Air Conditioning Archives

Keeping Your Vehicle’s Air Cooler and Fresher!

Most all vehicles have a recirculation button with the AC controls. It is the picture of a car with a U-turn arrow on it, but many of us are unsure when to use it. Well, the easy answer is to use it in the summer and turn it off in the winter. The recirculation button simply takes the air from inside the car and recirculates it in the cabin instead of pulling fresh air from outside.

On days when it is miserably hot outside, the recirculate button uses the cooler air in the cabin, which will keep the inside air cooler, instead of pulling hot air from outside and trying to cool it. Using the recirculation feature will get your car cooler and will decrease the wear and tear on your AC system.

Here is something that is good to know! If your car has been baking in the sun all day, it’s better to roll the windows down and turn the recirculate off for the first minute or so to get rid of the super-hot air inside the car before turning the recirculate on.

Also, any time you are stuck in traffic (summer or winter) be sure to use the recirculate. If you are pulling air from outside, then you are pulling in all the pollutants and carbon monoxide from all the traffic. Studies show that recirculating your AC can cut down on the pollutants entering your vehicle by 20% when stuck in traffic!

Don’t forget your cabin filter! This will also ensure smooth and quite blower operation and keep out dust and pollen! Have your cabin filter inspected every 15,000 miles.

Certified Automotive Specialists
“Always Glad to Help”
Vermont – 626-963-0814 or Route 66 – 626-852-0908
or visit our website www.CertifiedAutoCa.com
Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Is Your Air Conditioner Ready For Warmer Days?

Hot summer days are coming our way. Many of our customers’ thoughts are turning to…air conditioning. At Certified Automotive Specialists we get countless calls asking us how much it costs to fix. There is no one simple answer to this question but I’ll give you some industry-wide estimates so you have something to go on. Generally, if you drive an older vehicle it will cost more to fix because the parts will be harder to find.

Testing the A/C System:
A technician must test the system to determine what is wrong with it. This requires a test for leaks and an inspection of the parts such as the compressor, condenser, hoses, and valves. The most help a consumer can be is to give as much information about when the condition occurred.

Evacuating & Recharging the A/C System:
This is the most common fix of the A/C system. Refrigerant will naturally seep out over 3 to 5 years and will need attention.

Leaking Hose:
We use a leak detection unit to test for leaks.

Compressor Failure:
This is the most complex of all to fix and will be the costliest. The compressor is the pump that keeps the Freon flowing.

Replacing the Complete System:
The cost of this is determined by the make and model you drive. Usually this occurs when someone tries to save money and adds the off the shelf sealer as a quick fix, it always causes grief later.

Trust The Experts

Working on air conditioning systems is not easy. The system itself is built in and around your car’s engine making it difficult. Specialized equipment is required and a technician that is certified in this area is a must. In some countries it is illegal for a non-authorized technician to work on A/C systems. A non-experienced technician can inadvertently cause problems and contaminate the environment.

These prices are not set in stone but an industry-wide average. We will have one of our certified technician give you an estimate after they have diagnosed your vehicle.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions, and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

How To Know You Need Car Air Conditioning Repair & Service?

It can get hot here, which is why it’s so important to find an auto repair shop that provides reliable car air conditioning repair & service. Believe it or not, a working air conditioning system can be essential in the winter, too! In many cars, the air conditioner plays a direct role in helping to keep your windows defrosted. Without regular service, the compressor and evaporator can start to develop problems; refrigerant leaks are also common.

Here are some common signs it’s time to schedule car AC repair:

Poor airflow
The AC blows hot air
Foul odors coming from the vents
Burning smells when the AC system is running
The air starts out cool but increases in temperature within a couple of minutes
The AC compressor clutch doesn’t engage
You hear the AC clutch engaging and disengaging frequently
Water leaks underneath the dashboard
Visible refrigerant leaks
Strange sounds like squealing, rattling, clinking, grinding, or groaning when you turn on the AC

Servicing Your AC Prevents The Need For Repairs

Even if your AC seems to be working fine, you should bring your car in annually to have the system inspected and serviced. Over time, the fittings, hoses, seals, and O-rings can wear out, reducing your air conditioner’s efficacy. We’ll also make sure the system has the correct lubrication and refrigerant levels. And if you find yourself putting off maintenance or repairs because it’s inconvenient to be without your vehicle, we offer low-cost rental cars for only $25 a day! Simply let us know that you need one when you make your appointment.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Is It Hot Enough For You?

