There is nothing worse than trying to cut on your car A/C on the first warm day of the year only to get lukewarm air blowing or (even worse!) no air at all. The air conditioning system of a car is one of the most complicated systems on the vehicle, and services depend on what part of the A/C system is malfunctioning. 

Servicing a car’s air conditioning system involves diagnosing the part of the A/C system that is not working, determining if the owner can service it, and then repairing the system. Car A/C problems can range from slow freon leaks to seized-up compressors and usually require a mechanic.

A/C repairs usually can’t be performed easily by the car’s driver, but in the case of a slow freon leak, you might be able to keep your car’s A/C functional a little while longer before a professional needs to step in and intervene. Keep reading and learn more about common problems with a car’s A/C system and how you can service them, as well as how to maintain your car’s air conditioning system. 

First Things First – Know Which Car A/C Parts Need Professional Service

Several aspects to a car’s air conditioning system may require maintenance at one point or another during the service life of the car, some more accessible to the driver than others. 

When you look into servicing a car’s air conditioning system, you will typically run into problems in one of the following areas: 

• A/C compressor: The compressor in a car’s air conditioning unit is responsible for compressing refrigerant freon gas, which quickly heats it. 

• A/C condenser: Once the compressor has compressed and heated the freon, it is passed to the condenser, where it is formed into a supercool liquid. 

• A/C Receiver-drier: The receiver-drier is the part of the car’s A/C system that removes moisture from the air in the A/C system. 

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• A/C evaporator: The evaporator is the part of the car’s air conditioning system that turns the supercooled freon into a refrigerant mist. The air in the car’s air conditioning system is blown over tubes containing a supercool mist to remove heat before blowing it back into the car’s cabin. 

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• A/C hoses: A/C hoses send air and freon throughout the car’s air conditioning system. If these hoses spring a leak, freon can leak out of the car’s A/C system to the point that it no longer blows cold. 

• A/C blower motor: The blower motor is the part of the car’s air conditioning system that pushes cooled air from the evaporator back into the car’s cabin. 

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• Electrical circuits: If a car suffers from wiring problems, it can sometimes interfere with the car’s ability to trigger the air conditioning system from the cabin instrument panel. This kind of systemic electrical issue is usually caused by faulty wiring harnesses or bad relays. A car wiring diagnostician is typically required to repair this level of A/C malfunction. 

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Because these components are often located deep in the guts of a car’s chassis and the engine compartment and sometimes require specialized equipment to repair correctly, these kinds of A/C repairs are usually left to an automotive repair shop rather than attempted at home. 

There are some easy ways to figure out how bad your car’s A/C problems are with a little troubleshooting. Keep reading to determine what part of your car’s air conditioning system is malfunctioning and what you can do to fix it. 

My Car’s Air Conditioning System Is Not Working! A Troubleshooting Guide

So, you go out to your car, turn the key, click on the air conditioning system, and—nothing. Perhaps there is hot air, which can feel even worse on a blazing summer day than no air at all. What do you do at this point? It depends on which symptom your car is presenting with. 

No Air Blowing from the Car’s A/C Unit

If you turn your car’s A/C system on and there is no air at all, this could be a sign of several problems. The worst-case scenario is that the car’s A/C compressor dies. The relatively high cost of the parts involved in replacing this component, plus the intensive labor involved, means that you will likely end up spending between $1,500 and $2,500 at a mechanic’s shop to get your car’s A/C replaced. 

If a car’s A/C compressor has quit, many mechanics will not replace the compressor without using a kit that also replaces other components of the A/C system, such as the condenser and drier-receiver. This is because a new A/C compressor can be damaged by debris from older or damaged parts in the air conditioning system once it is operated. 

If a mechanic agrees to replace the A/C compressor without replacing the associated components of the A/C system, in many cases, they will do so on the condition of the A/C compressor, not receiving a warranty. With a part as expensive as an A/C compressor, it simply is not worth the risk. 

• NOTE: If you have no air blowing from your car’s A/C fans, it is essential to determine whether or not the car’s radiator fans are running. If the car’s radiator fans are also malfunctioning as the result of an electrical issue, this can lead to the car’s engine overheating (a much more significant repair than the air conditioning system). If there is any doubt as to the function of the radiator or the thermostat, have the vehicle towed to a mechanic.  

Blowing Tepid or Warm Air

If your car’s A/C is still blowing but is blowing hot or a little warmer than usual (and is not cooling, no matter the setting), your likely culprit is a leak in the freon system. A slow leak can usually be limped along by recharging the car’s A/C system once a year during the warmer months, but a more significant leak in the A/C system will prevent it from being able to hold freon at all. 

While a car’s air conditioning system is designed to be a closed vacuum system, age can eventually affect the rubber, plastic, and metal components of a car’s air conditioning system until leaks develop as a result of dry rot and other factors. Sometimes a smoke or leak test can be run on the car’s A/C system to see if a specific hose is leaking. If a major leak is found in the system, the hose can then be replaced. 

However, leaks in the A/C system are often slower and occur at disintegrating seals throughout the A/C system. This causes a slow freon leak in which the A/C gets gradually less and less cold until it stops blowing cold air entirely. At this point, the freon in the car’s A/C system must be refilled or recharged. 

Barely Blowing Air

If air is still blowing through the car’s vents but does not feel as forceful as it should, this can be the result of the air cabin filter becoming clogged. Check the filter in the car’s engine compartment to ensure that it does not require replacement. Once a dirty, clogged cabin air filter is replaced, this can usually restore A/C airflow to the car’s cabin as long as other components are not defective. 

A good time to have your car’s cabin air filter checked is during a routine oil change or a trip check. Mechanics can inspect the air filter and replace the filter as necessary. 

Air Not Blowing Out of All Vents

Another issue that can crop up in the car’s A/C system is when cold air will blow out of one side of the car’s dashboard but not the other side. This is usually the result of an issue with the blend door actuator, a component in the car’s A/C system that mixes hot and cold air to achieve the required temperature of the A/C’s control panel. 

