How to Make Your Car A/C Colder in Summer
July 15th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
Hot air blasts in your face, in the heat of summer?
Not cool.
A/C, listen up. You’re trying but you’re not helping!
Is your car A/C not cold? If it’s not giving you much relief this summer, don’t sweat it – help is on the way. Here, we are going to show you how to get the maximum coldness out of your A/C.
Car A/C not cold enough
If you’re having the “car A/C not cold” problem, here are seven tips for making your car A/C colder. Experiment with different strategies and see which ones work best for your vehicle.
1. Don’t turn on the A/C while you are still parked.
You start the car, turn on the A/C, and then stay put for a couple of minutes, so the A/C can get cold. Pre-cooling is not only ineffective but also counter-productive, because the car air conditioning works much better when you’re driving. What’s more, it’s a waste of gas and time.
2. Use the coldest setting
Car A/C not cold enough? Consumer Reports recommends setting your car A/C at the lowest temperature and then adjusting your fan as needed. As a result, your A/C should work more efficiently and also save you some fuel.
3. Turn on the fan first
If it’s intolerably hot when you start driving, turn on the fan full blast and open the backseat windows. Let the hot air out of your car for about a half minute.
Then turn on the A/C and set it at “max cool.”
4. Don’t recirculate air
Your car’s recirculation mode has one drawback you should be aware of. Cool air is introduced in the front of the car but is then pulled back into the system, meaning that passengers in the back seat do not feel it. The solution? Consider turning off recirculation mode when you have passengers in the back of the cabin.
5. Turn off start-stop system
If you have a newer car, it might have a start-stop system, which automatically reduces the amount of time the engine spends idling and, as a result, reduces fuel consumption and emissions.
But here’s the problem. When the auto start-stop system shuts the engine down, that can impair the A/C’s ability to produce cool air. So it’s a dilemma: save money at the pump and help the environment, but sweat like a pig during summer. If your car A/C is not cold, you might want to turn off your car’s start-stop system.
6. Is it time to replace your cabin air filter?
The purpose of your cabin air filter is to stop dirt, dust, and other environmental pollutants from seeping into your car through the A/C.
On the one hand, a cabin air filter that’s accumulated dirt and other particles mean it’s doing its job. But on the other hand, a dirty air filter impairs airflow from the A/C, which means no relief for you while you’re sweltering in traffic this summer.
So, how to make car AC colder? The takeaway is pretty obvious: be sure to inspect your cabin air filter and replace it if it is clogged.
If you’re not comfortable replacing the filter on your own, don’t sweat it! Bring the car to your nearest auto mechanics location and let the highly trained technicians do it for you.
7. Park in the shade
Your A/C would be indebted to you if you’d park more often in the shade or a covered parking lot. That way, your A/C wouldn’t have to work so hard or take so long to cool things down.
If you can’t find a shaded parking spot, put a sunshade over your windshield to keep the temp down inside your car.
What if your car A/C not cold after trying these tips? It could mean that something else is causing the problem.
Causes of car A/C not cooling
The causes of car A/C not cooling could be anything, from normal wear and tear to a Freon leak, a broken condenser, an issue with the A/C compressor, or electrical problems.
If you’ve tried everything else, bring your car in to your nearest auto mechanic and let them trouble shoot it for you. Professional technicians will be able to determine the causes of car A/C not cooling and fix it for you so that you can stay cool this summer.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto El Cajon a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing all customers in El Cajon and San Diego County neighborhood.
