Wednesday, December 31, 2014

It's January so turn on your A/C and Roll Your Windows Down

By Dave Trux

Okay, now that I have your attention, this headline actually makes a lot of sense. Air conditioning systems are sealed systems with lots of rubber seals. Rubber seals need to be lubricated to extend their life. By running your air conditioning in January and other winter months, times when you normally wouldn't run it, you’re actually lubricating those seals.

While most people know that freon is the refrigerant in you're a/c system, not everyone realizes that there is oil in freon. It's that oil that is lubricating those seals; therefore, it's important that you periodically run your air conditioning, even in the cold winter months. Just 5-10 minutes at a time and twice a month will help keep your seals lubricated.

The same principals apply to your windows. Windows have rubber seals around them. Those seals help keep the wind, weather and road noise out. If you don’t use your windows in the winter months, the seals may start to stick to the glass, which is going to put extra stress on the window regulator and motor, increasing the likelihood of a power window failure. So, it’s important to roll your windows up and down periodically.

If you hear a clicking noise from inside the door panel while operating the window, that's the tell-tale sign of a failing window regulator. If this happens, I strongly advise you to take your car in to your trusted service center immediately. That would be preferable to using it on a rainy day and then having it stuck in the down position while you drive to the shop with a trash bag in your door!

Editor’s notes: Dave Trux is the owner of Valley Motorwerks in Rancho Cordova, CA. Their address is 11401 White Rock Road, their phone number is (916) 636-9526 and their website is www.vmwerks.com.


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