Summer has arrived and vehicles need to be checked during these hot months, especially if you are going on lengthy journeys.
The majority of vehicles now have air conditioning, this can be used in the summer to keep the cabin cool and in the winter to de-mist your windscreen – I keep my air conditioning on all year round.
You need to be aware that there are two different sorts of gas needed for your air conditioning to work. R134A is the old style gas and R1234YF is the new style gas. There is a big difference in price, so always check which gas your vehicle uses and the amount it holds.
If you find the air conditioning isn’t working, it may just need re-gassing as vehicles can lose approximately 100g of gas a year, or you may have a leak. Your local garage should be able to tell if your vehicle has a leak. They can carry out a nitrogen test which indicates a leak, or a dye can be added to your system and a UV light can be used to locate the leak.
There are three major components that can leak, the first is the compressor, the unit that compresses the gas and pumps it around the system – this component can also fail electronically. Secondly, there is the condenser. This closely resembles a radiator and it does a similar job, it cools the refrigerant. Situated at the front of the vehicle, it can be damaged by road debris, or can corrode. Lastly, there is the evaporator. This is hidden behind the dashboard and is responsible for the very cold air that comes through the air vents.
So now your vehicle is nice and cold, another check that need to be carried out is the coolant level – vehicles can overheat in the summer especially if you get stuck in a traffic jam. Always carry a bottle of water in the vehicle for emergencies. If your vehicle overheats, pull over in a safe place and wait for the vehicle to cool down. DO NOT attempt to open the radiator cap or the coolant expansion bottle before it cools as you may be hit with a wall of hot steam.
Once cool, fill up with water and drive to the nearest garage, do not attempt to drive too far as the vehicle is likely to overheat again. Ideally, don’t drive it at all and seek road side assistance.
Other small checks to be aware of are the washer fluid – check the reservoir is full as roads in the summer can be dusty and flies can make a mess of your windscreen – and your lights. People tend to forget to check bulbs when they go out on a sunny day, but if you are returning later that evening you may need to use your lights.