The blend door actuator can be damaged by debris in the A/C system or can become bound because of age or broken linkage. This is one of the few parts of a car’s A/C system that can be repaired individually rather than as a systemic unit. 

Servicing a Freon Leak in a Car’s Air Conditioning System

If your car is starting to blow a little warmer than you’d like, one of the first pieces of advice that you’re likely to encounter is that you need to “top off” your car’s freon. In older cars, this is usually the most cost-effective way to keep a car’s A/C system running for as long as possible without being forced to replace it entirely. 

It is essential to keep in mind that topping off a car’s air conditioning system incorrectly can damage delicate components in the system and inadvertently cause a more expensive repair. Without a pressure gauge and the proper specifications, this is not a procedure that should be undertaken unless you have prior experience in automotive maintenance. 

The safest way to get your car’s A/C recharged is to take it to a mechanic. Here are some typical aspects of a freon recharge service:

• Typically runs around $200 to $280 depending on the cost of freon and the size of the vehicle.
• It can usually be performed in a few hours, sometimes while you wait if you secure an appointment at the mechanic’s shop ahead of time. 

If your car has a slow freon leak, a mechanic will usually not just recharge the system with freon; they also add a paginated oil to the system that will show up under a UV light inspection if all of the freon leaks out of the system again. This will hopefully help mechanics discover the direct source of the freon leak and repair it for the next season when the freon leaks out again. 

Tools Used to Diagnose Freon Leaks in a Car Air Conditioning System

Consumer Freon leak detectors are available for those who want to identify if a leak is occurring. 

Mechanics use two major tools other than direct observation to detect and diagnose freon leaks in a car air conditioning system: 

• Smoke test: A smoke test is performed using a piece of equipment that blows smoke through the car’s A/C system to help mechanics identify any potential leaks in the system where freon might be escaping, such as a faulty A/C hose seal. This is an excellent test to perform for more massive A/C freon leaks. 
• Paginated oil: For smaller freon leaks, paginated oil is usually included in a freon recharge service along with the freon itself. Not only does this paginated oil help lubricate the A/C system and shows mechanics exactly where potential freon leaks might be hiding by highlighting them under UV detection. 

In cases where a car’s air conditioning system is running completely hot, mechanics will typically try to discover the source of the freon leak before recharging the system. This is because if there is a significant leak in the A/C system, the freon will be almost immediately lost, and the mechanics will be right back to square one on the vehicle in a day or two. 

Can I Repair My Car’s Air Conditioning System Myself?

​​​​Freon recharging kits available online and in automotive supply stores will allow you to recharge a car’s freon at home. While this might seem like a convenient alternative to taking your car to the auto mechanic, there are some significant risks involved with working on your car’s A/C system yourself. 

The biggest risk of recharging your car’s A/C system at home is operator error—if you add too much freon or over-pressurize the system, it can permanently damage the A/C compressor. This can turn a thirty-dollar repair into a repair that costs more than the value of the vehicle in some cases. Depending on an individual’s experience in auto repair, this may or may not be a risk worth taking. 

If you do decide to go about refilling your car’s freon on your own, it’s a good idea to read your car’s owner manual carefully and watch several online videos or read several tutorials on how to do it before attempting it on your vehicle. It is also better to attempt a first-time repair on a vehicle with a more experienced mechanic observing and helping out if you can swing it. 

How to Refill a Car’s Air Conditioning System with Freon – DIY Method

Once you decide you have enough automotive repair experience to attempt a do-it-yourself recharging kit, you can pick one up either online or at an automotive supply store. If you buy the parts of the recharging kit individually, you will need to buy two cans of refrigerant (r-134), a refrigerant dispenser, and a pair of goggles for safety since you’re working with compressed freon. 

To recharge the freon in your car’s system, follow these steps: 

• Verify that your car’s A/C compressor is functioning (if not, there is no point in recharging the system).
• Find the low-pressure side refrigerant fill port. 
• Attach the refrigerant dispenser to the fill port. 
• Recharge the system, monitoring system pressure as you do so.

To recharge a car’s air conditioning system on your own successfully, you must follow the instructions included with your refrigerant dispenser to the letter and make sure that you don’t over-pressurize the A/C system by accident. If you do, you might end up spending significantly more to get cold air for the summer than you anticipated. 

Risks Involved with DIY Freon Refills

There are several points in recharging a car’s air conditioning system where you can inadvertently cause damage to the A/C system. Here are some points to keep in mind when you are recharging your car’s freon:

• If your car has a major A/C leak, recharging the system with freon is a waste of time and money. Within a few days, all the freon will leak out, and the air conditioning will be running hot again. It is usually easier for a mechanic to verify the severity of a car’s freon leak than the car’s owner.
• The high-pressure side hoses in the A/C system become extremely hot, and inadvertently touching them while recharging the system can lead to a significant burn.
• Turning the freon can upside-down during a recharge can lead to the transfer of liquid freon rather than gas. While experienced mechanics are capable of doing this gradually with suction lines to prevent damaging the compressor, most DIYers are not. It is not worth the risk to the A/C compressor if you are not 100% sure what you are doing.
• If you accidentally add too much freon to your car’s A/C system, venting excess freon into the air is illegal per Section 608 of the Clean Air Act. If you believe you have accidentally over-pressurized your system, you will be forced to take it to a mechanic to undo the damage. 

It can be tempting to try to recharge a car’s air conditioning system yourself, especially if you are dealing with an A/C unit in an older vehicle that is not worth much. But unless you are willing to risk losing the air conditioning entirely, it is a good idea to leave A/C refills to the professionals unless you’re confident you know what you’re doing. 

Is It Worth It to Replace the A/C in Your Car?

If your car’s air conditioning unit needs expensive service, you might wonder whether replacing the A/C in your car is even worth it. Ultimately, this depends on the age and condition of the vehicle, as well as the climate that it is driven. 

• Someone who lives in a colder climate might be content to forego air conditioning a majority of the time, but someone who lives in a southern temperature will be much more likely to jump on their A/C repair as soon as it’s necessary. 
• It also depends on the severity of the repairs needed for the car’s air conditioning. If a car only needs a freon recharge once a year, for two hundred bucks a year, it can be well worth keeping an older car running with a cool air conditioner. 
• However, if your older car throws an air compressor that will cost more to replace than the value of the car, it is worth taking a second look to see if replacing the compressor is even worth the trouble. 

