If you've ever sat down on a hot leather seat, you can attest to the fact that cars on average can reach 130 degrees from sitting in the sun. On hot days, most of us jump into the car and blast the air conditioner as soon as the car starts. This is why it's important to maintain your car's air conditioner.
Read your owner's manual for your vehicle, which generally has a maintenance list that covers the typical life span of parts for your car. Your car's air conditioner has several parts that include the compressor, evaporator, hoses and belts that eventually wear out. You need to replace these according to the maintenance guide or at the first sign of wear to keep your air conditioner running smoothly.
Have a mechanic inspect the air conditioner each spring. The compressor drive belt needs to be inspected for damage and its tension adjusted. The level of refrigerant needs to be checked and replaced if needed. All the hoses should be inspected for hardening, bubbles, cracks or leaks.
Maintain the air conditioner's coolant pressure by running the air conditioner once a month for ten minutes. This helps prevent your hoses hardening and the seals failing. You must turn the air conditioner to its coolest setting and highest fan speed.
Dry out the evaporator core after you run your air conditioner for an extended period of time. You need to run the car's defrost for five to ten minutes to clean out any accumulated moisture. This also prevents mildew and odors in the system.
