My BMW’s AC Isn’t Working: Reasons from the Experts of Decatur
Working air conditioning is something that modern day drivers take for granted. When the heat rises, we roll up our window and crank up the a/c, but it wasn’t always that way! One thing is for certain. When it reaches the height of summer and your a/c fails, you definitely feel the loss of it.
So why do we often ignore the early signs of failure or allow problems to develop to a point where the a/c stops entirely? In this article, we’ll be looking at some of the most common reasons why your BMW’s air conditioning stops working.
Moisture and Contamination
Your BMW’s air conditioner is able to lower the temperature inside the cabin of your car by cooling, drying, and cleaning the air as well as forcing the warm air to release its heat outside of your vehicle. With low-maintenance, moisture and debris can contaminate the air conditioner unit, making it much more difficult for the a/c to cool the cabin. It may even fail to work entirely.
Bad Odor
While a nasty odor emanating from your air conditioning doesn’t mean it isn’t functioning, it will most definitely stop you from reaching for the a/c button, and with good reason! When the air conditioner either gets overloaded with moisture or isn’t used for some time, such as over the winter months, bacteria can start to thrive. Bacteria and other microorganisms love dark and damp places, and the a/c unit offers a perfect combination of both.
Bacteria and other nasties can multiply very quickly, and as they thrive and grow, so will a very pungent odor. This odor isn’t the worst of it, however. If you use the a/c in this condition, the bacteria-filled air circulates around the cabin, and you and your friends and family breathe it in. This can make you and those around you ill.
The only way to resolve this problem is to seek the aid of an expert mechanic who can inspect, clean, and flush out the a/c module, removing all the bacteria thriving and growing in your air conditioning system.
Low Levels of Refrigerant
Just like your engine needs engine oil to run correctly, your air conditioning needs a supply of refrigerant to work. While the refrigerant does not need to be topped up as routinely as engine oil, after a few years of operating your vehicle, the levels will likely be running low. It is estimated that your BMW loses about 15% of its refrigerant annually, with most of this loss actually happening during winter and hot summer months. During the colder months, when the a/c gets less use, the seals can start to fail and accelerate the refrigerant loss. You can top up your BMW’s levels of refrigerant by having any leaks fixed and refilling the gas used as refrigerant.
Dirty Condenser
Similar to the radiator used in your engine’s cooling system, the condenser works to cool down the pressurized refrigerant vapors which exit the compressor. If the condenser gets dirty, it will likely become blocked. This will restrict the airflow, meaning that vapors will not be able to pass through the condenser.
To clean the condenser, a flushing agent can be used. It is best to seek the advice of an expert when selecting the correct one, as you need to pick a flushing agent which leaves no residue and vaporizes quickly. Remember, you’re breathing this air and anything that passes through filters.
Mechanical Failure
Mechanical failure occurs when the compressor, the compress clutch, the pressure switch, or the valves start to fail. This can limit cooling or mean that cooling doesn’t happen at all. Because of this, it is essential that you make sure your BMW and its a/c system is routinely serviced and maintained, as this will help to prevent sudden mechanical failure from happening in the first place.
Munich West
If you’re a driver of the Decatur, Atlanta, 
Avondale Estates, Buckhead, Lilburn, Stone Mountain, and Tucker, GA areas, pop in and see our team of specialist technicians at Munich West. We’re a friendly bunch with a strong work ethic and decades of combined experience, meaning there’s very little in the auto servicing world which we won’t know how to fix and maintain. Call our customer service team today to book your first appointment at Munich West.