You could likely find a car of equivalent value with a working air conditioner already for that amount of money. An A/C compressor kit is one of the most expensive repairs on most vehicles, so it is worth considering whether replacing the car entirely wouldn’t be a better option depending on the rest of the car’s condition.

Maintaining a Car’s Air Conditioning System

When it comes to car A/C repair, the bottom line is that you’re likely going to need to contact an automotive technician to handle any but the most minor of car A/C repairs unless you already have some experience in automotive repair yourself. 

A car’s A/C system can be one of the trickiest systems on the entire car to repair as a layman, and doing it incorrectly can lead to further damage that can potentially turn a job that costs a few hundred dollars in parts into a job that costs a few thousand instead. Most drivers do not have the level of experience to repair a car’s A/C system safely and effectively on their own. 

However, there are many ways that the driver of a car can service their car’s air conditioning system to keep the system in good working order and minimize the need for repairs. 

Here are some of the steps to ensure that a car’s air conditioning system remains working well:

• Run the air conditioning system at least once a week for at least ten minutes, regardless of the ambient temperature. This will help keep the gas pressure in the A/C system equalized, which in turn goes a long way towards preventing A/C leaks. 
• Run your car’s defrost mode regularly (at least for ten minutes once a week) to evaporate any excess moisture. This is especially important in humid or damp climates.
• Replace older A/C hoses or other defective components to prevent freon leaks in the air conditioning system. Usually, multiple air conditioning components are replaced all at once during an air conditioning service to minimize the cost of labor and prevent damage to new parts by older auxiliary components. 
• Keep items out of the vents. Small children are notorious for pushing pencils and other small knick-knacks into car air conditioning vents, where they can potentially cause damage to the system further down the line. Make sure that your vents remain clear of any debris.
• Prevent water damage. Water damage in a vehicle from flooding or rain can not only cause mildew in the cabin compartment, but it can also cause mildew in the car’s A/C system. This can lead to damaged components and an unpleasant smell in the vehicle.
• Change the air cabin filter regularly. Not only does this ensure proper air circulation through your A/C system, but it also increases the air quality in the car’s cabin. Cabin air filters are usually inspected during a car’s routine oil change, but you can request this service if it is not offered.
• Do not run A/C with car windows down. This forces the car’s air conditioning unit to work much harder than it has to, causing the entire system to age and deteriorate more quickly from the additional workload. 
• Get your car’s A/C system maintained regularly. Recharging the system every two years once it starts to lose some of its coolness can help you keep your air conditioning blowing ice cold and help mechanics diagnose, identify, and repair more minor problems within the A/C system before they become a considerable expense.

Maintaining a car’s air conditioning system is much easier than trying to replace it, so it’s a good idea to prevent added stress on your car’s A/C if you can make it last longer. 

Once a car’s A/C system is old enough to fail, the car itself is often comparable in value to the A/C repair. This can make repairing the air conditioning on an older vehicle a tough choice, especially when you could buy a used car for roughly the same price or put a down payment on a new one. 

Servicing a Car’s Air Conditioner Can Be Hard for Novices

Because there are so many different components that can break down in a car’s A/C system, and many of them are difficult to access or observe properly without specialized tools and supplies, many services related to a car’s air conditioning system are better left to professionals. It is possible to recharge your freon using a do-it-yourself kit, but those who do this risk damaging their A/C system accidentally. 

Luckily, the low cost of servicing a car’s air conditioning system with a freon recharge every few years is well worth it to keep your ride in cold air.  

References

https://www.jiffylubesocal.com/jiffy-lube-blog/2017/09/tips-maintain-cars-air-conditioning-system/

https://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/vent-blows-cold-one-side-hot-on-other-side/

https://autoservicecosts.com/ac-recharge-cost/

https://www.epa.gov/section608/section-608-clean-air-act

https://driving.ca/auto-news/entertainment/think-hard-before-fixing-that-broken-air-conditioner

https://www.autozone.com/diy/climate-control/how-to-recharge-car-ac

Purchasing a vehicle is a major investment for a lot of people. We want to protect our investment by keeping our vehicle running smoothly and looking good. Rust can be like an infection on the body of our vehicle in places such as the doors. What is rust, and how can we prevent it? Let’s roll up our sleeves and find out.

Here are one dozen ways to help prevent car doors from rusting:

• Consider Climate and Weather
• Keep Vehicle Clean and Dry
• Remove Door Drain Plugs and Clean
• Clean Off any Substances Quickly
• Store Out of the Elements
• Install Mud Flaps
• Watch Where You’re Going
• Repair Damage Right Away
• Keep Your Car Polished
• Use Rust Prevention Spray
• Do Thorough Winter Cleaning
• Inspect for Scratches and Bubbles in the Paint

This is a guide to a better understanding of rust and what it means to vehicles. Educating yourself on rust will help you in preventing it. 

Rust Problems and Prevention

What is rust, anyway? You may be wondering what exactly rust is and what causes it. We do know that it is unsightly and potentially an expensive problem to have on your hands (or on your car doors.)

That ugly growth on your car door could cost you more than your peace of mind if you don’t properly address it in a timely manner. But, for now, let’s just think in terms of prevention, assuming you do not have any current rust issues that you are dealing with.

Technically rust is a reaction that happens called oxidation. Oxidation occurs when water meets metal. Water can come from nature in the form of ice, snow, rain, or even air moisture called humidity. It can even come from living near the ocean and having constant misty breezes blowing over your vehicle.

Rust-causing water can come from things outside of the weather, too. Rust is a naturally occurring reaction. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple things that you can do to prevent rust from forming on your vehicle. 

Frequent inspection of your vehicle will help your stay ahead of tons of issues. You don’t have to get out the magnifying glass and get down on your hands and knees every single day. But if you are familiar with the condition of your car, you should know where to watch for rust.

