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AIR CONDITIONING SERVICES
Many of todays cars come with Air
Conditioning or "Climate Control". These systems use
special gas to cool the air that helps control the temperature
within your vehicle. However the system also dehumidifies and
cleans the air too.
Over time the gas can run out, become contaminated or filters
become saturated which can cause the system to become inefficient
or fail completely.
For this reason air conditioning units
should be regularly serviced in a similar manner to other
vehicles parts.
This will :
• Maximise the efficiency of your system.
• Remove unwanted bacteria.
• Improve de-misting times.
• Stop recirculation of dust and pollutant
particles.
• Increase fuel economy due to greater system
efficiency. |
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STAR PERFORMANCE
recommends an air-con service every 2 years.
We can service and re-gas your air
conditioning system. Our equipment can check for illegal gasses,
leaks, suitable oil levels etc to ensure that your system
is at it's optimum.
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AIR CON: FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
As air conditioning has become much more widely installed in
our cars many owners still do not understand what is required
to ensure the system works properly. Checking and recharging
the system can save you hundreds of punds in costly repairs
later on. Here are a few frequently asked questions to help
you understand air conditioning a little better.
How does air conditioning work?
An air conditioner is basically a refrigerator minus the insulated
box. Its function - in addition to cleaning and dehumidifying
the air entering the vehicle - is to maintain the air at a selected
temperature.
So, how does the system keep the car interior just the way we want it?
Most people think that an air conditioner simply adds cold air
to the interior of the car. Actually, there is no such thing
as cold, rather there is an absence of heat. The job of the
air conditioner is to remove the heat and humidity that we find
uncomfortable. A compressor circulates a liquid refrigerant,
compressing the liquid into a hot, high pressure gas. This hot
gas is then run through coils so the heat can be dissipated
and condensed into a liquid. The liquid then goes through an
expansion valve and evaporates to become a cold, low pressure
gas. This cold gas then runs through a set of coils which allow
the gas to absorb heat and, in so doing, cool the interior of
the vehicle.
My air conditioning unit isn't cooling. What's wrong with it?
Poor performance could be due to one or more factors:
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Low refrigerant:- An air conditioning system
requires a minimum amount of refrigerant to cool properly.
If the refrigerant level is low, it will work less efficiently
and will not cool well.
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Dirty condenser:- The condenser is the heat exchanger
which cools the hot high pressure refrigerant after it
exits the compressor so that it can condense into a liquid.
If the condenser is full of leaves, insects or other road
debris, air flow through the unit may be impeded to the
point where little cooling can take place. Cleaning the
condenser should cure this problem.
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Condenser cooling fan not working:- The condenser often
has its own separate electric cooling fan. This fan should
come on, and remain on, when the air conditioning system
is operating. If the wiring, fan motor, or motor relay
is defective, the fan may not work.
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Internal blockages:- Any type of debris, e.g. rust,
in the system may block the tube or the metering valve
through which refrigerant flows into the evaporator. This
will cause a loss of cooling, and potentially cause damage
to the compressor as the system probably relies on oil
circulating with the refrigerant for lubrication.
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Air or moisture contamination:- The refrigerant inside
the system, which must remain free of moisture, can freeze
and form ice that will cause blockages. Contamination
can result from leaks in the system, or failure to vacuum
purge the system prior to recharging it with refrigerant.
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Other electrical or mechanical problems:- These would
include compressor wear, the compressor clutch failing
to engage, metering valve failures, inoperative pressure
switches, etc. Precise diagnosis will require a technician
who has all the necessary tools and equipment, and who
has been trained in this highly specialised process. |
How can I tell if my air conditioning system needs refrigerant?
Most air conditioning systems lose a little refrigerant over
time. Newer systems are likely to leak less than older ones,
which may lose several ounces of refrigerant each year. It is
therefore not unusual for the system to need re-charging.
My A/C system is leaking refrigerant. How can I find the leak?
The two most common ways to find a leak are to:
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Visually inspect the system for telltale
oil stains
When refrigerant leaks from the system, it immediately
evaporates into thin air leaving no trace except possibly
the compressor oil residue that leaks out with it. Wet
oily areas around hose connections and fittings and/or
greasy streaks radiating outward around the compressor
clutch or on the underside of the bonnet just above the
compressor are good visual clues to the location of the
leak.
Fluorescent Dye is added to the system, the presence of
the coloured dye around hose connections and fittings
after the system has been run for a period of time are
indications of escape. Leak detecting dyes will often
reveal tiny leaks that might escape visual detection.
Some are fluorescent and require illumination with a special
light before you can see them. Despite this, even dyes
can fail to determine the location of a leak if the leak
is in the evaporator (located inside the heater/defroster
plenium under the dash) or in a hard-to-observe or hidden
location. |
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Use an electronic leak detector
Most professionals use an "electronic" leak
detector that reacts to the presence of refrigerant in
the air. Such detectors are extremely sensitive and can
detect leaks as small as 1/4 oz. of refrigerant per year!
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Why change the filter/dryer?
After approximately 2 years the filter/dryer becomes saturated
with moisture and the a/c system becomes less efficient and
the cooling effect inside the vehicle decreases; there is also
a risk that the desiccant can be dispersed into the a/c system
causing system failure.
Why should the a/c system be used even during the winter months?
Using the a/c system during winter months will prevent the windows
from misting inside the vehicle as the air is dehumidified,
and regular use will help prevent oil seals drying out thus
preventing refrigerant loss or compressor failure.
Are there different types of refrigerant?
Yes, Isceon 49 or RS-24 (R12 was used up to October 2000 but
its use is now illegal) is used for vehicles up to 1993, later
vehicle use R134. Refrigerants must never be mixed or cross-contaminated
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* R12 gas is illegal but can be found
in even new cars systems if an infected recharging system was
used. Our system checks for these gases before starting any
service or recharge so that it does not get infected and therefore
spread R12 infection to other vehicles as this can invalidate
a warranty and at worse cause air conditioning system failure.
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TERMS