What To Do When A Car A/C Compressor Cycles On and Off
It was in the middle of the 1990s when cars have been equipped with electronic modules that dictate when an A/C compressor should cycle on and off. This can somewhat catch you off guard most especially when it cycles on and off and you are just waiting for your turn at an intersection where there is traffic lights or you are just idling on a nearby store. Take this as a sign that the electronic module is telling the car compressor to take some break as the interior temperature has already been reached. If you think this happens too often, however, here is what you should do when a car A/C compressor cycles on and off.
Hard Acceleration and A/C Compressor Cycling
Aside from the instance mentioned above, A/C compressor cycling also happens if you are driving and suddenly pulling over into a freeway or any situation where the car is under hard acceleration. This is considered normal because it is part of the program which is built into the system. This situation and the one mentioned above must not be a cause of or alarm.
A/C Compressor Cycling On and Off More Often than Usual
If there is any problem you must pay attention to in terms of the A/C compressor cycling on and off, that is when it happens too quickly. When this takes place then it means that the electronic module of your vehicle is failing. The causes for failure of the electronic system include temperature issues as well as the age of the system.
It is not advisable to take a look into the module yourself even if you could actually tear its cover off. Inside the module, there are tiny dark chips which have numbers on them. These are actually resistor packs whose values may change as time goes by depending on how you use your car.
Change in Resistor Pack Value and a Car’s Compressor Cycles
The change in resistor pack value will also dictate change in the vehicle’s compressor cycles. This is the reason behind why it can turn on and off too quickly before you even know it. This is not a simple problem that you can work on your own. You need to bring your car to an expert service provider that makes use of computerized equipment. This device will help experts know whether the modules have really failed or if they need replacement.
You may be tempted to do the replacement on your own especially if you do not have enough cash to pay for the services of an expert in this process. Replacement modules can be bought but you need to buy a service manual too and learn how to replace the part yourself. But you must take note that you can only consider doing this if you have experience in computer systems. Otherwise, you might just damage the module and the entire system.
Allow an expert to handle this problem for you. After all, this is not an easy job and you do not want to end up spending more if you do the replacement on your own.