Your mechanic may bring up recharging your AC with you if they notice your AC isn’t cooling your car properly. Your car may need that AC recharge if it is low on refrigerant, used by air conditioners to maintain cooling and pressure. A fresh batch of refrigerant, or Freon if your car needs it, will help your air conditioning system keep cool. When you get your AC recharged your auto repairer will fill up your air conditioning system with a fresh batch of refrigerant to go along with any repairs your AC may have needed, and test your system to ensure your AC is cooling thoroughly. Typically your car shouldn’t need an AC recharge unless you’ve had other repairs to your AC system, but your mechanic will suggest a AC recharge to you if they feel your AC could use one.

Refrigerant is what keeps your AC cold like it should be. [...]

Your air conditioning system breaking on a sweltering day can feel unbearable. Hot air blowing through your vents could signal a minor or major issue. You could have a leak, clogged filter, cooling fan problem or some other issue. By knowing all of the reasons, you can better explain them to a mechanic or even solve them yourself.

AC systems all run the same way, no matter the make and model of your car. Some systems may be more complex than others, but the basics are the same. The three main parts of the AC system are the compressor, condenser, and the evaporator.

Refrigerant is the high-pressure gas that is compressed into a fluid. Your car’s condenser removes the heat [...]

Jeeps are a very popular vehicle in Oregon & Idaho. Due to the famously tough terrain and heavy snowfall, people need a vehicle they can be confident will get them to where they need to be no matter the obstacle. Jeeps are tough, there’s no question about it. However, like any vehicle, they will run into car issues that need to be repaired eventually. While you may not need too many of them, being aware of the most common Jeep repairs will benefit you. It can sometimes be hard to tell when exactly your vehicle needs service.

One thing that often happens with Jeep owners is that they’ll come in for service and be shocked to hear that they need a lot of work done. The good thing about [...]

Whether by plane, train, or automobile, Holiday travel has a reputation for being stressful. Traveling by car can be particularly stressful since it means remaining diligent throughout your trip. Heavy traffic, bad weather, and distractions only add to it. This creates the perfect scenario for an auto accident or collision that can lead to needing major car repairs. Play it safe this year and make sure you’re prepared to hit the road by following these tips:

Breakdowns on the highway are inconvenient, dangerous, and cause a traffic snag for everyone else on the road. Make sure your vehicle is ready to hit the road by having the tires inspected and fluids topped off. If there are any unusual sounds under the hood, have it looked at. Check your wipers to make sure they’re in good condition and replace them if they need it. It’s probably time for a new [...]

Road rage is all too common these days. From simple merging mistakes to speed and traffic, there’s no shortage of triggers out there, either. When we get worked up behind the week, a simple hand gesture or some name-calling can seem like a convenient way to vent our frustrations, however, this behavior can lead to a dangerous situation. When tempers flare behind the wheel, accidents and collisions can occur very easily. We thought we would share some tips on how to avoid losing your cool behind the wheel to help keep you a bit safer on the road.

As simple as it sounds, it can be quite difficult to let things go while driving. After all, that person who didn’t notice you in their blind spot before merging could have caused an accident, and that person driving slow in the left lane could be making you late for a meeting. [...]

There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the engine in your vehicle. You may be aware that the engine is responsible for creating the energy to move the vehicle forward, but how well do you really know how it works? What’s the difference between a diesel and gas engine, a four-cylinder versus a V6, or a two vs four-stroke engine? Learn more about how each of the many components and parts that work together to get the vehicle into motion as well as the difference between them, so you can get to know your engine.

Gas and Diesel-Powered Engines

While both engines function on applying the intake, compression and power, exhaust, and air to fuel proportions, each engine functions differently. Diesel-powered engines take air into the combustion chamber while gas-powered engines take in both air and fuel. Power and compression differs as well. Each engine compresses air into a small area, creating [...]

When the sun goes down and it gets dark outside, a driver’s ability to see the road becomes a lot more of a challenge. Luckily, all vehicles are outfitted with headlights to help illuminate the road ahead. Over time, just like any light, they can begin to dim or burn out altogether. Driving around with just one headlight could pose a danger to yourself and other drivers as well as put you at risk for a traffic violation. If you’re in the dark about your car’s headlights, we’ll shed some light on everything you need to know about your car’s lighting.

How Many Lights Are Out?

If you notice just one headlight out, as opposed to two, you can assume that just one bulb has burned out and requires a replacement. [...]

Sometimes it happens that you have to go on a trip in the hot season, and your car has no air conditioning or it is broken. What shall you do then? First of all, do not cancel your trip. Air conditioning may get broken in the middle of nowhere. You never know. Moreover, sometimes you cannot repair it as quickly as possible.

Air conditioning is one of those modern marvels most of us have grown used to by now—perhaps too used to. Believe it or not, people survived in the days before reliable, widely-available aircon, and you can, too. Here’s our guide on how to embrace the sweaty life without dying.

When the weather is hot, the biggest risk is dehydration. When your body lacks water, you [...]

Each changing of the season creates new stressors that can affect the performance of your automobile. Having automotive problems can make you second guess taking that road trip or even a visit to the local swimming hole. What many Portland, Oregon, and Idaho, drivers do is schedule a service appointment at Mac’s Radiator & Automotive Service.

When you schedule any kind of service at Mac’s, they let you know, as a courtesy, if there are any other weak spots in your vehicle that need attention before a failure. Often times, drivers forget to change fluids, fail to top off fluids, or have premature wear in spots that they can’t see. When it comes to summertime problems, it is common for drivers to experience weak batteries, transmission problems, engine stalling, A/C system failures, and overheating.