How to Maintain Your Automotive Air Conditioning System
#1
04-12-2011, 07:18 AM
How to Maintain Your Automotive Air Conditioning System
How to Maintain Your Automotive Air Conditioning System
By Charmiane Wilson, eHow Contributor =updated: December 08, 2010
Make sure that your car's A/C is working when you need it.
The airconditioners in cars are easy to take for granted. With a turn of a dial you are met with cold air inside the cabin of your vehicle. This expectation is a reasonable one to hold, as long as the air-conditioning system is being properly cared for and watched for signs of trouble. The system is not a hard one to care for; however, neglecting it can quickly take your car from a cool oasis on a hot day to a mobile oven in need of expensive repairs.
Difficulty:ModerateInstructions
By Charmiane Wilson, eHow Contributor =updated: December 08, 2010
Make sure that your car's A/C is working when you need it.
The airconditioners in cars are easy to take for granted. With a turn of a dial you are met with cold air inside the cabin of your vehicle. This expectation is a reasonable one to hold, as long as the air-conditioning system is being properly cared for and watched for signs of trouble. The system is not a hard one to care for; however, neglecting it can quickly take your car from a cool oasis on a hot day to a mobile oven in need of expensive repairs.
Difficulty:ModerateInstructions
-
- 1Set your air-conditioning mode to recirculate the air. Recirculated air will not be as cold, but if you simply need it to be cooler inside the car than it is outside, doing this will reduce the strain on your engine.
- 2Maintain your car's refrigerant level. This process is not as simple as adding antifreeze to your radiator, and should be checked for and done by a professional. If the levels are low, your air-conditioning system will not get or stay very cool. If the levels are too high, this can cause other adverse results. If you can remember to ask your mechanic to check on this when you do something scheduled, like getting your oil changed, you will be in good shape.
- 3Smell your airconditioner when you first switch it on. Ideally, the system should work without creating any sort of aroma. Smells --- even ones which are not particularly offensive --- can indicate bacteria or other microorganisms in the filters. This should be checked by a technician to avoid breathing in compromised air.
- 4Watch for water collecting on the inside of the car when the air conditioner is used. This can indicate that there are blocked hoses, which need to be cleared before any further blockage occurs. This should be done by an automotive professional.
- 1Set your air-conditioning mode to recirculate the air. Recirculated air will not be as cold, but if you simply need it to be cooler inside the car than it is outside, doing this will reduce the strain on your engine.
#2
04-12-2011, 07:21 AM
How to Maintain and Inspect your AC System During the Summer Months
It is important to get your air conditioner checked for leaks and recharged to ensure optimal performance during the Hot Summer Months. One thing that No One wants to happen is for your Air Conditioner to Stop Working, especially, on a very Hot Summer Day. With step-by-step instructions, you can Do-it-Yourself. If it seems too hard to tackle, then you may want to take your vehicle in to a Reliable Repair Shop. This article will give you the knowledge of what the repair shop needs to inspect. If you could pin point the problem yourself, you could save yourself money when visiting the repair shop.
Your Personal Mechanic should be able to check this out for you at little to no cost. Service may be required after inspection.
Warning: Be very cautious when inspecting and repairing your vehicle Air Conditioner yourself. You should wear eye protection and take great precautionary measures. Air Conditioner systems contain high pressure gas that when released can cause personal injury. Use all safety precautions. The Refrigerant for Air Conditioners is very harmful and can cause damage to your skin and eyes. This Refrigerant is Freon. Read all directions and follow instructions very carefully. This is for your safety.
If you are having problems with your air conditioner and it is blowing hot air there are several things that you need to inspect. A basic Air Conditioner Gauge and Test light is needed to help diagnose most air conditioner problems.
Check Drive Belts.
The Drive Belt is what the Air Conditioner uses to supply the power to rotate the compressor (a refrigerant pump). If the belt fails the compressor has nothing to drive it. Inspect and replace the Drive Belt as needed to restore the operation of your air conditioner. If the Drive Belt is intact, then proceed to the next step.