12 Ways to Prevent Car Doors From Rusting

Though rust is a naturally occurring reaction, it won’t happen to your vehicle if you take care of it properly. Part of vehicle maintenance and care includes understanding what the environment can do to your car. 

1. Consider the Climate and Weather

The weather in your area may not have much of an effect if conditions are typically mild. Not many places in the world get weather that is mild all of the time, so we should take into account the following. Climate can have a major effect on the condition of the metal. 

• Humidity– Rust is created from water and metal mixing. Humidity is water, also known as moisture in the air. Not all regions of the world have problems with humidity, while others have high humidity levels throughout the year.
• Salty air– Living by the sea can be wonderful with the calming of the water and wildlife. But, if you live near a large body of saltwater like the ocean, you will definitely notice how destructive saltwater can be. Washing your vehicle 3-4 times per month is suggested for rust prevention in life by the sea.
• Snow and salt– It is no secret that winter is harsh on every aspect of life. When temperatures drop, some cars get stored for the next few months. Car owners cringe at the idea of salt getting all over their cars and wheels. Plus, some cars simply are not good in the winter.

When your neighborhood starts sprinkling salt or sprays brine on the roads, you will notice a film forming on your car. This is a warning. Every minute that salt/brine sits on your paint, it is eating away at the top coat and paint, headed to spread rust to your car doors and entire vehicle. 

It is a challenge to wash your car in the winter, but you must! At least once a week.

• Sand– Small rough particles that fly through the air like sand can be very abrasive on vehicle paint. Over time, sand can literally wear away the paint, exposing the bare metal underneath. When the metal body is exposed, rust can set in at any time.
• Bird droppings– Birds are lovely, but they can wreak absolute havoc on our vehicles. Bird droppings can stain paint, and eat through paint, if not washed off. We have all made the mistake of parking under a tree and regretting it in the morning.

Most of these issues can be kept at bay by keeping up with washing/detailing your vehicle.

2. Keep Your Car Doors Clean and Dry

Without a doubt, one of the best ways to prevent car doors from rusting is to keep your vehicle clean. Washing your vehicle is a way you can show respect for your belongings and ensure it stays looking nice for a long time.

Whether you are hand washing it in your home driveway with a bucket and a hose or you take it to your favorite local car wash, you are helping to prevent door rust. There are pros and cons of both home washing and taking it to a car wash.

• With home washing: You have the obvious benefits of the comforts of home, and it is often more cost-efficient to wash at home vs. dropping $10 (or more) each time.
• At a car wash: Your session is on a timer, and that timer is constantly ticking down the seconds to when you will have to feed it more money. But their commercial equipment is often more powerful and effective than home sprayers and tools.

Either way, lean in close and put some elbow grease into it. The lower half of a vehicle’s door is typically the first place rust begins to show up. Pay some extra attention to that area when you are cleaning and applying a clear coat protectant.

You have paid plenty of attention to the parts of the vehicle that you can see, but what about the parts that are not visible from a standing position? Don’t forget to spray down the undercarriage and wipe down all the spots you didn’t think of before. Road dirt and other debris can get under there and start to form rust.

Keep It Dry!

Rust forms when metal, water, and air get together. Therefore, it is in your best interest to keep your vehicle as dry (and clean) as possible. After you wash it, thoroughly dry it with clean, soft towels.

After it rains, it is wise to get out there and towel dry your vehicle. Rain may be essentially clean water, but it can be damaging to your paint and underlying metal body. You don’t have to go crazy trying to keep every single drop of liquid off of your vehicle, but just understand that if left, it can be harmful to your cause of rust prevention.

Another way that we can keep it dry is after a good wash or a healthy rain check the door drain plugs. See the next section for details. 

3. Clean Your Door Plugs

Some of you might be saying, “door plugs?” while others may be saying, “oh yeah!” These are not found on every vehicle, so don’t go crazy looking for them. But, when your door does have a plug, it will be on the bottom of an open door.

Otherwise known as a drain hole, there are holes with plugs in them to drain out water. Dirt and debris do get stuck in there, clogging the drains. When the drains are clogged, water cannot come out.

Also found around bumpers or near the trunk lid, drain plugs are usually round black plastic plugs that should easily slip in and out. See the owner’s manual for the exact location and instructions.

When water is stuck in metal areas such as your car doors, and it just sits there, over time, it will cause your vehicle doors to rust. We may not even know about these drains, so how would we know the problems they can cause us? Tell a friend what you just learned!

4. Clean Off Any Substances Quickly

Washing your vehicle regularly is a great way to wash away all the elements that you can (and cannot) see that could possibly eat through your clear coat and create rust. 

Cleaning your vehicle may be something that you do as a weekly routine while never stopping to think about what you are washing away. Random things like bird droppings could be very damaging if not washed off.

It is mostly acidic liquids and such that you have to watch out for. Acidic liquids can eat through the top coat and paint, resulting in rust. The rust won’t happen overnight, but it may seem to come out of nowhere if you do not pay attention.

Do you live in an area where it snows in the winter months? Then you should know all about the salt that is sprinkled or the brine that is sprayed on the roads to prevent ice from forming. These salty things are good for keeping the roads clear, but they are not good at all for your clear coat, paint job, or undercarriage of your vehicle.

Salt and brine are the enemies of your vehicle, although they can be your best friend. Even if the forecast says there is more ice/snow in the near future, it is never a waste of effort to at least give your car a quick rinse to get the salt/brine off.

Act Fast

Should there ever be a spill on your car, such as coffee or soda, or something non-edible such as a harsh chemical or cleaning product, wash it off immediately. If you can’t do a full wash right away, at least wash the area that was affected by the spill.

One more big thing to look out for is gasoline drips near your gas tank. We can be as careful as possible, but accidents do happen, and you don’t want to let gasoline sit on your paint.

5. Store Your Vehicle Out of the Elements

Do you have access to a garage? Storing your vehicle in a garage when you are not using it is a great way to keep it safe from the elements. Weather, nature, neighborhood kids. 

Most of us use our garage for storage, and we are not talking about storage for the vehicle. Clean out the clutter and make room for something that matters more than holiday wrapping paper. A vehicle is a major investment in most people’s lives. Do what you can to protect your investment. 

