The AC compressor is more important to the workings of your car then you might expect. Despite being situated as part of the air conditioning, it actually regulates airflow throughout your whole car. This is especially important in the actual combustion chamber of the engine. Without properly regulated air, the combustion of the engine can be too big or too small. Too big and it causes damage, and too small and it causes delay in responsiveness and stalling. In short, problems with your air compressor can start small, but end up big. That makes them important to catch early. But how do you go about finding them before get bad?

How do You Know if You Need Your AC Compressor Replaced?

Because the AC compressor is tied to the air conditioning while regulating air flow through the whole car, there are a few pretty intuitive ways of diagnosing problems with that part in particular. Let’s go over a the most common ones so you know what is worth worrying over.

1. Hot Air This is the most obvious one, but it is worth mentioning to detail what it means. If your air conditioning is supplying air of the temperature outside rather than cool air, then that could be a problem with the freon cooling element of your AC system. But if the air conditioning gives you air hotter than the temperature outside, then that is a compressor issue, as it means heat from the engine is getting into the car itself.
2. Stuck Clutch If your clutch is stuck or your transmission is slow, then a bad air compressor is a likely cause. The reason for this is that bad air compression puts the air pressure in proximity with the hydraulics of the clutch, causing the fluid to have less surface area to work with.
3. Fluid Leaks The two fluids that will leak will be water and freon, both of which will look pretty similar. Their appearance is not as important as where they are leaking from though. The water will leak from the front of the car, as it is humidity being forced out of the engine by the increased air pressure. The freon will leak into and onto the inside of the car itself, leaving what appear to be white stains. It will be in a smaller amount, making it hard to notice if you do not know what to look for.

Visit us to Get Your AC Compressor Replaced

An AC compressor replacement is not like changing a tire or refilling your engine coolant. It is a highly advanced procedure that risks damage to the car itself if not done properly. All the same, we give you two options: The first is doing it yourself with parts we sell you. The other option is calling 510-793-6067 and setting up an appointment to have it done for you.