As you know, it is no fun to drive car without AC in Nigeria. No matter the season we are in, here in Nigeria, you will always want your car AC to be at top performance because of the hot weather, incessant rain during the raining season to protect your car interior from deteriorating to something you don't like during the dry season.

Many people have spent huge amount of money on their car AC system but they ended up regretting their spending because the AC refuses to work perfectly or works for some weeks and then pack up.
Feel free to narrate your own experience here and let's solve the problems together.

Below is a picture of how the AC system of a car works. Let it be in your mind that there are two systems, one uses the expansion valve while the other uses orifice for pressure control, as we move on, we shall know the differences between them.

Here are things you should not do concerning your car's AC system.

1. Don't always switch off your engine while the AC system is still on and working: while you may make mistake sometimes and forgets to switch off your AC before switching off your ignition, it's not a good habit to always leave the AC system of the car on and switch off the ignition. The proper way is to make sure you switch off the AC system first, put your gear lever in neutral or parking position and then switch off the engine ignition last. The easiest way to crash your AC's compressor is to repeatedly switch off the engine while the compressor is engaged and still very busy.

2. The second thing you need to always avoid is the reverse of the number 1., That is, Don't Start your car's engine with the AC system still on: ensure you check your AC power buttons whether it's on before you start your car. The easiest way to know whether the AC is on before you start your car is to first turn your car key to the ON position at the ignition key mouth and wait a bit, then you will notice air blowing out from your car's AC vents at the dashboard, the moment you notice that, you should look for your AC fan button on the dashboard and switch it off, after that, you can now start your car without any fear about the AC system. If you always notice that your AC fan is always on whenever you want to start your car, this either mean that you off your car's engine while the AC system is still on or one of your children/kids is playing around your dashboard.

More...

3. Don't Top AC Gas: one of the major enemies of AC system is leakage. The rubber seals installed at various connections and joints of AC system can fail due to chemical reactions between them and the gas and oil in the system. The chemical composition of the gas can cause the seals to fail when you are always found of topping your car AC Gas with all manners of AC gas in the name of wanting better cooling. Wrong mixture of AC gas can also have adverse effect on your AC compressor.
Rather than adding to the gas already in the system, you should first remove/evacuate the one that was in the system and recharge the system with a new gas entirely. Do note that, there is/are leakages in the system whenever you have to top AC Gas too frequently like every week or every month in order to keep it cooling. There might be other minor/major issues apart from leakages, your best option is to take your car for AC system services in a professional Auto AC repairs garage.

4. Don't delay to repair Leakages.: Another enemy of AC system is moisture and air. Whenever your AC system is leaking, the system sucks in air containing dirty particles and moisture which is very detrimental to the compressor, condenser and the entire system. This can cause system blockage, failed compressor, inadequate cooling, wasting of money to top the gas again and again, etc. Your best decision is to go for repairs and services of the AC ASAP.

5. Don't leave the fan button at highest position all the time: the compressor is the most expensive part of the AC system, running your car AC too often with the highest fan position will overwork your compressor. While it's good to operate the system at the highest position once in a while, you don't want to always do that.

Great tips.

People usually talk about converting their compressor from auto to manual and I've heard it in camry muscle users. What other cars are frequent to having problems that warrant this fix?

proclinician:
Great tips.

People usually talk about converting their compressor from auto to manual and I've heard it in camry muscle users. What other cars are frequent to having problems that warrant this fix?

Toyota solara, Lexus RX 330, RX 350, some specs of Lexus GX, IS and ES, Some Peugeot cars, etc

Good tips

I used to be guilty of #1 then

Motorways:

Toyota solara, Lexus RX 330, RX 350, some specs of Lexus GX, IS and ES, Some Peugeot cars, etc

Okay

Frequent service of the car AC.