If you do not have a garage or have access to one, you could look into the portable car shelter tents that are on the market. They typically cost a few hundred dollars and are sold in kits that you can assemble in the outdoor garage yourself. 

Some residences do not have a yard or an outdoor area to put up a shelter for their vehicle. In these cases, vehicles should be parked in the shade, but not under a tree that drops leaves/sap/flowers, and especially not one that is inhabited by birds that tend to have excessive droppings, when at all possible.

If you have the choice, park your vehicle in the best parking spot available. This will not only decrease the probability of you having to wash it more often but will also keep it away from possible rust producers. You may also consider investing in a car cover for use during the harshest weather conditions.

You may be storing vehicles that you are not using on a regular basis. Vehicles that are in long-term storage should be checked on, if possible.

6. Install Mud Flaps

While driving, tires do get debris stuck in between the tread, whether we are cautious or not. This debris can be things like rocks or dirt or any little thing that is on the road. This debris can be picked up from the road and thrown up at your vehicle from the front tires.

Though they may not be the coolest accessory that you could possibly add to your vehicle, installing mud flaps on your wheel wells will be worth it. Check with your dealership to see if they sell them before you go to the store. 

A set of mud flaps can be plain or personalized with patterns, sports teams, or your vehicle brand logo. Installation can be a DIY project if you are into it.  If you are not into it, it should be a quick and affordable job done by a professional mechanic.

7. Watch Where You’re Going!

Coming to a fork in the road, and you don’t know which path to take? Well, if you are concerned about keeping your vehicle in a certain condition, it is suggested to take the smoother road. 

Driving through bumpy, muddy, dusty, or sandy roads may not be avoidable in some cases. But, if you have a choice, driving on smooth and clear roads minimizes the chances of debris flying up and nicking your paint. We know that scratches can lead to rust, right?

Likewise, watching the road for puddles of sticky liquids that could splash up. Keep your vehicle as dry as possible when focusing on rust prevention. Moisture and metal can breed rust.  

Driving past construction sites can invite all kinds of hazards for a vehicle, including flat tires from screws and other hardware on the ground and dangerous obstacles/debris hitting and scratching your vehicle. Avoid construction when you have the option.

8. Repair Damage Right Away

Did you know that small nicks and dents can potentially lead to bigger problems down the road? Problems like paint chipping and rust formation can happen. 

Little scratches from putting your key in the door or from your jewelry may not seem like a big deal at the time. But, if scratches are left untreated, they can allow rain and other elements to slowly get under the clear coat and paint, where rust begins.

When damage is greater than a tiny scratch, say from a car accident or powerful hit to your vehicle, it can result in immediate damage and also future damage. Immediate damage is usually obvious and can be further diagnosed by a certified auto mechanic. 

Future damage is what happens when you do not get the necessary repairs fixed. If there is crinkled or damaged metal from the accident, you expose your vehicle to the risk of getting rusty quite quickly. Leaving bare metal open to the elements is an invitation for rust to attack.

Get the repairs done as soon as possible to prevent rust from setting in. You will be happier when you do, and your vehicle will, too.

9. Keep Your Car Polished

Not every vehicle is created equal; therefore, not every detail of maintenance will be the same for car owners wishing to prevent rust. When vehicles are manufactured, they are painted and finished with a thick, durable glossy clear coat finish to keep them looking shiny and to protect the paint underneath.

But the general rule is to wash the vehicle regularly, using high-quality products. Search for the best clear coat protectant/shine product that you can find. Applying a protective finish will serve as a good defense against the elements and prevent rust spots from starting.

If it makes you feel more comfortable with the task, consult your dealership and ask them what line of products they recommend for your vehicle. There may be something special that works better for your clear coat and paint.

If you are not able to wash, dry, and shine your vehicle regularly, you may want to look into hiring a professional. Drop it off at least once a month. More often than that, depending on the amount of use, weather, budget, and personal preference.  Be sure to specify what you are looking for. If you are concerned with rust prevention, there are certain things they can do and products they will use to get the job done properly.

10. Use Rust Prevention Spray

Using a clear coat protectant at the end of a wash is usually enough, especially for newer cars. Did you know that if you are buying a brand-new car, you can order it with an extra rust protectant?

But, in extreme weather cases or for older vehicles, you can take it a step further and apply a special rust prevention product, typically a spray. This product can be used if you have seen rust forming or if you just want to get a few steps ahead of it.

Rust prevention sprays are an investment that you will not regret purchasing. They are very affordable and prevent costly jobs like rust removal and repair. If you have to have a vehicle panel (like a door) repainted by a professional, it can get extremely expensive.

For the DIY cleaners out there, these sprays can be found in any auto parts store. Just ask the clerk to point you toward the rust prevention spray for the vehicle body. For those that hire a car detailing service, ask if they offer a rust prevention spray add-on.

11. Do Thorough Winter Cleaning

Most areas experience cold weather and the threat of winter precipitation. And it comes around every single year. Arm yourself with the knowledge of what winter means to vehicles and vehicle care.

To prevent winter damage and stress on your vehicle, it helps to understand what the elements can do.

Winter brings weather conditions such as ice and snow. Driving in these conditions can be dangerous. Luckily, most states have fleets of trucks that are sent out to treat the roads we drive on so that we can still get around town.

The downfall of the treated roads is what they are treated with. Typically trucks sprinkle salt or spray brine (a liquid salt compound). Either of these can be very damaging to our vehicles. They eat away at the paint and metal on a car.

Extra washing is encouraged to keep the salt from sitting on your car and doing tons of damage. The longer that salt sits on your car, the more damage it will do in the long run. Don’t neglect the undercarriage of your vehicle. Get under there and spray it down.

12. Inspect For Scratches and Bubbles In the Paint

Oh, those pesky little bubbles! We visually inspect our vehicles for scratches and dents all of the time. Another thing we should be on the lookout for is patches of bubbles. Or even a single bubble in the paint.

Bubbles mean that something is going on under the surface. The fact that we have a signal like bubbles to let us know about the underlying issue is good. At least we know about possible rust before we have big patches forming.

