Automotive Service & Repair
2007-06-01 09:43:00
How to keep your auto’s A/C cool
Answer: Almost every car has air-conditioning now, thank goodness! Can you imagine what you would feel like now in 90-100 degree weather without the cooling breeze of the car’s air conditioning blowing softly through the cars vents? We have become so used to this comfort that we simply cannot do without this modern day convenience.
How does the air conditioning in your car work? It is merely the process by which air is cooled and dehumidified, the same way as your home and office. Since cooling is a simple process, it is easy to keep your car’s A/C system working properly, keeping you cool all summer.
Did you know that when you turn on the A/C in your car, you are burning extra gasoline? By burning something you become cooler, strange but true. The principles of evaporation and condensation are what is used in your car’s A/C system by a series of components that are connected by tubes and hoses. Six basic components make up this system: the compressor; condenser; receiver-drier; thermostatic expansion valve; the evaporator; and, of course, the refrigerant.
The refrigerant is a liquid that is capable of vaporizing at a very low temperature. All of the cars that were built after 1996 use R-134A that is an environmentally friendly refrigerant.
Here is how the air conditioning system works:
Step One: The power unit of the A/C system, the compressor. It is powered by a drive belt that is connected to the crankshaft and when the system is turned on, the compressor pumps out a vapor under high pressure and high heat to the condenser.
Step Two: The condenser is used to change high-pressure refrigerant vapor to liquid. When the car is moving, the air that flows through the condenser removes the heat from the refrigerant and changes it to a liquid state.
Step Three: The refrigerant then moves to a receiver-drier, which is a storage tank for the refrigerant. It also removes moisture from the refrigerant.
Step Four: As the compressor continues to pressurize the system, liquid refrigerant under high pressure is circulated from the receiver-drier to the thermostatic expansion valve. The valve removes pressure from the liquid refrigerant so that it can expand and become refrigerant vapor in the evaporator.
Step Five: The evaporator consists of tubes and fins and is usually mounted inside the passenger compartment. As the low-pressure refrigerant is released into the evaporator, it is vaporized. The blower distributes the air throughout the inside of the car.
Step Six: The heat-laden, low-pressure refrigerant vapor is then drawn into the compressor to start another refrigeration cycle.
The very best thing about your car’s air-conditioning is that you just press a button or move a lever and it works! They are pretty reliable if you maintain the system properly. If you are having a problem or your air-conditioner does not seem to be working quite right, here’s what you might want to troubleshoot:
No cool air – might be a loose or broken drive belt, inoperative compressor or slipping compressor clutch, a defective expansion valve, a clogged expansion valve-receiver-drier or liquid refrigerant line, a blown fuse, or a leaking component.
Insufficient cool air – might be low refrigerant charge, a loose drive belt, slipping compressor clutch, a clogged condenser, clogged evaporator, a slow leak in the system, or a partially clogged filter or expansion valve.
Make sure that you have your system checked regularly according to the owner’s manual and stay cool!
