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Summer road trips are an American tradition. In fact, last year alone over 77% of all Americans took some kind of summer vacation. Of those, 8 out of 10 chose to use their cars as their mode of transportation. While convenient and economical, using a car for a summer vacation can be costly and frustrating for a number of reasons. Traveling with the entire family can be stressful and crowded, even in the roomiest of SUV’s or minivans. The heat generated in the vehicle, even with the A/C blasting, can be stifling. With 42% of all vacationing Americans trying to get to a beach destination, the traffic can be a nightmare, especially during summer holidays and weekends. If any component of your vehicle is malfunctioning or questionable, a summer road trip may be disastrous. However, if the A/C isn’t working properly, you really need to seek out an auto mechanic professional for help.

Watch out for the signs so you know the fate of your car’s A/C before the car is loaded and you are ready to hit the road. You obviously have an A/C failure if you have the air on for a few minutes and no cold air comes out. While it may take some time to generate truly cold air, especially if the vehicle is parked, you will notice if it takes longer for cold air to arrive.

Leaks are also an indication of A/C problems. Your car needs an adequate amount of refrigerant to cool the compressor that makes the A/C operable. If it leaks, there won’t be enough refrigerant for the job to get done. Any leak should be addressed by a professional.

The longer you own a car, the more you get to know the ins and outs of the vehicle. You learn what noises are normal and what noises are not-so-normal. When the car makes a noise out of the blue, especially when you turn on the A/C, it may be indicative of a problem. A bad A/C component can lead to metal touching metal when you try to run the A/C, which creates an unusual sound.

The weather in Rochester NY can be volatile, requiring you blast the A/C one day and put on a sweatshirt the next. However, when it comes to the A/C in your car, you want it functional before you need it. Keep an eye and an ear out for any potential issues and contact Murphy’s Tire (auto mechanic Canandaigua NY) for any A/C installation or maintenance needs you may have this summer.