If you can access the backside of the panel that has the bubbles on it, get in there and do a thorough inspection. Use a flashlight and take pictures if you can.

Moving forward will depend if you find rust and if you are going to do the work yourself or hire a pro. If you are not sure, it cannot hurt to get a second opinion. Take it to a professional and just ask what they recommend for your problem.

How to Remove Door Rust?

We do all we can to prevent rust from forming on our vehicles. If you do happen to spot a bit of unfortunate rust, you will want to act as quickly as you can before the little spot turns into a large one. There are several DIY solutions for rust removal. That rust isn’t going to remove itself, so let’s get to it.

Fortunately, if you are just catching your first sighting of rust, chances are it is probably just surface rust. Lucky for you, surface rust is a far less serious problem than rust that has had time to eat through the metal causing unsightly holes in your car door.

DIY rust removal products are sold in a few different styles. Most places sell it as a kit since you will often need more than just a product to get the job done properly. You may find pump sprays, aerosols, gels, pastes, or powders for removing rust from cars.

You should follow the instructions on your kit. You may also need sandpaper, primer, and touch-up paint. Always start with a clean and dry surface, so give it a thorough wash down.

If you are not feeling confident or comfortable with this project, you are not alone. Most people would not take this job by themselves. Hiring a professional auto body work specialist is the best way forward before the rust spreads.

A sagging car roof isn’t just ugly to look at—it can potentially be a dangerous distraction or even obstruct the driver’s view of the road. Luckily, there are some ways to fix a sagging car roof if the damage hasn’t become too pronounced. 

A sagging car roof can be temporarily fixed with headliner adhesive, pins, staples, double-sided tape, or with steam and heat. If a car’s headliner is only sagging slightly, it can usually be repaired at home, but severe sagging can generally only be fixed by completely replacing the headliner.

If your car roof is only sagging a little bit, chances are with just a few supplies and maybe a little help from a friend, you should be able to fix the car’s headliner yourself (at least temporarily). Keep reading to find out more about how you can fix your car’s sagging roof and when it’s time to turn things over to a professional. 

Which Method Should You Use to Fix a Sagging Car Roof?

The supplies you need to fix a sagging car roof depend on a few different factors:

• Whether you are trying to permanently or temporarily fix the headliner: There are several different methods you can choose from to try and fix a sagging car roof. Some of them are permanent fixes (or as permanent as you can get without replacing the headliner entirely). Others are temporary rigs designed to fix up a headliner until it can be adequately replaced.
• What method of repair you are attempting: You’ll need different supplies to attempt a total replacement of your headliner than you would if you are simply trying to pin up or repair a loose corner of it.
• What kind of budget you’re working with: If you have plenty of money, you might opt to have a professional replace your headliner outright or at least buy a new headliner, but if you don’t have that kind of money, you might have to stick with gluing or pinning up your headliner instead, at least as a temporary measure.
• How much work you’re willing to do: Doing a complete replacement of a car’s headliner is messy, expensive, and tedious to do correctly. Taking a temporary measure to fix the sagging might be cheaper and easier, but it also usually looks cheaper, too.
• How much automotive repair experience you have: Ripping out your car’s headliner panel for a full replacement probably isn’t a great idea if you’ve never so much as attempted to change a tire before, but if you have at least an intermediate level of experience with car repair it might be worth an attempt. 

After reading about some of the methods you can employ below, you’ll have several options as to how far you want to go to fix your headliner and whether you’d prefer a more temporary or permanent solution to the problem. 

How to Fix a Sagging Car Roof?

There are several different methods you can take to fix your sagging car roof yourself. There are a few different ways you can go about it. Keep in mind that some of these methods are only meant to be a temporary fix for a sagging car roof until you can get it addressed by an upholstery repair shop or an automotive technician, while others are a more permanent solution. 

Method 1: Glue Your Sagging Car Roof Back Up

Supplies Needed: Headliner spray adhesive, 3M adhesive removers, unused paint roller

Average Cost: $50 (+$150 and up if including a new headliner) 

An automotive-grade headliner adhesive can be used to glue your sagging car headliner back to the roof of the car, and this can be done either partially to try and glue up a section of the car roof that has come down, or the entire headliner can be replaced and re-glued. 

The advantage of gluing the headliner back up is that this method of fixing a sagging car roof is more aesthetically pleasing than some of the other methods, especially if you take the effort to remove the entire headliner panel and replace the headliner rather than just glue up a section of it. 

The disadvantage of replacing the whole headliner is that it costs more than repairing the sagging section of the existing headliner since it requires the purchase of a new one, and the level of work involved usually deters anyone who doesn’t regularly work on cars from trying to attempt it. If a new headliner isn’t installed correctly, it will be just as prone to sagging as the old one, and you’ll have to start all over again. 

Follow these steps to glue your headliner up:

• Take out the headliner panel of the car for the best results. This can be somewhat difficult without the aid of a technician or at least a friend to help pitch in, so assess your car repair experience level before attempting this.
• Remove any old headliner adhesive with the 3M adhesive removers. This will help ensure that the new adhesive sticks cleanly and does not become contaminated by the old adhesive.
• Re-apply fresh headliner adhesive spray to the headliner and reinstall. Be sure that the headliner is stretched tight across the roof of the car to prevent any new looseness in the fabric.
• Use the paint roller to roll the headliner flat and taut to make sure that the adhesive attaches evenly and that there are no bubbles beneath the fabric. 

The above method can also be used to replace the headliner with a new piece of fabric rather than reusing the old headliner if it is too tattered. However, this significantly increases the cost of the project overall since it includes the purchase of a new headliner.  

For a detailed video on how to partially re-glue a sagging car roof, check out this YouTube tutorial from The Car Flip. 

Method 2: Pinning Your Sagging Car Roof Back Up

Supplies: Upholstery screws or pins, needle nose pliers (for adjusting or twisting screws), and measuring tape.

Average Cost: $40

Another method for securing a sagging car roof is to use upholstery screws or pins to secure the sagging section of the roof. While this might not be as aesthetically pleasing as some of the other methods of fixing a sagging car roof, it has the advantage of being cheap and attainable through easily obtained materials. 

