Crain Buick GMC of Springdale

Sep 15, 2022

You rely on the aircon in your car to keep the air in the cabin cool, dry, and comfortable, but it’s easy to take it for granted until it stops working well. With the car AC not working, a warm and humid Arkansas summer’s day can quickly become an ordeal, so it’s worth staying alert to the signs that it’s struggling. Here are some of the ways you can tell that it might be time to schedule an appointment with your GMC dealer and give the AC some TLC.

Car AC Not Working? Visit Your GMC Dealer Today

Look

Keep your eyes open for any water dripping from the dashboard, or water marks on the floor, as these are a sign that the exit pipe is blocked. It can damage your car if left untended, so schedule a service to unclog the system.

Smell

Problems with your aircon will often manifest as a bad smell in the cabin. Watch out for the following odors:

Musty

Sometimes mold can grow in the air conditioning, especially if your vehicle is older, and will result in a mildewy smell coming through the vents. If the air filters need changing, this can also lead to the buildup of bacteria and cause a musty smell. As well as making your drive unpleasant, this is bad for your respiratory health, so it’s important to get the system cleaned out.

Chemical

If coolant is leaking somewhere in the system, it can blow a chemical scent into the cabin or sometimes a syrupy sweet odor.

Burning

Obviously, any burning smell should be investigated immediately, but it might be a problem with the aircon compressor. If it’s broken so that the belt can’t turn smoothly, it will generate a burning odor, either from the belt or the unit itself.

Feel

If the air blowing from the vents is warm, or if it starts cool and quickly becomes warm, then your AC unit needs some attention. While it might require in-depth diagnosis, it could be a simple matter of refreshing the coolant levels. It should keep the air dry as well as cool, so if the cabin feels stuffy or muggy, there could be a problem with the humidity regulation.

Listen

Keep your ears open for a grinding, whistling, whining, or rattling noise coming from the aircon unit, as this is another sign that the unit needs service.

Of course, if the air conditioning won’t turn on, or turn off, then it will also need attention. Even if it doesn’t lead to more expensive problems, it’s not worth letting it spoil your driving experience. So if you notice any of these symptoms, contact us at Crain Buick GMC of Springdale so that our trained technicians can locate and solve the issue.

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