**By Gene Morrill**
Maintenance is easy to schedule. Breakdowns are not.

How many times do you hear that phrase in the course of the summer? We hear about the importance of taking care of ourselves during hot weather on the news and read about it in various publications. We are told to drink lots of water to keep hydrated, especially when exercising or doing physical labor.

Take a moment and think about your car…it gets hot too! We often take for granted just how hard it does work for us in all kinds of weather. When you see a car sitting on the side of the road with steam rising from the hood, that is an overheated vehicle!

Many things will cause a car to overheat… a hose, radiator, head gasket, thermostat, water pump or even the computer-controlled electric fans may not be functioning. With so many critical components that have to work together to keep the engine cool, we recommend an inspection every 3 to 4 months of these items.

I keep repeating this statement and here it is again, it is always less expensive to maintain your car versus waiting for it to break and then fixing it. Most newer cars have a warning system to alert you of a failure. Please don’t ignore these warnings. We have many customers who kept driving after a warning light came on and destroyed the engine.

If you think your car is overheating, get to the side of the road quickly and safely. Turn off your radio and air conditioner, then turn your heater on too high while keeping the engine idling. If no heat comes out, turn the car off as soon as possible, no heat means no coolant in the engine.

It is never wise to try to drive a car with a problem, unless safety is a concern. Most drivers have a roadside assistance program… if you don’t, ask us about our free assistance service with some purchases.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

What is a Cabin Air Filter?

Have you had your favorite repair shop or other service person recommend a cabin air filter and wonder what he or she was talking about? Most vehicles built after 2005 are equipped with a cabin air filter, and it is designed to filter the air you breathe inside the cabin of the vehicle.

Most cabin air filters are designed to filter pollen and dust from the vehicle air conditioning and heating system. Some even have a carbon filter for bacteria and odor. These filters are very similar to the filter you would change every spring and fall in your homes heating and air conditioning system. Everyone that has seen or changed these filters see the contaminants that are stuck on these filters when replaced.

Normal driving conditions through dust, caused by the wind and the smog and exhaust of daily driving, will cause some cabin air filters to get very clogged with pollutants and cause your vehicle’s ventilation system to run very inefficiently. You might even notice the air flow out the vents to be sluggish and/or have a sour smell. This is an alert that you need a checkup or a new cabin air filter.

This filter will not leave you stuck on the side of the road, but it will add comfort and reduce allergens, which is especially important if you suffer from allergies. To find out if your vehicle is equipped with a cabin air filter check with your owner’s manual or talk with our service professional about having your cabin air filter changed.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions, and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

AIR CONDITIONING… TO SEAL OR NOT TO SEAL? THAT IS THE QUESTION

I wanted to share with you a situation that happened at our shop recently. One of our customers, we’ll call him Bob, had a situation with his air conditioning system. It was not cooling but that is not an unusual situation during this hot weather. Even systems that are in good condition can lose up to 4 ounces of Freon a year. He shopped around looking for an inexpensive option and ended up taking his car to another repair facility to fix it. They added the Freon but within a day or so it was still not cooling. This shop did a thorough examination and found that the condenser had a leak. They gave Bob an estimate of $650 to replace and recharge it.

Bob decided to try other options that he had heard about and researched online. He had read about sealers and decided to try it. He chose one for $200. He wasn’t sure it would work but felt it was worth it if he saved $450. Sadly, it didn’t work.

He then brought the car to us to see what we could do. When he told us the scenario we were concerned because we had seen the results of other quick fixes with sealant in the past. We checked out the vehicle and found the problem. He had used an extreme overdose of sealer. Many do-it-yourselfers feel that more is better when using a sealant but actually, it is just the opposite. The sealer is designed to become a solid when it comes in contact with air and that is why only a small amount is needed. When too much sealer is used, the results, as with this vehicle, is damage to every part of the air conditioning system.