Another good reason to pin up your sagging car roof is that this is an excellent temporary fix if you plan to replace the car’s headliner more permanently later down the line when your budget allows. Temporarily pinning up the car’s headliner can at least keep it out of the way and prevent it from either distracting the driver or obstructing the driver’s view. 

Pinning up a sagging car roof is a good option for older, less valuable vehicles or cosmetically damaged vehicles where it doesn’t make any financial sense to dump a bunch of money into cosmetically improving the car’s interior. 

You don’t want to spend four hundred dollars replacing a car’s headliner when it has lousy paint or a giant ding in the door. Likewise, you don’t want to waste money replacing a headliner entirely when you have mechanical issues that need tending to first. 

Follow these steps to pin up a sagging car roof:

• Pull the sagging headliner taut against the roof of the car and secure it along the edges with the upholstery screws or pins. Be sure to secure pins evenly across the edging of the headliner to maintain an orderly appearance.
• If the sagging of the headliner is bad across the center of the car’s roof, more pins can be applied across the headliner in rows or a diamond pattern for a more deliberate look. Use a measuring tape to ensure that pins are distributed in an even pattern across the car’s roof.
• If sagging is only occurring in one area, a single pin can be used to straighten and secure the headliner at that spot. However, sagging in one area is usually an indicator that the adhesive on the rest of the headliner is about to go. It can be a good idea to go ahead and pin the entire headliner if you notice it starting to sag to decrease the effect of gravity pulling down on it. 

Pinning up a sagging headliner can be an excellent way to safely secure a headliner in a car where more expensive options, such as replacing the car’s headliner, just aren’t cost-effective. 

Method 3: Taping Your Sagging Car Roof Back Up

Supplies: Industrial-grade double-sided tape.

Average Cost: $20

If the sagging in your car roof is relatively minor or can be easily accessed through the side of the headliner panel, double-sided tape is a fantastic option to fix a sagging car roof temporarily. Like upholstery pins, double-sided tape is a good, cheap option for fixing a car’s headliner, but if the backing on the headliner is breaking down, the tape may have a difficult time adhering. 

Another disadvantage of double-sided tape is that it is a little more susceptible to the pressure of being pulled taut when the headliner is tightened up and is more likely to come loose than a headliner which is pinned down. This can potentially be dangerous if the headliner drops down and sags suddenly into the driver’s line of vision while driving. 

This is not a result of a deficiency in the tape itself but rather the foam that the tape is adhering to. At a certain point, the foam backing in many older headliners begins to disintegrate. 

Follow these steps to tape your headliner up:

• Locate the area of the headliner that is sagging away from the edge of the car roof. Make sure that the headliner is pulled taut before applying the tape.  
• Cut a section of the double-sided industrial tape and align it with the edge of the headliner between the headliner and the car roof.
• Press the headliner into the car roof and apply firm pressure for several minutes until the tape has a chance to meld the car roof and the headliner securely. 

The advantage of double-sided tape for fixing up a sagging car roof is that some form of it is commonly found in many garages and home workshops, so it’s an excellent way to straighten up a car’s headliner temporarily until a more permanent fix can be found. 

If you’re attempting to use double-sided tape as a more permanent cheap solution for a sagging car roof, it’s a better idea to go with industrial-grade double-sided tape.

Method 4: Heating Your Sagging Car Roof Back Up

Supplies: Portable steam cleaner, unused paint roller

Average Cost: $40

In some cases, if a car’s headliner begins to sag because heat and age are causing the adhesive glue on the backing of the headliner to dry up, applying steam can moisten the glue on the back of the headliner and allow it to re-attach to the car’s roof. 

This is a good option for fixing a sagging car roof that has only begun to sag recently (minor sagging). The less sagging there is in the headliner, the fresher and less oxidized the glue behind the headliner generally is. Since a sagging headliner also stretches out, a headliner with significant sag can be more challenging to re-attach smoothly. 

Follow these steps to heat your sagging headliner into better condition:

• Take a handheld steam cleaner and apply heated steam to the headliner and car roof, making sure the headliner is well-moistened in the process.
• As you run the steam cleaner along the car roof, follow along behind with a paint roller to press the headliner hard into the roof. This will hopefully help the moistened glue re-attach to the car roof.  

Remember that heating a car roof with a steam cleaner should be done carefully to avoid burning the headliner fabric. Once the interior of a car’s headliner is exposed by a cut or burn, the foam backing of the headliner can begin to deteriorate more quickly from exposure, which also accelerates sagging. 

What is a Headliner?

You probably don’t dedicate much time to thinking about it, but the headliner is a piece of foam-backed fabric that is present on the roof of your car’s cabin. The headliner of the car serves several functions in the cabin: 

• Tactile aesthetics: Since the cabin is the part of the car that is encountered directly by the people in the car, most car manufacturers design a car’s interior to feature plastic, fabric, and leather construction materials rather than fiberglass and metal. This results in a cabin that is softer and more pleasing to the touch.
• Protection for the car’s structural elements: The headliner and other components of the car’s cabin protects the car’s infrastructure from being accessed or tampered with by the car’s inhabitants. Elements such as wiring and mechanisms are hidden behind plastic and cloth paneling.
• Temperature insulation: The bare metal in a car’s roof can reach scorching temperatures in the spring and summer, and a cloth headliner can act as a buffer between the passenger and this heat. The foam-backed cloth of a headliner can also help prevent heat from seeping out of the car during cold winter months.
• Sound reduction: Headliners help muffle the noise of car stereos to traffic outside of the vehicle or passersby. Headliners also help muffle any ambient road noise which might irritate passengers of the vehicle. 

There are lots of good reasons why the majority of automotive designs feature a headliner, but these headliners inevitably sag as a car gets older. 

What Causes a Car’s Headliner to Sag?

There are several different reasons why a car’s headliner might begin to sag, but the issue is seen most commonly in older vehicles, especially those manufactured in the seventies or before. The reason is that the foam and glue used in automotive manufacturing inevitably become degraded and lead to the headliner falling away from the car’s roof in time. 

