Subaru Heating & Cooling
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When you turn on the heat or the air conditioning system in your Subaru you want it to work. So, when it doesn't it starts to raise alarm bells and leaves you feeling uncomfortable inside your own car.
But how do these systems work, what are some common problems, and where should you take your car if the systems aren't working as they should? It's a lot to break down, but we'll highlight everything you need to know to get both the hot air and cold air blowing when you want them to.
How the Cooling System Works
Before we dive in too far here we want to be clear that we're talking about the air conditioning system here, not the cooling system for the engine. Those are two entirely different components, and how they work is also completely different.
The air conditioning cooling system in your car works through a variety of components including the air compressor, the condenser, the evaporator, and the orifice tube. While it's a bit of a complicated process the short answer is that it goes from a liquid to a gas and back to a liquid again and cools down before cooling the air and blowing it at you.
How the Heating System Works
The heating system is a much simpler system for your vehicle than the air conditioning system. That's because your vehicle's engine naturally produces heat, and it's just the job of the heater system to push some of the heat to you.
It typically works with a heat exchanger which warms the air around it before blowing that hot air at you inside the car.
Common Heating & Cooling Problems
There are tons of potential problems that can throw off your vehicle's heating or cooling system. We've highlighted five of the most common heating and cooling problems you might experience with your Subaru here.
1. The Air Won't Get Cold
This is by far the most common problem with a car air conditioning system, and there are lots of potential causes. Your Subaru might need new freon, or the compressor, condenser, orifice tube, or evaporator might be causing the problem.
2. The Air Won't Get Hot
This can mean a lot of things. It could be a problem with the antifreeze, the switch, a clogged heater core, or a broken thermostat. However, many of these problems will also create other problems that make it a bit easier for a mechanic to figure out what's going on.
3. You Can't Change the Air Level
This is another issue that can come from a few different causes. The problem could be a broken switch or it could be a faulty blend door. Moreover, you might have a blown fuse somewhere in the circuit.
4. You Can't Turn the Air On
There are a few different things that can lead to nothing happening when you turn the air on. The problem could be with the switch itself, or it could be with the blower motor or with a blend door actuator.
5. The Air Only Works At Max
This is a telltale sign of a faulty resistor in your vehicle, and it's more common than you might think. The good news is that it's not that expensive of a fix and once you get a new resistor in the vehicle the air conditioning and heating system should go right back to its normal operation.
How To Care for Your Subaru Heating & Cooling System
If you want anything to last you need to take care of it, which holds true for your car's air conditioning and cooling system. The good news is that caring for your Subaru's heating and cooling system is a pretty easy and straightforward process. We'll highlight three things you should do to keep both systems in tip-top shape.
1. Use It
You likely don't want to use your car's air conditioning system during the colder winter months. We get it, you don't need it! But simply using the system goes a long way in preserving all the different components.
Run the system for about ten minutes once a week to keep everything in good working order and to prevent any problems the first time you need to use it when the warmer weather comes.
2. Service It
Some people simply run their air conditioning and heating systems until it stops working. While you can do this, you'll run into far fewer problems if you schedule an annual service. This will keep all the components in good working order and ensure the system works all year long.
3. Replace Cabin Air Filters
This should be a part of the annual air conditioning service, but many people overlook it. A clogged cabin air filter reduces airflow, makes the heating and cooling system work harder, and it sends dirty air into the cabin. Swap it out about once a year.
Picking the Right Service Center
One of the most stressful parts of fixing whatever problem is going on with your Subaru is figuring out where to take it. You need to take it to a shop you can trust, but you don't want to spend more than you need to and you don't want to get a mechanic that doesn't know what they're doing.
Granite Subaru only uses factory-trained technicians with specialty tools to help them quickly and accurately diagnose whatever problem your Subaru is having. They also offer complimentary pickup and drop-off services, competitive pricing, and an easy 24/7 online scheduling process.
Granite Subaru makes it easy to get your vehicle back on the road and they do everything in their power to make the process as seamless and as easy as possible for you.
Final Thoughts
Don't wait until the freezing cold weather or the blazing hot summer days come back to fix your Subaru's heating or cooling systems. Schedule your appointment today and get your vehicle back in working order. It's one less thing you'll need to worry about when the calendar turns over to those colder or warmer months.