Instead of replacing the original condenser as the first shop advised, it now needed the condenser plus a compressor, expansion valve, switches, and most of the hoses. That $650 estimate is now a cost of more than $2500!

Most of the time when your A/C isn’t cooling it is just a case of adding Freon. That is the good news. When it involves more though, A/C failures are one of the most expensive automotive repairs because it is challenging to find small leaks. Only large leaks can be found with a visual inspection.

We truly understand why Bob tried to fix the leak(s) himself. He hoped to save money but I will tell you that when it comes to this type of repair, we don’t recommend you try it on your own unless you have a lot of automotive experience. If you do decide to try it yourself though, please proceed with caution and don’t overdo the sealer. Too much can be a very costly mistake.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

How We Keep Your Ride Going Strong in Glendora’s Summer’s Heat

Vector illustration of a red car moving along the ocean mountain road.

We know we can feel our energy ooze out of us in the summer heat and your car feels it too! Just imagine sitting there day after day on the hot pavement in Glendora while the relentless summer sun shines down on you. Car’s components such as rubber are very sensitive to heat and tend to become brittle and crack. Here a just a few things we at Certified Automotive Specialists look for when we service your vehicle for summer:

Batteries take a beating. Between the car’s vibrations and heat, they usually only last five years. It is always a good idea to have them tested and the technicians at Certified Automotive Specialists can help determine how much life they have left in them.
Cooling systems are very susceptible to summer heat. You will notice more cars sitting on the side of the road with steam pouring out from under the hood during the summer months. We always check your cooling system thoroughly to make sure the coolant isn’t contaminated. We also check the rubber components for cracks and frays. If they are past their prime, we will recommend replacing them so you don’t end up on the side of the road. We have had more than a few vehicles towed in to Certified Automotive Specialists due to a faulty cooling system that could have been prevented.
Tires need the proper inflation to function well. They don’t operate well if they are over-inflated or under-inflated. They need to be just right!
Fluids and filters need to be checked and replaced if needed. They do a lot of work to protect our vehicles.
Air-conditioning systems are a must in Glendora and need to be looked at so you and your passengers stay comfortable no matter how high the outside temperatures climb. We make sure to check the refrigerant and other components.

We are here to help your car face the challenges that come with hot days. Give us a call. You and your car will be glad you did!

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions, and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

We Keep You Going Strong All Summer Long

Have you ever felt the heat zap you of strength and energy when you’ve been exposed to the unrelenting sun on a hot summer day? A car is no different. Sitting day after day on the hot pavement in Glendora tests the durability of components, like hoses, batteries, and tires!

At Certified Automotive Specialists, we want to make sure you have fun in the sun all summer long, which is why we take a close look at the following when we service your vehicle at this time of year:

Between heat and vibration, your battery takes a beating and usually only lasts five years. We test your battery, so it doesn’t fail and leave you stranded on the hot, dusty side of the road when it is inconvenient and uncomfortable.
How often do you see a helpless driver pulled off the freeway, steam pouring out from under the hood of the car? Summer heat puts your cooling system under enormous pressure. We first check to make sure the coolant isn’t contaminated. Then we check rubber components for cracks and signs of brittleness. When they are past their prime, we recommend replacing them, so you do not end up as a roadside attraction. We hate to see customers towed in due to a preventable cooling system failure!
Your tires need proper inflation to function efficiently, which is why we always check tire pressure. Tires don’t operate well when they are over or under-inflated—they need to be just right!
Fluids and filters work hard to protect your vehicle, and we need to check and replace them as needed.
Your AC system is essential in Glendora! By examining the refrigerant and other components, we ensure that you and your passengers stay cool and comfortable despite the heat!

No matter how high the mercury rises, the friendly, helpful experts at Certified Auto Specialists are here to make sure you have safe, reliable transportation that gets you where you need to go. For hometown service you can count on, contact us online or call 626-541-2149 today!