Here are some of the other reasons you might run into a sagging car roof:

• Age: No matter what model car you drive, the older your car gets, the more likely you are to run into issues with your headliner sagging. The materials and chemicals used to adhere a headliner to a car’s roof aren’t time-proof, and like any glue, these adhesives eventually degrade and lose their effectiveness.
• Heat: The headliner of a car is backed up by the metal of the car’s roof, which routinely gets above a hundred degrees Fahrenheit in summer temperatures and can get as high as a hundred and ninety degrees Fahrenheit in black cars. Repeated exposure to these high temperatures eventually causes the foam and glue on the backing of the headliner to dry rot.
• Moisture: If a car’s headliner is subjected to moisture, such as high levels of humidity or a sunroof leak, the resulting moisture can cause the glue in a headliner to break down and result in a sagging car roof even in a car that isn’t very old. Moisture in the car cabin also has the added disadvantage of causing mildew in car carpeting and potential electrical issues.
• Wear and tear: In the course of its working life, a headliner is pinched, prodded, stretched, and sometimes even singed with cigarettes if you have particularly careless friends. This means you’re likely to end up with a headliner that has some cosmetic issues the older your car becomes and the more road experience it has.
• Sunroofs: Cars with sunroofs are particularly prone to having issues with sagging headliners – both because the headliner has fewer points of contact for adhesion and also because the headliner is exposed to more direct sunlight and moisture. Headliners on cars with sunroofs are also typically more difficult to repair than headliners on cars without a sunroof. 

While there are several reasons why a car’s headliner might begin to sag off the car’s roof, the bottom line is that if you are driving an older vehicle, you’re likely to run into this problem at some point or another.

Most of the time, this unsightly problem can be fixed well before it becomes a safety hazard. In some cases, it’s better to give up and have a headliner replaced entirely rather than trying to fix a sagging car roof yourself. 

Here are some of the indications that your headliner issue is bigger than a do-it-yourself weekend project and you need to pass the car along to professionals:

• The headliner has rips, tears, or significant stains.
• The headliner needs to be replaced entirely.
• The headliner is sagging badly enough to endanger the driver.
• The foam behind the headliner is crumbling from dry rot.

Minor damage or sagging in a car’s roof can be fixed and addressed at home, but if a car’s roof is sagging badly or the headliner is so old and damaged it isn’t worth saving, it’s probably better left to someone who has the tools and expertise to address the problem correctly and replace the whole thing.

Tips for Re-attaching a Sagging Headliner

No matter which method you use to try and re-attach your sagging car roof, there are a few tips that can make the process easier to manage.

Here are some helpful tips for making your headliner repair easier:

• If you’re using glue, work in a ventilated area. Spray adhesives such as headliner adhesive produce toxic fumes in enclosed spaces, so be sure to work in an open area if you’re repairing your car’s sagging roof with headliner adhesive.
• Apply pressure. Whether you’re using glue or pins, making sure to apply firm, smooth pressure across the entire repair job will help make sure that your headliner repair adheres without any bubbles or wrinkles (or at least as few as possible).
• Get help from a friend. Since you’ll be working upside down to attempt a headliner repair, it often helps to get a volunteer partner or two to help you keep the headliner pulled tight and straight to make sure it gets secured where it’s supposed to go.
• Check online. If your local car dealership doesn’t have a replacement headliner for your car and you want to replace it, check online markets. They often have aftermarket headliners and other accessories that aren’t available OEM for discontinued models.
• Work in broad daylight. Don’t try doing this kind of repair at night. You won’t have the free hands to hold a light on your work and work at the same time. Without a reliable source of light, you’re also more likely to miss wrinkles or other cosmetic flaws as well.  

Watching some YouTube videos or other tutorials of headliner replacements before attempting one can help you figure out what to expect and anticipate any potential problems before you start messing with your car’s headliner. Just have a plan B (or an upholstery shop) on call in case the repair doesn’t go the way you thought it would. 

Ways to Make Your Headliner Last Longer

Once you’ve repaired your headliner (or if you’re looking to prevent having to do it), there are ways for you to avoid a sagging roof in the first place.

Here are some of the things you can do to avoid dealing with a sagging car roof:

• Avoid owning cars that were manufactured from the seventies through the nineties. Many cars manufactured during this period had weak adhesive in their headliners as a near-universal engineering flaw, and classic car owners are still battling it decades later.
• Use a windshield shade and tinted windows. Keeping your headliner out of sunlight can go a long way toward preventing the dry rot of the foam backing and adhesive behind your car’s headliner.
• Keep your car in the garage. The sun baking down on your car’s roof is a significant contributor to the deterioration of the car’s headliner from heat-related damage.
• Avoid opening the sunroof. Sunroofs are notorious for two things: headliner problems and leaks. Neither one is fun to deal with as either a car owner or a car mechanic, and both are costly. To avoid dealing with unnecessary headliner problems, avoid cars that have sunroofs or moon roofs. 

While it isn’t possible to completely avoid age-related damage to your headliner, following the hints above can help you avoid having to deal with them. 

Minor Sagging in Car Roofs Can Be Fixed at Home

If you notice your car’s headliner beginning to sag a little, it isn’t the end of the world. In many cases, this problem can be fixed with just a handful of supplies and a little elbow grease. However, if you’ve got more serious problems with a billowing headliner, it might be time to bring in someone a little more familiar with car upholstery to replace it for you. 

And remember – if you’re shopping for cars and want to prevent a sagging roof as much as possible, the newer the model, the better!

Sources ​​

http://www.thehogring.com/2018/02/21/an-epic-rant-against-sagging-headliners/

https://extremehowto.com/repair-a-sagging-headliner/ Update: page unavailable​

https://carcaretotal.com/how-to-fix-sagging-headliner-without-removing/​

http://innovationsautointeriors.com/headliner-material-falling/​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjlVxZwZ1C4​

https://theluckyneedle.com/fix-sagging-headliner/​ Update: page unavailable

https://www.angieslist.com/articles/reupholstering-options-your-car.htm