Chevrolet Air Conditioning Maintenance: Keeping Cool in the Heat

No driver wants to drive in summer with an AC not working. As your Chevy dealer, we can fix any possible AC problem for you and restore that flow of crisp, cold air. These are a few examples of issues we can repair.

Cold Air Only at Speed

Your AC has a speed selector, and the air should blow through the vents at the speed you select. If your AC blows air at a single speed and only increases when you accelerate, you have an AC problem. As the crankshaft turns, the alternator belt connected to the crankshaft moves at speed across a series of pulleys and causes them to spin. The compressor is connected to one of these pulleys, and the spinning motion powers the compressor.

A worn compressor works slower than it previously did, and this reduces its ability to push air through the AC for cooling. When you accelerate, the crankshaft turns faster, which causes the pulley to spin faster, and this forces the compressor to work harder and chill the air to the correct temperature. We’ll examine your compressor and repair or replace it to fix this problem.

Blown Fuses

Each component in the AC has a fuse, and these fuses function identically to the ones in your home. The fuses protect their connected component against electrical shorts or surges by absorbing the electrical charge. This causes the fuse to blow but protects the component connected to it from damage.

A blown fuse will shut down the component connected to it until the fuse is replaced. A blown compressor fuse, for example, prevents the compressor from starting, and your AC won’t work. A blown blower motor fuse, in contrast, reduces the speed of the air blown into your cabin. Our technicians will test the fuses and replace any damaged ones to fix this problem.

No Airflow

If you turn on the AC and no air blows through the vents, the air ducts or the air intake could be blocked. This problem could also be caused by either of the issues above or by broken fans. A blocked air intake is easy to spot and can be quickly fixed by clearing away any leaves, dirt, or other debris that’s restricting the airflow.

The fan’s job is to blow cold air from the AC into the cabin. The fans are relatively delicate and can wear out or become damaged by hard objects like gravel thrown up from the surface. We’ll examine your AC and fix the problem. Your cabin will be cold again in no time.

Don’t get hot under the collar. Contact our service department today at Jim McKay Chevrolet in Fairfax, VA.

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