Like the split /window units in our homes require routine maintenance service to remain in mortuary standard

The car condenser tend to gather dusts more than even the home units as dey are mobile and sometimes even swim in muddy water, this can cause the condenser to block partially and continued usage like this can make the compressor over work itself without still achieving the mortuary standard chilling
.
You should have ur condenser steam washed at least quarterly

I need a good ac repairer in Abuja. My air cools and stops intermittently. And recently it's like it stopped cooling altogether. I'm getting tired of it.

alezzy13:
I need a good ac repairer in Abuja. My air cools and stops intermittently. And recently it's like it stopped cooling altogether. I'm getting tired of it.

What's the brand of the car and what's the Model?
We can attend to you and help you solve the issues with your car AC system. You can chat me up on Whatsapp.
09066648554

6. Don't fail to wash your condenser at carwash, at least once a month: whenever the condenser is being washed, ensure the carwash person don't point his washing gun too close to the condenser body. This is to avoid damaging the condenser, because the water gun delivers a very high pressure and high impact stream of water from its nozzle which can easily damage the condenser and cause the system to leak. The condenser should be carefully washed by a professional carwash person who knows what he's doing or by a person you personally informed. It is not good for condenser outer cells to be clogged with mud or dust or leaves, etc, because this can drastically reduce the cooling of the AC system, the system becomes inefficient, the compressor suffers as the thermostat may not function well and by this the compressor may continue to work non-stop which is not good at all, the system may starts to leak at the high pressure line/pipe connections, etc.

Some examples of clogged AC condenser cooling cells:

Motorways:
6. Don't fail to wash your condenser at carwash, at least once a month: whenever the condenser is being washed, ensure the carwash person don't point his washing gun too close to the condenser body. This is to avoid damaging the condenser, because the water gun delivers a very high pressure and high impact stream of water from its nozzle which can easily damage the condenser and cause the system to leak. The condenser should be carefully washed by a professional carwash person who knows what he's doing or by a person you personally informed. It is not good for condenser outer cells to be clogged with mud or dust or leaves, etc, because this can drastically reduce the cooling of the AC system, the system becomes inefficient, the compressor suffers as the thermostat may not function well and by this the compressor may continue to work non-stop which is not good at all, the system may starts to leak at the high pressure line/pipe connections, etc.

Some examples of clogged AC condenser cooling cells:

If your car's AC compressor and other systems are working well and there is adequate gas and compressor oil in system yet, the AC is still not chilling/cooling, then a clogged/dirty condenser cooling fins/cell may be the issue. Simple, right? But this can make you spend so much money if you're not well informed and if the right steps are not taken. This is what happens in most cases when you are being advices by quack technicians to buy another compressor and another condenser, because they feel the compressor is not delivering the right pressure and how can it deliver when all is not well with his closest neighbor?

7. Peradventure, your car engine does overheat, DO NOT turn on your car AC system at all, rather double check to ensure the AC system is off. Though the AC will not cool at all when the cause of the overheating is the radiator fan, in most cases, the AC will still work perfectly after fixing the overheating issue. Your best decision on this is to make sure you don't run your AC with an engine that is overheating. If you're driving and your AC suddenly stops cooling the number one thing to check is your dashboard temperature gauge reading, if the vehicle is overheating, the gauge will be above middle position and may even be at the red zone, you must park your car at this point and carefully check what is going wrong with your vehicle. DO NOT run your car AC if your car engine is doing overheating.

Motorways:
Here are things you should not do concerning your car's AC system.

1. Don't always switch off your engine while the AC system is still on and working: while you may make mistake sometimes and forgets to switch off your AC before switching off your ignition, it's not a good habit to always leave the AC system of the car on and switch off the ignition. The proper way is to make sure you switch off the AC system first, put your gear lever in neutral or parking position and then switch off the engine ignition last. The easiest way to crash your AC's compressor is to repeatedly switch off the engine while the compressor is engaged and still very busy.

2. The second thing you need to always avoid is the reverse of the number 1., That is, Don't Start your car's engine with the AC system still on: ensure you check your AC power buttons whether it's on before you start your car. The easiest way to know whether the AC is on before you start your car is to first turn your car key to the ON position at the ignition key mouth and wait a bit, then you will notice air blowing out from your car's AC vents at the dashboard, the moment you notice that, you should look for your AC fan button on the dashboard and switch it off, after that, you can now start your car without any fear about the AC system. If you always notice that your AC fan is always on whenever you want to start your car, this either mean that you off your car's engine while the AC system is still on or one of your children/kids is playing around your dashboard.

