No doubt, the air conditioning (A/C) system is one of the most important components of a car. During the summer heat, the system helps you keep sane by cooling the temperature to your desired level. During cold or rainy days, it can also function to demist your windscreen, keep it clear at all times.
Furthermore, a car’s AC system has several different and crucial components; one of them is the compressor. Compressing liquid refrigerants under high pressure is the compressor’s primary purpose. That’s not all; it also works by sensing the changes in temperature inside and outside the car and then controlling the temperature output.
You might have noticed your car’s AC compressor turning off and on. Does the short cycling process suggest that your system is faulty?
The cycling process of the AC compressor, where it goes on and off, is normal. This is a sign that your system is working fine. However, when there’s short cycling, it means the system is faulty. Two of the main reasons why an AC compressor will switch on and off rapidly are faulty thermostats and leaking refrigerant.
In the rest of this post, I’ll further share with you some of the reasons why your Car’s AC compressor might be experiencing a short cycling process. In addition to that, you’ll also get to learn everything you need to know about how the AC compressor works and how to understand if it’s experiencing any issues. So, let’s dive right in.
What Is an AC Compressor and How Does It Work?
As earlier mentioned, a compressor is one of the many components of an AC system. People call it the central part of an AC because it’s the component that creates the much-needed cycle of the system. Furthermore, the primary function of an AC compressor is that it helps to compress the AC’s refrigerant to activate its heat-transfer features and temperature changes nature. Well, it does that by subjecting the refrigerant to high pressure.
Parts of an AC compressor
In case you don’t know, the AC compressor has several different parts. First, it has housing, which includes oil fill, valves, and its section. Also, the compressor has “connecting points” – they connect it to the refrigerant. Lastly, it also has a pulley with an electromagnetic (EM) clutch, making everything work perfectly.
How does the AC compressor work?
For you to understand how the AC compressor works, it’s important to talk about the refrigerant. Freon is the most common refrigerant that cars utilize for AC to remove cold air out of hot air. That said, both compressor and refrigerant work together with a couple of other components to deliver you a cooler temperature during the summer heat.
Furthermore, your car’s engine is what propels the AC compressor into action. The compressor runs off a pulley – this is connected with the help of a belt to the crankshaft of the engine, which could power up to 10 pistons. As the compressor starts to work, its EM clutch keeps the belt drive moving, creating the necessary piston. Furthermore, the AC compressor works by sucking in low-pressure and low-temperature gas from the refrigerant through the evaporator, compressing it into high-pressure and high-temperature gas, which goes to the condenser.
Why Does Your Car’s AC Compressor Turn Off and On?
So, why do the AC compressors often turn off and on?
As earlier mentioned, you need to understand that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with your car’s AC compressor turning off and on. You should expect the compressor to work this way, especially during hotter days. During this period, we always set the temperature of the AC to certain degrees to enjoy a cooler environment.
You need to understand that the cooler you set the AC, the more the compressor tries to work to achieve the set value. As soon as it achieves the desired temperature, it’s normal for the compressor to cycle off for a short while and switch on back to continue its work. That said, with a perfectly working AC compressor, the cycling process should last up to 15 to 20 minutes.
What Does Your Car’s AC Compressor Cycle Off and On Rapidly?
In the case where what you’re experiencing is short cycling – a situation where the AC compressor cycles off and on rapidly – then, you might need to troubleshoot the AC system.
Well, a few factors can cause your car’s AC compressor to short cycle off and on every time. One of them is when your vehicle is low on Freon (refrigerant). This type of issue can happen because the refrigerator is leaking. All you need to do is to recharge as soon as you can and fix up the leaking issue.
You can fix small AC leaks yourself with a can of Super Seal (Amazon link).
Although this doesn’t happen in all cases, you also need to understand that the short cycling of a compressor can be a result of an overcharged Freon. Faulty thermometers can also cause your car AC compressor to malfunction and produce a short cycling service.
Conclusion
Why does your car’s AC compressor turn on and off? The answer is simple; if the cycling rate is between 15 to 20 minutes, especially during hotter days, you certainly can rest assured that the compressor is working pretty fine. In an hour, you should experience about 2 to 3 cycles.
However, if the cycling process comes too often, it’s a sign that the compressor is experiencing some issue. Short cycling, in most cases, is a result of low Freon. Sometimes, this issue could also be because you’ve overfilled the compressor – a high level of Freon.
Recharging your car’s AC every 1 – 2 years will help keep your AC running cold. You can do this inexpensively yourself with a bottle of Freon/refrigerant.
Check out this great AC recharge kit on Amazon here.