Drive Belt
Check the Compressor Clutch.
To check the Compressor Clutch, your will need to turn the air conditioner on. Set the air conditioner to the coldest position.
Start your vehicle and let it just idle.
Find the compressor that is under your hood. The clutch is at the front of the compressor. Make sure that it is turning. If it is turning then you have enough refrigerant. If it is not turning, then you could be low on refrigerant. It could result in the Compressor to cycle “on and off”. It will also be making a ticking noise.
If the Compressor Clutch is not turning, you will need to check for Refrigerant Leaks. Another problem may be a blown fuse or a wiring problem.
If you are going to try to tackle this repair by yourself, you will need to purchase an “Air Conditioner Recharge Kit”.
Inspect hoses for leaks.
The most common cause of an automotive Air Conditioner not working properly is from “little to no Refrigerant”. Therefore, there must be a leak somewhere. These leaks will need to be identified and repaired before the Air Conditioner can be recharged.
Leaks can be easy to find. The leaks leave behind a residue from being wet around the leak. This residue will be sticky with Freon oil and dust.
O-Ring
The most common cause of a Refrigerant Leak is due to an O-Ring. Check the O-Rings first. O-Rings are very inexpensive to replace. Sometimes they just need to be tightened.
An O-Ring is located at every connection from the different components to the hoses. The O-Rings can become loose during vehicle operation. Check the O-Rings for loose connections. If they are loose then, just tighten. Check for wear and tear of the O-Rings and replace the O-Ring if necessary. These O-Ring issues will cause the Refrigerant (Freon) to leak out.
A lot of parts stores are selling stop leak chemicals for Air Conditioning Systems. I recommend Not using these products because, they cause problems with the refrigerant recovery machines. A lot of repair shops will not service your Air Conditioning System if the use of stop leak is detected. Using stop leak also causes the cost of servicing your Air Conditioning System to go up.
O-Rings
Inspect the cooling fan operation.
Electric cooling fans come on when the Air Conditioner is turned on. If the fan is not working, the efficiency of your A/C system will be affected. This may cause your A/C to not work at all.
The Electric Cooling Fan/Fans are normally located on the radiator.
Vehicles with out Electric Cooling Fans use a Thermal Activated Fan Clutch which pulls air through the condenser just like an Electric Cooling Fan. The Fan Clutch should be inspected as well.
The Thermal Activated Fan Clutch is located on the Fan Blade Assembly. It is in between the radiator and the engine.
Any debris that prevents air flowing through the condenser and radiator will cause the Air Conditioning System to perform poorly.
A garden hose with low water pressure will often clear the debris. The vehicle must be turned off at this time.
Radiator and Condenser
Check operating pressures of the system.
This must be done by a professional. The professional should have all gages and training required. The system operates under High Pressure and should only be serviced by a professional. Attempting to add refrigerant to your own A/C System is not recommended.
Remember: Just because your A/C is not blowing cold air, does not always mean that it is low on refrigerant.
Check the outlet temperature of the vents from inside the vehicle.
You should feel cool air coming out of the vents. The temperature depends on ambient temperature and humidity. If the temperature does not seem cool enough have the A/C System inspected.
Check operation of the control unit of the Blend Door.
The Blend Door is usually located under the dash on the evaporator unit. Its purpose is to close off Hot Air and close off Cold Air or blend the two together. Some vehicles have problems with the Blend Doors or the devices that operate them.
With the vehicle on and at operating temperature, move the temperature control to hot. You should feel a significant change in the heat coming out of the vent.
Then turn the vehicle temperature to cold with the A/C on and the temperature should change to cold. If this does not work well for you, then take it to a professional for inspection.
Look for other things that can go wrong: bad switches, bad fuses, broken wires, broken fan belt (preventing the pump from turning), or seal failure inside the compressor.
These are things also to be performed by a professional.
WARNING! Before any air conditioner repair work can be performed, the system must be evacuated of all refrigerant. If you do not evacuate the entire refrigerant, personal injury can occur. It is under High Pressure!