More...

what does this damage? what component of the AC system?

i have a vehicle that the AC stops cooling if either of these points is done.

but usually a scanner is hooked up and the ECU cleared. the AC then resumes work.


would help to know which component has been so damaged

My engine stalls or goes off in traffic when AC is on. I am told it's a big compressor, too big for the engine. How true is this?

Please how much can one get good AC compressor (Pencil Light)

AshipaEk0:


what does this damage? what component of the AC system?

i have a vehicle that the AC stops cooling if either of these points is done.

but usually a scanner is hooked up and the ECU cleared. the AC then resumes work.


would help to know which component has been so damaged

This can damage the compressor, the clutch plate for manual compressor, the coil, the electronics board for the cars using a separate electronic module for their ac systems, the resistor, for those cars using resistors, etc.

Gboliwe:
My engine stalls or goes off in traffic when AC is on. I am told it's a big compressor, too big for the engine. How true is this?

Which brand of car is it?

adeloly:
Please how much can one get good AC compressor (Pencil Light)

N18,500

Motorways:

Which brand of car is it?

Matrix

Pls how much is a compressor for Lexus GX470 2006 and also condenser? Thanks.

@ Op.

Please, recommend a good AC repairer. Mine is working tho but it's blowing heat.


And lest I forget, it's Nissan Xterra, 2000, SUV.


Thanks in advance.

My ac is giving me serious issues
Blowing hot air
Will cool for a few minutes and stop
Decided to take it for repairs
They said they’d change the compressor
Condenser
Valve
Etc
Gas is mixing with oil
I just changed compressor not upto 6 months
Said the compressor is cracked hence can’t retain gas, this is expensive for me is there no way I can repair instead of buying
2010 Honda Accord

Nanagom:
My ac is giving me serious issues
Blowing hot air
Will cool for a few minutes and stop
Decided to take it for repairs
They said they’d change the compressor
Condenser
Valve
Etc
Gas is mixing with oil
I just changed compressor not upto 6 months
Said the compressor is cracked hence can’t retain gas, this is expensive for me is there no way I can repair instead of buying
2010 Honda Accord

Bros wind down and enjoy fresh air

If you are in Lagos, contact Mosbus... that's his moniker on this forum..

Be ready to spend if you wanna have a permanent ac fix sha...

Pls I have this issue with my car ac ,no matter how much the sun , the ac chills while on motion, but as soon as I stop ,it doesn't cool again.The car is toyota avensis 2007, and the compressor is denso.

buygala:


Bros wind down and enjoy fresh air

If you are in Lagos, contact Mosbus... that's his moniker on this forum..

Be ready to spend if you wanna have a permanent ac fix sha...

But outside air is blowing hot too na

Gboliwe:


Matrix

You need to check the engine performance, because if your car engine is weak, if it misfires, if the injection system needs servicing, spark plugs and coil and valves are bad, if the engine's compression is very weak, all of these and many more are what can cause it. Then you need to find out which car's compressor is fixed in your car, this is because, yes it's possible the technician fixed a compressor that was meant for a large V6 engine on your car engine which is a small 4cylinder engine.

totit:
@ Op.

Please, recommend a good AC repairer. Mine is working tho but it's blowing heat.


And lest I forget, it's Nissan Xterra, 2000, SUV.


Thanks in advance.

Which state do you reside?
Please, check my signature maybe we can talk more about it.

peddas:
Pls I have this issue with my car ac ,no matter how much the sun , the ac chills while on motion, but as soon as I stop ,it doesn't cool again.The car is toyota avensis 2007, and the compressor is denso.

.
The compressor is weak or the condenser is very dirty or the radiator fan is very weak or there is small blockage in the system. Two or more or all of these can be the cause of the malfunction. Check my signature, maybe we can talk more about this.