Nothings worse than getting that 100 degree day and not having the A/C work in your car!
So here's some information to keep your A/C working it's best and hopefully give you some information to make wise decisions.

There are two systems working together to make your A/C work: The refrigerant cycle and the electrical system. The electrical system does not have a chance of working properly unless the refrigerant system is full. This is what people refer to as "recharging the A/C"

There are two types of automotive refrigerants R-12 (brand name of Freon) and R-134a. R-12 was fazed out by 1993. R-134a is what vehicles today use. The R134a is more environmentally friendly to the atmosphere as is does not contain CFC's. Resist the temptation to go to your local parts store and "add a can" of refrigerant. Too much refrigerant will make your air conditioner not work. The proper way to charge your A/C is to use a recycling machine. The machine will Recover/Recycle/and Recharge your refrigerant to it's proper level by weighing how much goes in. You also need to check for leaks. The refrigerant is in a closed system, so if you are low, it is because it leaked out. It is normal to lose some over a long period of time (6 to 10 years) due to age, however, it is important to make sure you do not lose the refrigerant to the atmosphere.

Shops that repair Air Conditioning, such as Driven Auto Care, need to be certified in the use of A/C equipment in order to protect the environment. Make sure you are using a reputable shop before making repairs to your car.

The second part of the A/C system is the electrical system. There are sensors, switches, and wiring that can go wrong. Today's automatic temperature control systems with dual or even three zone controls can present a challenge in diagnosis. Use of a scanner may be necessary to find out what is wrong. The electrical system will not work properly unless the refrigerant system is operating properly.

So, what can you do to make sure to prevent costly A/C repairs? Having your A/C system serviced regularly is the answer. Many manufacturers automatically add UV leak detection dye in their air conditioners. This dye will lose its UV fluorescence in about three years, so I recommend getting your A/C system serviced every three years. By doing this you will make sure that your refrigerant system is at the proper level and we can find small leaks before they become large leaks. Our service will include the Recover/Recycle/ and Recharge portion as well as adding UV leak detection dye. We will also check for any leaks that may be evident. However, if your A/C does not work after doing this, we will need to diagnose the electrical system of your A/C.

Happy Motoring, and Keep Cool.
Paul