A Guide To Maintaining Your Car's AC This Summer

Summer is approaching, so before taking out your vehicles for a round in this heat, make sure to check whether the AC works properly, i.e. it is able to cool the cabin in reasonable time, assuming the cabin temperatures were nominal during a fresh start. If you service your car regularly, there shouldn't be a problem.

However, if the AC does not cool the car as the way it should, it could be due to a number of factors, which you may already know of. Possible issues include refrigerant or AC gas leakage, clogged air filter, worn out blower motor, or underperforming vent actuators.

Here's a guide on how to maintain the AC systems of your car, if you face any such issues:

AC System Maintenance

First obvious culprit that every car owner must know of is the low refrigerant or AC gas, which is caused by a leak somewhere in the system.

If this gas runs low, the compressor may run under improper pressure and lubrication. If it breaks, costs jump from about ₹1,800-₹3,500 for a simple AC gas refill to ₹12,000-₹35,000 for a full replacement, depending on the car and part used.

A clogged cabin air filter can also cause poor cooling by restricting clean air flow, which can introduce dust and bad smells from AC vents. Thankfully, this filter is cheap to replace, costing only around ₹300-₹1000, with some added labour charges.

Also Read – Top 5 Carmakers with Highest Number Of Service Centers

If you notice cold air but weak flow, the issue might be a worn out blower motor, which can burn your pocket with an estimated ₹1,500 to ₹6,000 cost. Otherwise, it could just be a clogged air path or faulty vent actuator.

Cleaning wise, it goes without saying to clean the AC vents often. Get a can of compressed air or a soft thin brush and get into the nooks and crannies of the vent fins.

Other User Tips & Tricks For A Cooler Cabin

If you are not satisfied with the AC system of your car, even if it works normally, we have found some tips and advices for car cooling, mainly from Reddit, that they found to work.

A user recommended that once driving with the AC running, initially direct the air vents towards your feet, which should push the hot air upward and out the cabin, with windows open.

Another effective but lesser known way to quickly drop cabin temperatures is to roll down windows and lightly mist the cabin surfaces with a simple spray bottle filled with water. The evaporation of water should pull the heat out with it.

Also Read – Best Cars Under ₹20 Lakh with Built-in Air Purifiers in India

In addition, a small solar-powered window exhaust fan or USB clip-on fan can actively move hot air out while allowing cooler air in through rolled down windows.

Combine this with heat reflecting window covers, fast cabin cooling should become more noticable.