Servicing The Air Conditioning System should be performed by a professional. The gases used should not be leaked in to the atmosphere. Specialized equipment is used by the professionals to capture the refrigerant.
As you can see, the Air Conditioning System can be very complicated and cost a lot of money for repairs
http://xpectmoreautomotive.com/?p=65
^^^^^^^^Source Link above ^^^^^^
It is important to get your air conditioner checked for leaks and recharged to ensure optimal performance during the Hot Summer Months. One thing that No One wants to happen is for your Air Conditioner to Stop Working, especially, on a very Hot Summer Day. With step-by-step instructions, you can Do-it-Yourself. If it seems too hard to tackle, then you may want to take your vehicle in to a Reliable Repair Shop. This article will give you the knowledge of what the repair shop needs to inspect. If you could pin point the problem yourself, you could save yourself money when visiting the repair shop.
Your Personal Mechanic should be able to check this out for you at little to no cost. Service may be required after inspection.
Warning: Be very cautious when inspecting and repairing your vehicle Air Conditioner yourself. You should wear eye protection and take great precautionary measures. Air Conditioner systems contain high pressure gas that when released can cause personal injury. Use all safety precautions. The Refrigerant for Air Conditioners is very harmful and can cause damage to your skin and eyes. This Refrigerant is Freon. Read all directions and follow instructions very carefully. This is for your safety.
If you are having problems with your air conditioner and it is blowing hot air there are several things that you need to inspect. A basic Air Conditioner Gauge and Test light is needed to help diagnose most air conditioner problems.
This is an illustration of how your Automobile Air Conditioning System Works
Check Drive Belts.
The Drive Belt is what the Air Conditioner uses to supply the power to rotate the compressor (a refrigerant pump). If the belt fails the compressor has nothing to drive it. Inspect and replace the Drive Belt as needed to restore the operation of your air conditioner. If the Drive Belt is intact, then proceed to the next step.
Drive Belt
Check the Compressor Clutch.
To check the Compressor Clutch, your will need to turn the air conditioner on. Set the air conditioner to the coldest position.
Start your vehicle and let it just idle.
Find the compressor that is under your hood. The clutch is at the front of the compressor. Make sure that it is turning. If it is turning then you have enough refrigerant. If it is not turning, then you could be low on refrigerant. It could result in the Compressor to cycle “on and off”. It will also be making a ticking noise.
If the Compressor Clutch is not turning, you will need to check for Refrigerant Leaks. Another problem may be a blown fuse or a wiring problem.
If you are going to try to tackle this repair by yourself, you will need to purchase an “Air Conditioner Recharge Kit”.
Compressor Clutch
Inspect hoses for leaks.
The most common cause of an automotive Air Conditioner not working properly is from “little to no Refrigerant”. Therefore, there must be a leak somewhere. These leaks will need to be identified and repaired before the Air Conditioner can be recharged.
Leaks can be easy to find. The leaks leave behind a residue from being wet around the leak. This residue will be sticky with Freon oil and dust.
O-Ring
The most common cause of a Refrigerant Leak is due to an O-Ring. Check the O-Rings first. O-Rings are very inexpensive to replace. Sometimes they just need to be tightened.
An O-Ring is located at every connection from the different components to the hoses. The O-Rings can become loose during vehicle operation. Check the O-Rings for loose connections. If they are loose then, just tighten. Check for wear and tear of the O-Rings and replace the O-Ring if necessary. These O-Ring issues will cause the Refrigerant (Freon) to leak out.
A lot of parts stores are selling stop leak chemicals for Air Conditioning Systems. I recommend Not using these products because, they cause problems with the refrigerant recovery machines. A lot of repair shops will not service your Air Conditioning System if the use of stop leak is detected. Using stop leak also causes the cost of servicing your Air Conditioning System to go up.
O-Rings
Inspect the cooling fan operation.
Electric cooling fans come on when the Air Conditioner is turned on. If the fan is not working, the efficiency of your A/C system will be affected. This may cause your A/C to not work at all.
The Electric Cooling Fan/Fans are normally located on the radiator.
