If you live in Florida, if your auto air conditioner isn’t working, you have a real problem. In the summer months, its unbearable. Here’s some things to consider:

It Needs Recharging
The most common cause of an air conditioner not getting cold enough is that it needs to be recharged. You can recharge your refrigerant by yourself, but if you’re not comfortable doing it, one of our mechanics are standing by and should be able to get your cold air flowing again pretty quickly.

There’s A Freon Leak
Freon is the chemical that cools the air, so if there’s a leak in the system, it will eventually run low or run out. Today’s A/C systems are very sensitive. They require a specific amount of Freon, measured in pounds, to operate correctly. The proper way to check the system for the correct volume of Freon is with a charging machine. This device will first remove all Freon form the system then input the correct amount for proper operation. Freon leaks may be very, very slow. If you add more Freon and lose your cold air within a few weeks, however, you may need to have the hoses and other system components checked and replaced.

The A/C Compressor May Not Engage
This problem can occur due to a variety of conditions. Failure can occur when there’s an electrical fault in your compressor’s circuit or clutch, Freon can be low or the vehicle can be overheating. Today’s cars are computer controlled and one of the first systems that is turned off when the computer senses an engine problem is the A/C system. Usually, the malfunctioning part has to be replaced by a qualified mechanic.

The Blend Air Door Is Stuck
There’s a small hatch inside your car’s ventilation system called the “blend air door”. When you turn your environmental system from heat to cold, the door should change to drawing in cold air. If it doesn’t change, it will still be drawing heat from the engine and blowing it on you! Again, this is a job for a qualified mechanic.

You Can Feel Cold Air, But It’s Not Blowing
This could mean the A/C’s fan has stopped working. It may be as simple as changing a wire, or you may need a new fan unit. Again, this isn’t something you can really change yourself, especially since it may require taking apart your car’s dashboard to reach all of the components.

Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.

How do you know when something is wrong with your car? If it doesn’t start, that might give you a clue. But most of the time, it’s a noise that makes you aware. Any noise is annoying. Figuring out what a noise means is an art form that people only learn with experience, and some are better at it than others. We have listed some of the major noises.

Tire Noise
One of the most common unusual noises you might encounter is tire noise. In fact, tires can make a variety of abnormal noises, each one potentially letting you know of a different probable issue. It’s important to be able to understand not just that your tires are making some kind of strange noise, but what that noise is and what it might mean for your car’s health.

Squealing Noise
Almost everyone has encountered this one – Your tires squealing when you turn the steering wheel. As long as you’re not pulling tight turns at great speeds (not a great idea in general), your tires shouldn’t be squealing.

The most likely culprit for squealing tires is one or more underinflated tire. If you’re hearing squealing, that probably means you need to add some air to your tires. Over time, underinflated tires can cause a variety of problems for your tires, suspension and other parts of your car, so it’s wise to address underinflated tires as soon as possible.

Humming Noise
Another fairly common issue you might run into are tires that increasingly seem to hum as you drive. Keep in mind that tires will make some noise naturally on most road surfaces, and this is perfectly fine. But when that humming increases to a certain level, its an indication of a problem.

In this case, the number one reason for abnormal tire humming tends to be tires with uneven tread wear. Tires can wear unevenly for a number of reasons – a problem with the suspension, faulty wheel bearings, and/or several other causes can result in tires with uneven wear patterns.

To prevent uneven tire wear, you should regularly get your wheels rotated and have a wheel alignment performed routinely. This will balance out the natural discrepancies in wear over time. Getting your wheel bearings and suspension inspected if you suspect your tires are wearing unevenly is also a good move.

Thudding or Slapping Noise
If you’re hearing thudding or slapping noises coming from your tires as you drive, this suggests a problem that’s potentially larger than the others previously mentioned. Thudding noises can mean anything from severely underinflated tires to suspension and alignment issues, and it’s likely an issue needing to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Significant tire noises like these are an indicator that you might be on the verge of blowing out a tire or suffering major damage to your suspension. You don’t want to be driving very long without getting an inspection by a trained professional if you’re hearing noises along these lines.

Brake Noise
Another very common class of abnormal car noises are noises that occur when you’re braking. The process of braking the car is one of the most stressful in terms of wear and tear on your car, as bringing all that momentum to a halt requires a huge amount of energy. While you might hear minimal noise when you brake under normal circumstances, the process should be fairly silent. If you’re hearing strange sounds as you brake, that’s probably an indicator of an issue.

Rattling
If you hear a slight rattling sound when you let up on the brakes, this may not mean you have a problem with your brakes. Brake pads expand due to the incredible heat generated by friction, and a little rattling may be normal due to natural movement of the brake pads.

However, it’s worth noting a couple things about brake rattling: Number one, You should never hear a rattle when you’re pressing down on the brake pedal, and number two, you shouldn’t consistently hear a rattle. If either of these is taking place, you may have an issue with your brake pads.

Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.