San Diego Auto Repair

Warm weather or cold, San Diego drivers still need to think about their sedan's air conditioning. Most people don't service their air conditioning until after it fails. At Convoy Auto Repair, we can advise you on your vehicle manufacturer's preventive maintenance schedules for air conditioning service, just as we do for transmission service, oil changes and so on. Air Conditioning Maintenance Maintaining your air conditioning system means that you always have enough refrigerant to properly do the job. Small leaks in the sedan's air conditioning system allow the refrigerant to escape and the system can't cool the air as well. We see that a lot at Convoy Auto Repair in San Diego. The refrigerant also contains a special oil that lubricates air conditioning components, and keeps the seals resilient. Low refrigerant and lubricating oil means that the air conditioning parts will wear out prematurely, and all car owners know that air conditioning repairs can ... read more

Most drivers wait for their air conditioning to fail before they service it at Convoy Auto Repair. That’s because many motorists don't really understand that automotive air conditioners need periodic service. Let me share some of the reasons why they fail. First, like every machine, the sedan air conditioner parts need lubrication. The lubricant is actually mixed in with the refrigerant (that’s the stuff that makes the air cool). So sometimes, even though the air conditioner is still making cool air, the oil that lubricates the parts has just been used up: and unlubricated parts can fail in all cars. The air conditioner actually removes some of the moisture in the air. So if you have trouble with fogging on your windshield during winters or during a rain storm, running the A/C on the defrost setting should help. Now on some cars you can’t run the A/C at the same time as the defroster. Don’t ask me wh ... read more

Getting the right auto air conditioning service before summer hits is essential in making sure that both you and your car stay cool and run smoothly. Over the winter, a car’s A/C system will often see little or no use, meaning that parts can freeze up, corrode, or fail without a driving ever being aware of it. When the system is started in the summer, it may either produce very little cold air or none at all. If an A/C issue is left unserviced, it can cause not only a lack of comfort, but it can also cause serious damage to the car itself. There are a number of problems that auto air conditioning service can address, and two of the most common are torn or cracked drive belts that turn the air compressor and a plugged condenser, which cools the refrigerant as it is circulating through the system. If either of these parts becomes damaged, a vibration inside the car may result, along with reduced air flow or a ... read more

Bad air quality while you're driving around is nothing to sneeze at. But seriously, more and more vehicles these days come equipped with a car air filter. Since they're fairly new on the scene, a lot of folks don't know about them yet. These filters clean the air in the passenger compartment, or cabin, of your car or truck. They do the same job as the furnace filter you have at home. They can filter out particles as small as thee microns. By contrast, a grain of sand is about 200 microns. So your cabin air filer can clean out dust, pollution, pollen and spores, to keep the air in your car nice and clean. And just like your furnace filter, they need to be replaced when they get dirty. Check your owner's manual, but they typically need to be replaced at around twelve to fifteen thousand miles. The filter is usually either under the hood or under the dashboard. Some are a little tricky to get to, so you'll want ... read more

Do you hear loud noises under the hood when you turn on your air conditioner? Do you only get cool air sporadically? If so, it is time to get your air conditioner checked. It's real easy to take your car's air conditioner for granted. Just push the right buttons and out comes cool, dry, clean air. But your air conditioning system needs attention from time to time to help it keep its cool. When most people hear the words "air conditioning problems", it sends a shiver up their spine. That is because the air conditioning system is fairly complex. It has a lot of parts and when it's broken, it's expensive to repair. What things can we do to prevent air conditioning breakdowns? A common cause of air conditioning failure is leaks. Water and air can leak into the system. The system doesn't work as well with air in it. And water can cause rust that leads to damage of the A/C components. Also, refrigerant, the stuff that makes the air cold, can leak out, reducing the efficiency of the system ... read more