AN EXPERT mechanic has revealed seven crucial ways to keep your car's air con as cool as can be this summer.
The advice comes for drivers who find their AC doesn't seem to provide as much refreshing power as before.
The first tip is, don't turn on your aircon while you're still parked.
They say it's a waste of time and petrol, because AC units work better when driving.
You should use the coldest setting before adjusting your car's fan to help the aircon work more efficiently while also saving fuel.
They also suggest turning on the fan full blast first as well as opening the backseat windows before switching on the air conditioning.
Drivers should also turn off the recirculation mode when there are passengers in the back, they say.
Start-stop systems in newer cars also ought to be turned off.
These automatically reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling, cutting back on fuel consumption and emissions.
But the expert mechanics say there's a drawback because shutting the engine down also hampers the aircon.
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They said in a new blog: "It's a dilemma - save money at the pump and help the environment, but sweat like a pig during summer."
Their sixth suggestion is to replace your cabin air filter.
It's meant to trap dirt, dust and other pollutants to prevent them spreading through the car.
But the mechanics warned: "On the other hand a dirty air filter impairs airflow from the AC, which means no relief for you while you're sweltering in traffic this summer."
They recommend replacing the filter if it's clogged or taking it to your nearest garage instead.
Their final recommendation is to park in the shade or else put a sunshade over your windshield.
That should help so the aircon system itself doesn't have to "work so hard or take so long to cool things down".
But if none of these work, they warn something else is evidently wrong with the car.
Potential problems include a broken condenser, a problem with the aircon's compressor, electrical problems or normal wear and tear.
They concluded: "Professional technicians will be able to determine the causes of car AC not cooling and fix it for you so that you can stay cool this summer."
The new guidance comes from the team at repair shop Fix Auto El Cajon in the US state of California.
Another car expert has revealed four checks you can do at home if your air con doesn't feel cold enough.
There have also been tips on how to keep your car's air con running ice cold for free.
Drivers have been warned turning on your air conditioning won’t save money on petrol - and also how to avoid a common mistake.
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Shoppers have been buying an car accessory which can help, as well as a £1 summertime hack to cool leather seats and steering wheels.
Brits tempted to turn on AC units overnight within the home during this summer's warm weather have been given guidance on how much it could cost.
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