Few things are worse than getting into a smoldering hot vehicle, turning on the AC, and facing a gust of hot air. It almost certainly means you need auto AC repair. 

One of the most common auto AC repair services we perform at C’s Autohaus is AC recharge. It involves adding refrigerant to your cooling system so that there’s always refreshing cool air you desire. 

AC recharge is a standard service (and a requirement) for older vehicles that still rely on freon. Most newer vehicles use the latest R134a refrigerant, which doesn’t need to be recharged as often.

Now, if you drive a newer vehicle that needs AC recharge often, it’s most likely caused by a leak. If your car leaks refrigerant, there is no way to have cool air circulating your cabin. 

At C’s Autohaus in Centerville, OH, we can quickly diagnose the problem and offer the needed AC service. In this post, we listed a few top signs your vehicle badly needs an AC recharge.

1. Hot or Warm Air Instead of Cold Air

Undoubtedly, the top sign your vehicle needs AC recharge or service is if the system is blowing hot or warm air. 

Anytime your vehicle is low on refrigerant, your evaporator coil will not achieve the best temperature for cooling. Your car may start cold. But eventually, this temporary cold air will turn warm. In other cases, it may never cool down at all. 

2. Leaking Refrigerant

If you notice wet spots around your air conditioner welds or the AC lines underneath the hood, your vehicle may leak refrigerant. Another sign is if you’ve seen frost around the AC welds or on the AC lines. 

When these visible symptoms are paired with an AC system blowing warm air, it’s clear that you need immediate AC recharge and maybe additional AC repairs.

3. AC Clutch Not Engaging

You should hear a click whenever you turn on your vehicle’s air conditioner. This is your AC clutch engaging. 

This clutch relies on pressure to engage. If your refrigerant is too high or too low, the clutch may not engage. In this case, the refrigerant will not be circulated, which means your car will not cool. If it’s due to low refrigerant levels, an AC recharge can address the situation.

4. Strange Smell From the Vents

No one likes strange smells. But if you detect a weird smell coming from your car’s AC vents, it can spell serious problems. 

Such a smell usually indicates either mildew or water in your system. This could happen when there’s a leak; when there’s a leak, your refrigerant seeps out, leading to low levels. Your vehicle will require a full inspection and AC recharger and maybe other repairs.

Stay Cool and Comfortable with Auto AC Repair & Service by C’s Autohaus

We get it—learning your vehicle needs AC repair can be alarming. But if you drive a European vehicle, finding a mechanic with the skills and tools to perform European auto repairs—outside the European dealership—can seem all but impossible. 

Fortunately, the auto repair technicians at C’s Autohaus can help. We specialize not only in European cars but also in domestic and Asian vehicles. No matter the make or model, you can trust us to handle it.

Contact us today at (937) 428-6040 or visit our shop at 1690 Thomas Paine Pkway, Centerville, OH 45459.