Even though an air conditioner is something many people need, very few are familiar with the techniques and methods to fix an overcharged ac on the car. This could be especially true during summer – when a/c is something we need the most.
Even inside a car. To make the a/c and the car’s interior cool to battle the heat, the owners usually opt for something inexpensive and convenient and go for faulty cans of coolants. After that, they suffer from the consequences.
Even though using home remedies and DIYs is plausible, it is better to look for something reliable and sturdy instead of a ready-made solution that is not even worth the investment.
Moreover, when the problem arises, call for professional help – a mechanic – to find out the solution and fix it. But if a mechanic is too costly and you want the work done as early as possible, you can try it yourself. But there are no legal methods to this. It is not recommended.
Here are some solutions to fixing an overcharged a/c of your car. And there is just one solution: to go to a mechanic who will discharge and bleed out the coolant from the air conditioner. This should be the most obvious solution you can look for to discharge the air conditioner. Refrigerant is a dangerous chemical and should not be used over the limit.
On the other hand, mechanics are professionals in handling cars and motors and would know the correct method to remove a coolant so the a/c can be discharged. The owners should trust a mechanic with the job and make sure they do not repeat the mistake of using illegal or faulty coolants for their vehicles.
As for how the mechanic will discharge and fix the overcharged a/c, they use enclosed machines that have got airtight seals and vacuum to suck the coolant from the air conditioner of the car without letting any of the harmful chemicals, that is, the refrigerant, leak out into the environment.
This is hazardous waste, so it is better to be disposed of with minimal damage to the atmosphere.
Signs and Symptoms of Overcharged Car AC
1. Faulty Cooling
Air conditioners work by removing heat from a space and transferring it to the outdoors. If the air conditioning system is overloaded, it will not be able to remove enough heat from the room to keep up with the amount of heat being generated.
Poor cooling is one of the most obvious signs that your air conditioning system may be overloaded. If you notice this happening, you should take steps to alleviate this situation as soon as possible to avoid negative consequences.
2. Car compressor noise
A car’s compressor is the device that pumps air into the car’s engine to cool it. If you can hear that your engine compressor is having problems, or if it is making excessive noise, you will need to have it inspected.
When you drive, the sound of your car’s engine is one of the things that helps determine how well your vehicle is running.
Some cars are louder than others when they’re running due to a number of factors, but one thing that can make a car’s engine sound louder is an overcharged air conditioning system.
3. High pressure
The compressor works harder to try to balance the system, which creates more pressure. The higher the pressure, the higher the temperature readings. Therefore, if your air conditioner is working too hard to keep up, your air conditioner could be overcharged.
This results in a cascading failure of cooling capacity. The pressure continues to rise and the unit cannot keep up with the load.
4. Failing Engine
The motor struggle is a term that describes when an AC compressor draws too much power from the motor, resulting in the damage or death of a motor.
The AC compressor needs a lot of power from the motor to compress air and send it to your cabin, but if too much power is drawn, that can cause some serious problems for the motor.
5. Broken compressor
You know that feeling when your air conditioning system stops working one day? Often, this is the inevitable end result of a chronically overloaded system. The compressor is the heart of your air conditioning system and will eventually respond in kind.
Reasons Why A Car’S Air Conditioner Is Overcharged
1. Adding faulty gauge to store-bought coolants
People in general, who are not in a professional line of working with vehicles, tend to buy cheap and convenient coolant and a faulty gauge to add to them. This can lead to an overcharging of the air conditioner, more than it can handle. It is wise to look for a suitable and compatible gauge that will not overcharge and damage the car’s air conditioner as the repairs for such issues cost quite a lot of money.
2. Not knowing how much coolant should be added
As part of the ‘do it yourself project, the car owners may try to add extra coolants to their air conditioner without checking the car brand or the car’s model, or the year of the car when it was bought. When adding coolants without looking out for these factors can cause the overcharging of the a/c. This can lead to extra charges on bleeding out the coolant, which can easily come up to around $150 – $200.
3. Addition of wrong and incompatible coolant
Not all coolants work the same, especially for all the cay brands or car models. Like any other retail product, coolants are not always reliable in refrigerating the air conditioner, especially when it is not meant to be. If that chemical is introduced to the car system when it is not supposed to be – it will cause the air conditioner to overcharge and cause damage.
Here are some of the do’s and do not’s that one should follow just in case of the overcharging of the car’s air conditioner.Â
How To Fix Overcharged A/C On Your Car
1. Do these in case of the overcharging of the air conditioner:
- Take the car to a mechanic who is a professional to fix the overcharged a/c.
- Try learning more about your car before attempting to recharge the air conditioner. This is because there may be various factors involved in the recharging such as the compatibility of the coolant with the car model and brand. Knowing your car will also help you in buying and adding parts to the vehicle.
- The quality of the gauge depends a lot on when charging the air conditioner. Try using good gauges for the charging. There are many which do not cost a fortune but have top-notch quality.
2. Do not do these things when your car’s air conditioner has become overcharged:
- Attempt at discharging the air conditioner yourself. You are not experienced in the field, and the chemical refrigerant is hazardous, so it should be bled from the system with care, and no harm should come to the environment or yourself. It contains refrigerant, which is harmful to health.
- Do not handle the coolant without any safety gear. If it is possible, try not to handle coolants at all.
- Do not use bad or the wrong coolant for the air conditioning system of your car. It can have harmful consequences that you do not want.
By following these do’s and do not’s, you can manage a hassle-free discharge of the a/c of your car – hence fixing the issue of overcharged system. The bottom line is that using excessive coolant is toxic and harmful, not useful in adding the cooling effect to the a/c of car.
So there is no use in doing it. If you want to enhance the cooling of the a/c, take it to the mechanic. They will handle it with expertise as they are more experienced and have the right equipment to add the coolant for your car. And a sufficient amount is needed.
This is why it is better to leave this work to the professionals. Moreover, if the damage is done, go to a mechanic who will take care of the situation and fix the overcharged air conditioner with the right machines needed for this type of job.
