Turning Off Your Engine With the Air Conditioning On? Mechanic Warns

In the middle of summer, we can't imagine giving up our car's air conditioning. Although the weather in Poland isn't exactly amazing right now , we still enjoy lowering the temperature to travel in comfort.

Few people know that air conditioning was invented by Willis Carrier, and it was first installed in cars in the 1940s. However, the cost of installation at the time was prohibitive for the average American – it hovered around $300, which today would translate to about $6,700-6,900 (approximately 24,500-25,300 złoty)! For twice that price, around $600, you could buy a new Ford (including the Deluxe model).

While most of us know how to use our air conditioning, few people use it correctly to avoid potential damage. Renowned car mechanic Juan Ebenezer warned TikTok users against turning off their engine while the air conditioning is running. He explained everything in his video.

A car mechanic warns: I don't recommend doing this!

An automotive expert points out that when you turn off the engine, the car "doesn't actually know it's stopping." "When you turn off the power, the car does stop, but the drop in voltage causes the air conditioning to go from stop mode to run mode," he explains.

That's why you need to turn off the air conditioning before turning the key in the ignition. "The compressor has inertia, force, and the auxiliary belt has resistance, so you need to remove this load before stopping the car – just as I recommend depressing the clutch before stopping (...) to reduce the load on the vehicle and avoid damaging the system. (...) Air conditioning requires the fan to run, and in some vehicles, as soon as the key is removed, the fan stops, preventing the condenser from cooling," he notes.

The TikTok mechanic points out that stopping the engine without first turning off the air conditioning won't cause any immediate problems, but over time, some maintenance may be required, something we could easily avoid by treating our vehicle well over the years. So, there's no need to panic, but it's worth following a specialist's advice to avoid repairs.

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