Vehicles with out Electric Cooling Fans use a Thermal Activated Fan Clutch which pulls air through the condenser just like an Electric Cooling Fan. The Fan Clutch should be inspected as well.
The Thermal Activated Fan Clutch is located on the Fan Blade Assembly. It is in between the radiator and the engine.
Cooling Fan and Cooling System
Check the radiator and condenser for obstructions and debris.Any debris that prevents air flowing through the condenser and radiator will cause the Air Conditioning System to perform poorly.
A garden hose with low water pressure will often clear the debris. The vehicle must be turned off at this time.
Radiator and Condenser
Check operating pressures of the system.
This must be done by a professional. The professional should have all gages and training required. The system operates under High Pressure and should only be serviced by a professional. Attempting to add refrigerant to your own A/C System is not recommended.
Remember: Just because your A/C is not blowing cold air, does not always mean that it is low on refrigerant.
Check the outlet temperature of the vents from inside the vehicle.
You should feel cool air coming out of the vents. The temperature depends on ambient temperature and humidity. If the temperature does not seem cool enough have the A/C System inspected.
Check operation of the control unit of the Blend Door.
The Blend Door is usually located under the dash on the evaporator unit. Its purpose is to close off Hot Air and close off Cold Air or blend the two together. Some vehicles have problems with the Blend Doors or the devices that operate them.
With the vehicle on and at operating temperature, move the temperature control to hot. You should feel a significant change in the heat coming out of the vent.
Then turn the vehicle temperature to cold with the A/C on and the temperature should change to cold. If this does not work well for you, then take it to a professional for inspection.
Look for other things that can go wrong: bad switches, bad fuses, broken wires, broken fan belt (preventing the pump from turning), or seal failure inside the compressor.
These are things also to be performed by a professional.
WARNING! Before any air conditioner repair work can be performed, the system must be evacuated of all refrigerant. If you do not evacuate the entire refrigerant, personal injury can occur. It is under High Pressure!
Servicing The Air Conditioning System should be performed by a professional. The gases used should not be leaked in to the atmosphere. Specialized equipment is used by the professionals to capture the refrigerant.
As you can see, the Air Conditioning System can be very complicated and cost a lot of money for repairs
http://xpectmoreautomotive.com/?p=65
^^^^^^^^Source Link above ^^^^^^
Last edited by Space; 04-12-2011 at 07:30 AM.
#4
08-20-2021, 05:53 AM
#5
09-20-2021, 11:27 AM
This tip is for 1st and 2nd gen Monte Carlos with the original AC system that use R-12 but may be applicable to other compressors.
For those of you who do not run your AC at least once per week, you will need to turn the compressor by hand in reverse a couple of times before starting the engine and turning on the system. The reason is the oil in the compressor tends to migrate out of the cylinders. After about a week, the cylinders are essentially dry. Starting the compressor in dry conditions is like starting your engine without oil. Manually turning the compressor in reverse a couple of times re-coats the pistons and lubricates the cylinders.
For those of you who do not run your AC at least once per week, you will need to turn the compressor by hand in reverse a couple of times before starting the engine and turning on the system. The reason is the oil in the compressor tends to migrate out of the cylinders. After about a week, the cylinders are essentially dry. Starting the compressor in dry conditions is like starting your engine without oil. Manually turning the compressor in reverse a couple of times re-coats the pistons and lubricates the cylinders.
#6
12-06-2021, 03:07 PM
Nice information. The air intake also plays a major role The air intake has several functions: Atmospheric (cold) air intake to feed the engine; Warm air intake to feed the engine during cold start and warm-up (mainly in cold weather); Directional air supply to the filter regardless of its location (this allows for convenient placement of the filter and other parts of the power system); Some types of air intakes - protecting the engine power system from water and dirt; This item needs to be cleaned and maintained at all times, I use the Best Cold Air Intake For Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi, you can find it here https://nashvilleperformance.com/cai...7-hemi-engine/. K&N for my car, one of the best options for me.
Last edited by mark_naismith; 12-10-2021 at 07:54 AM.
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