Keep your cool and seek out the assistance of qualified Calgary auto repair shops like Lakeview Automotive. Our technicians are known for solving problems quickly. We have a skilled and certified team ready to service any make or model of truck, car, or SUV, so call us for all of your auto repair needs.

Cars and trucks include hundreds of working parts that rely on each other to function correctly to get you down the road. Many times, a system that stops functioning can be caused by a wide variety of other issues. Here are eight common reasons why you may not get the comfort you seek from your vehicle’s HVAC system:

1. Air Conditioner Blowing Warm Air: The most common reason your air conditioner isn’t cooling you down is from a lack of coolant. Refrigerants like Freon, which evaporate heat, are missing. Sometimes simply recharging the system works, but other times there may be a leak. If you notice blue or green coloured liquid around your air conditioner, it is probably a leak. Damage from a leaking cooling unit includes destroyed seals and components. Various areas within the system can cause leakage. If you notice a leak, contact Lakeview Automotive for expert auto repair that gets you back on the road in no time.
2. Heater Fails to Heat: During Calgary’s frigid winters, you expect your heater to work. If it doesn’t, the heater coil may need flushing out. Additional components that should be looked at include the compressor, thermostat, drain tube, evaporator or heater core, resistor stack, or climate control head.
3. Clicking Sound When Air Conditioner Runs: All parts wear out, and the clicking noise you hear when your cooling system is on may be an indicator that your compressor is failing. (A magnetic clutch turns the compressor on and off to cool and dry the air in your car.)
4. Vehicle Doesn’t Stay at the Right Temperature: Nothing is worse than your car failing to heat up during a cold winter day or overheating on a hot summer day. In either case, failure of the engine to get to the correct operating temperature and stay there may be an indication that your thermostat has malfunctioned. Luckily, it is a relatively simple fix that your Lakeview Automotive technician can quickly ensure.
5. White Vapour Coming from Car Vents: Condensation should not be spewing from your car’s vents or failing to drip from the undercarriage. If you see a white vapour drifting into the interior of your vehicle, it could mean your drain tube needs unclogging.
6. Bad Smell of Syrup: Smelling syrup should be left to pancakes and waffles, not emitting from your car. If you smell either a syrupy odour or something like hot antifreeze and notice the windows fogging up at night, you may have an issue with the vehicle’s heater core or evaporator.
7. HVAC Control Speeds Stop Working: There is nothing like having the defroster stuck on high and drying out your eyes while driving. You expect your control speeds to work and cycle between settings. When they don’t, it could be a faulty resistor stack, generally located under the dashboard.
8. Air Won’t Switch Between Vent and Defrost Modes: Sometimes, you want to switch airflow from the vent to defrost or vice versa. Failing to switch between two functions while the system still operates correctly may suggest that the climate control head needs reset.

Don’t let a faulty air conditioner or heater ruin your commute. Get dependable service from an auto repair team that cares. Talk to us at Lakeview Automotive. We practically eat, drink, and breathe cars and trucks, especially Fords and Subarus! You can bank on us to get your vehicle in, troubleshoot the problem, and have it fixed fast. 

Call our Calgary auto repair shop at 403-242-1575 or book an appointment online for service work on your air conditioner, heater, or any other part of your automobile.