Your car’s AC system uses refrigerant to help keep you cool and comfortable in hot weather. When the refrigerant is under low pressure, it takes the form of a gas, and when it is under high pressure, it transforms into a liquid. So, your AC system works under both high pressure and low pressure, and needs to be able to switch between the two in order to work. This is where our AC pressure switch comes in. It is, essentially, a safety feature that “trips,” or turns the system off, if there are any problems with pressure in the system.
There are any number of things that can cause the switch to trip, and not all of them involve the switch itself. If the level of refrigerant is too low or too high, for example, the switch could actually read incorrectly, and shut off the system. Most of the time, problems that appear to be with the AC pressure switch are problems elsewhere in the AC system. The switch itself is very stable, and should last a very long time.
The life of an AC pressure switch is measured in cycles, not miles or years. You can expect to get 50,000 cycles out of your AC pressure switch, which means that unless you are constantly turning your AC on and off, it will probably last you the life of your car.
However, like all electronic components, the AC switch could (rarely) fail, and if it does, then:
- The AC compressor will not come on
- The air conditioning will not work
Of course your air conditioning is not vital to your car’s operation, but just the same, it is quite important when it comes to your comfort. If you suspect that your AC pressure switch is faulty, you should have it checked out. A professional mechanic can diagnose problems with your air conditioning system, and if needed, replace the AC pressure switch.
