c system can’t hold a charge from one season until the next, it has a major leak that should be pinpointed and repaired.

The most accurate means of determining the refrigerant level in your A/C system is with pressure gauges. The gauges will show how much pressure is in the high and low sides of the system during operation.

The most common ways to find a leak is :

· Visually inspect the system for telltale oil stains.

· Vacuum the system and also listen for the vacuum leak noise.

· Look for the presence of UV leak detector dye.

When refrigerant leaks from the system, it immediately evaporates into thin air leaving no trace except possibly the compressor oil residue that leaks out with it. Wet oily areas around hose connections and fittings and/or greasy streaks radiating outward around the compressor clutch or on the underside of the bonnet just above the compressor are good visual clues to where the leak is.

UV leak detecting dyes will often reveal tiny leaks that might escape visual detection. These are fluorescent and require illumination with a special light before you can see them.

Once a leak has been identified and pinpointed, it should be fixed. Don’t waste your time on "stop leak" products because they seldom work, we are talking about pressure up to nearly 20-Bar. So make sure you get a skilled professional who understands air conditioning to diagnose your vehicle a/c system.

If you have any concerns with your vehicle a/c system, Total Car Care can help diagnose new and old systems as they have both R12 and R134a service and re-gas stations and UV detection equipment. UV leak detection dye is always added to all re-gas procedures as standard without extra cost.

Be free to contact Lyn, Roger or Jay at Total Car Care if you have any questions about this article, previous articles or any other queries you may have.

We can be contacted directly via phone on 96 573 2711, email us at enquiries@totalcarcare.es or visit our website on www.totalcarcare.es