If you live in a warm or hot climate, you most likely use your car's air conditioner regularly during the hottest months of the year to stay comfortable while you're on the road. Thus, when your vehicle experiences problems with the air conditioner, it can be alarming. In some cases, air conditioner problems can be caused by a faulty or failing compressor. The compressor is the heart of a vehicle's air conditioning system, and when it is not functioning properly, the air conditioner won't be able to keep the car cool. Some of the top signs of a faulty or failing air conditioner compressor include:

Vehicle Cabin Doesn't Stay Cool

As a compressor begins to fail, it may have a hard time continuously producing cold air to force through the vents. When this happens, the temperature of the air coming out of the vents may not be as cold as it used to be. It is also possible for the compressor to only produce cold air intermittently, so sometimes it will blow cold air while other times the air will be warm. When a compressor ceases to work at all, your fan may run, but the air that comes out of the vents will be warm.

Loud Sounds While Compressor is Running

The compressor in an automobile is made up of many different components, and over time one or more components can wear out due to constant use and wear and tear. If a bearing within the compressor wears out, you may hear a high pitched squealing sound. If a bearing becomes seized, you will most likely hear a loud grinding sound. When you begin to hear strange sounds when your compressor is on, there is not much that can be done. Since air conditioning compressors are quite complex and complicated, it usually makes more sense to replace a worn out and damaged compressor instead of trying to have it repaired.

No Signs of the Clutch Moving

A compressor has a clutch that is responsible for engaging and disengaging from a power source so the compressor only runs when it is supposed to. If the clutch does not move at all, this means that the compressor is unable to receive any power, meaning that it can't produce cold air. In some cases, the problem can be fixed by having the compressor clutch replaced, but many mechanics recommend replacing both the clutch and the compressor at the same time. 

Get in touch with a business like Car And Truck Services Inc. to learn more.