Auto Air Conditioning - Keep Your Auto Air Conditioning in Top Shape
You always expect your auto air conditioning to work when you turn on the switch, but did you know that there are several things you can do yourself to keep the air conditioning system in top shape?
A drive belt makes the air conditioning
compressor turn, and that keeps the cooling refrigerant circulating like
it should. If the belt is worn, stretched or cracked it can slip or
break — which stops the compressor. When that happens, circulation
stops and the air conditioner quits cooling.
The drive belt and compressor are sometimes hard
to find, especially in newer vehicles with covers and components that
hide them. The next time you take the vehicle to Just7 Lube & Tune ,
ask the technician to show you where the belt and compressor are
located.
The radiator. Refrigerant runs through the
condenser and air flows across its cooling fins, removing heat from the
circulating refrigerant.
If the fins become damaged or plugged up with
debris, air flow is restricted, and that means heat isn’t removed
properly. Restriction can also cause the vehicle to overheat. Check the
fins periodically to make sure they are clean and in good condition.
There aren’t any visual checks to perform inside the truck, but there are some signs to watch for that will alert you to developing problems.
You can reduce the buildup of mold and mildew
by turning the A/C recirculation switch off when you park the truck. If
your vehicle doesn’t have a recirculation switch, turn the A/C switch
away from the “Max Air” position every time you shut the engine off.
Some vehicles will still develop a musty odor,
Just7 Lube & Tune offer an evaporator cleaning procedure to
eliminate the smell.
If you discover a problem with your truck’s A/C, take the vehicle to Just7 Lube & Tune.
Without the heating and air conditioning systems in today’s modern vehicles, we would all be miserable driving to our destinations. We take for granted the heat that keeps us warm in the winter months, and the cool air that refreshes in the summer time. Let’s take a look at how both systems work to keep us comfortable all year round.
The heater in your car is basically a smaller version of your cooling systems radiator. Hot engine coolant is circulated through a small radiator, often times called a heater core. A fan is positioned in front of the heater core to blow cold outside air over the fins. As this air travels over the heater core, it heats up and becomes the hot air which blows out your heater vents.
Like your engines cooling system radiator, the heater core can suffer some of the same issues. If the heater core becomes clogged with rust or sludge, you will no longer have heat. Also leaks can cause a cabin full of white steam and really mess up your windows. If you smell the sweet aroma of coolant when your heater is on, chances are, you have a small leak in the heater core. Often times the heater core is buried under the dashboard, and replacing it, is a major job.
The air conditioning system in your car is comprised of a compressor, condenser, expansion valve and evaporator. If you have ever used a can of compressed air to clean computer components, you will know that the bottle gets very cold in a short amount of time. This is due to the rapid expansion of the compressed gas. The same thing happens in your car’s air conditioning system. Refrigerant (AKA Freon) is compressed in the compressor and turns into a hot gas. In the condenser, this hot gas is cooled to a liquid state and travels to the expansion valve. As the Freon goes through the expansion valve it returns to a low-pressure gas and rapidly cools in the evaporator. A fan blows over the evaporator and cools the air that eventually blows out your vents.