Our summers in El Paso, TX, can be as hot as Hades, and you desperately need that flow of crisp, cold air. It’s also not the time to have an AC problem, but like all systems, they can wear out or develop problems. As your Toyota dealer, we want to tell you a few signs you need to visit us for AC maintenance.
Signs You Need AC Maintenance at Your Toyota Dealer
Cool Then Hot Air
If your AC blows cool air and then suddenly switches to pumping out warm air, this particular issue is usually caused by a fault with the expansion valve. Your AC uses refrigerant to remove water from the air before it chills it and blows cold air into your cabin. Refrigerant is dispensed by the expansion valve into the evaporator, and a blocked evaporator won’t supply any refrigerant.
The AC produces cool air at first, but a faulty valve dispenses more refrigerant than necessary. The excess refrigerant, combined with the water in the air will rapidly freeze the valve. Without refrigerant, your AC will blow hot outside air into your cabin. Our technicians will examine the valve and replace it if necessary. Once the new valve is installed, your cabin will fill with cold air again.
Wet Carpet
A wet, smelly front passenger carpet is nasty. It’s also a sign your AC’s drain hose is blocked. As we saw above, water is removed from the air before it’s cooled. This water is stored in the evaporator heater box until it drains out of your Toyota via the drain hose. The drain hose can become blocked by bacteria growth, dirt, or other minute debris drawn in with the air.
If the drain hose is blocked, the heater box will rapidly fill and then overflow. The box is positioned behind the firewall on the front passenger side, which means the water will flow directly on the front carpet. This is a relatively quick issue to fix, as we’ll replace the drain hose to ensure the water drains correctly again.
Limited Airflow
If you crank the AC to the max, but the airflow is weaker than it should be, the ducts could be partially blocked, or the resistor block could be damaged. Dirt and other debris carried in with the air can cause blockage in the ducts and the cold air won’t flow freely. We’ll remove the blockage and air flow will return to normal.
If the ducts are clear, the resistor block is probably the issue, The resistor block sets the blower motor speed for the AC. If the block is damaged, it supplies air at one speed regardless of the speed selection. Replacing the block fixes this problem.
If you have an AC problem, contact us today at Fox Toyota of El Paso in El Paso, TX.