5 Symptoms Of A Bad Car Compressor

Many things can be off about a car, from the engine oil to the tires, but we make sure they’re checked. Amidst the chaos of car maintenance, one can easily forget about asking the mechanic to take a look at the rattling AC compressor sounds masked by a squealing fan belt, and that’s where the issue might go unchecked.

With spring approaching, ACs will be a thing again, so it’s best to include a compressor check on your next car service run.

The compressor is central to the car’s air conditioning system. It regulates a refrigerant, acting as a pump, from a gaseous state pressurized into a liquid.

Brooklyn VW serving Garden City is here to tell you how to spot a compressor acting up when it becomes faulty so you can get it checked before it stops working altogether:

1. Rattling under the Hood

A defective or damaged car in need of service can orchestrate quite the melody of sounds that can cover underlying issues, but – when it comes to checking for symptoms of a faulty compressor – you’re hearing for a rattling under the hood.

A compressor cycles the refrigerant so many times through the system that it can cause component failure with time; rattling is the sound of internal mechanisms of the compressor breaking down, so if you hear it, it’s sensible to replace the part.

2. ECU Lights Up

All cars come with a dashboard warning system that is made to help users identify issues with the car. If your engine control unit or ECU lights up, there could be a potential issue with not just the compressor but other electrical components attached to the car’s electrical system.

It is, therefore, wise to keep your car owner manual for a quick diagnosis of a faulty compressor, and then you are off to an ASE-Certified AAA auto shop!

3. Hot Air When it Should be cold

A sure-fire sign of a failing compressor is warm or ambient air even when your AC is on the max setting. Even if there is no rattling sound coming from the car’s engine bay, it’s guaranteed there is a possible refrigerant leak that is hindering the cooling system.

Please note that leaks also occur as a result of excess AC use by seldom service checks – unless you are at Brooklyn VW, where our mechanics already know where to inspect the damage.

4. The Clutch is Stuck

Much like a car clutch, the AC clutch is supposed to reduce the load on the compressor by disengaging when the car’s thermostat registers a target temperature.

This enhances fuel economy and keeps the cooling steady. Over time, the belt attached to the compressor wears out, which may cause the clutch to stick in ‘engaged’. That means the compressor is constantly running and may cease to work. Replacement in such a case is ideal.

5. Fluid & Gas Leak

The AC compressor has internal bearings to keep the refrigerant from leaking during pressurization in the heat exchanger. The bearings have to go through countless cycles of containing the refrigerant and eventually wear out, leading to leaks.

A characteristic sign of fluid and gas leak is the lubrication oil leaking from the damaged bearings.

If your car’s AC compressor is acting up the same way, it’s time you went in for a service at Brooklyn VW, serving Garden City, NY.

We’re known for remediating car problems and host quite the impressive assemblage of auto equipment for your VW. We offer service specials and OEM parts, so getting a compressor won’t be a problem for you.

Scheduling service with us today keeps a faulty compressor at bay!