SERVICES - AC Repairs and Replacement

There could be several reasons why the AC in you Buick Enclave isn't doing the job:

2013, 2014 and 2015 Buick Enclaves AC units share several AC components with the GMC Acadia and the Chevy Traverse but has been known to start failing at 61,000-102,000 miles which is better than its stable-mates.

One of the most common reasons your Enclave’s air conditioner isn’t working is a Freon leak. The fluid that is used to cool your car, Freon, could be leaking from somewhere in the A/C system. Because Freon evaporates when it comes into contact with the air, it can be hard to spot a leak. A professional mechanic can identify A/C leaks with the proper equipment including dye and special lighting.

The fan on your A/C condenser could be broken. If the fan completely fails, it will be easy to see right away because it won't be able to circulate air in your car. It is a quick and easy diagnosis for mechanics and the cure is to replace the fan rather than rebuild it so if the parts are available it shouldn't take long to fix.

The compressor isn't working. There several reasons why your compressor stopped. The clutch on the compressor may be stuck, there could be an electrical short or broken connection, or you may not have enough Freon in your car's system. Any qualified auto mechanic should be able to sort this out.

Your ac unit consists of the following components:

A Compressor, which compresses and circulates refrigerant in the system.

Refrigerant, (on newer cars, usually a substance named R-134, and on older cars R-12 Freon) that carries heat. R-12 Freon is becoming increasingly more expensive and difficult to find (it requires a license to handle).

A Condenser that changes the phase of the refrigerant and removes heat and expels it from the car.

An Expansion Valve (sometimes called an orifice tube), a nozzle that simultaneously drops the pressure of the refrigerant liquid, meters its flow, and atomizes it.

An Evaporator to transfer heat to the refrigerant from the air blown across it, cooling the car.

A Receiver/Dryer, that acts as a filter for the refrigerant/oil, removing moisture and contaminants.

How the air conditioning process works:

Initially the compressor puts the refrigerant under pressure and sends it to the condensing coils (generally located in front of the engine bay). Compression heats the gas. The condenser combines that added heat with the heat the refrigerant picked up in the evaporator and pushes it out to the air passing over it from outside your vehicle. When the refrigerant cools down to its "saturation" point, it will revert from a gas back into a liquid (this gives off a blast of heat known as the "latent heat of vaporization"). The liquid refrigerant then goes through the expansion valve to the evaporator coils inside of the car, where it loses the pressure that it gained in the compressor. Some of the liquid will change to a low-pressure gas that cools the remaining refrigerant. This two-phase mix enters the evaporator, and the liquid part of the refrigerant will absorb the heat from the air moving across the coil and then evaporate. Finally, a fan pushes air across the cold evaporator to cool your car's interior.

Auto air conditioning repair in Rancho Cordova: If your AC needs repair, if the air isn't really cold or doesn't blow at all, call us today at 916.266.4644 and schedule an inspection.