Air Conditioning Service

Keep your cool this summer with a properly maintained car air conditioning system.

In Australia a properly working air conditioner is vital to keeping your car comfortable all year round. Regular car services will check for obvious faults which may be associated with the air conditioning system, like drive belt tension, visible signs of refrigerant leaks and loose or faulty compressor or equipment mounting brackets, however it′s good practice to have a comprehensive air conditioning service regularly.

Did you know that in addition to regular servicing, running your car air conditioning during winter also helps to maintain the system in good working order. Air conditioning systems contain a myriad of hoses and seals that can dry out or crack, which could lead to coolant leaks and poor performance.

What happens in a car air conditioning service?

• Inspection of drive belts and pulleys
• Check operation of valves and thermostats
• Inspection of hoses and components
• Evacuate system and recover refrigerant (weigh amount and record)
• Add required amount of refrigerant oil
• Charge system with recommended refrigerant type and capacity (if required)
• Condenser temperature check
• Suction line temperature reading
• Leak test system lines and components with an electronic leak detector
• Run vehicle to check air vent temperature and report

Most of the new cars currently sold are equipped with air conditioning, and most of us rely on this every day, depending on where we live and the climate around. Fortunately, thanks to modern, sophisticated modern systems, there are very few problems, but each air conditioner needs some maintenance at some point, and after a few years of work most will have to add a new refrigerant.

The two most common complaints about air conditioning in cars are that the system produces insufficient cold air or does not produce cold air at all. Neither of these cases means that the entire system is damaged or needs to be replaced, instead, a series of diagnostic checks should be carried out to determine the exact cause of the problem and the need to replace or repair any part.

Understanding the car air conditioning service & repair

The car air conditioner consists of six main components: compressor and condenser, evaporator, receiving dryer, thermostatic expansion valve, and liquid refrigerant. Having basic knowledge about how each of these works will help when the time comes to identify the problem or eliminate it.

The compressor drives the system and is driven by a belt that is connected to the car engine part. The compressor then emits steam from the liquid medium by means of high pressure and heat directed to the condenser of the device. The condenser of the air conditioner then converts the steam into liquid before entering the area known as a dryer-receiver, which serves not only as a type of liquid refrigerant storage tank but also removes excess moisture from the refrigerant.

The liquid refrigerant is then sent to the thermostatic expansion valve of the unit, which acts to release all pressure, allowing it to expand and transform into steam when flowing through an evaporator that is similar to the condenser. After sending the low-pressure refrigerant to the evaporator it evaporates and works to absorb all existing heat from the air inside the car. As soon as all the heat is absorbed, the air stays cold and circulates inside with a fan.

System Performance Tests and Checking for Leaks

Although the system performance test is not a real fix, it is still necessary along with the initial assessment to determine the actual cause of the poor performance of the air conditioning system. The final repair will ultimately depend on the diagnostic tests used, which can be as simple as a system inspection.

The air conditioning system performance test will include the first air temperature test coming from the ventilation openings to ensure that it is below the normal level. In this case, the mechanic or technician will carry out the so-called initial pressure control, at which the sensors are used to determine the level of refrigerant in the system.

Although it is perfectly normal and even necessary for a car air conditioner to lose some of its refrigerants, large leaks will result in a noticeable loss of performance. If the diagnostic tests detect low or zero pressure from the system, the technician should scan it to determine the problem area and check whether the leak is a liquid or gaseous refrigerant and which components need to be replaced.

Too high-pressure readings during the system performance test may indicate a blockage or restriction anywhere that hinders the proper flow of refrigerant. In most cases, small pieces of dirt fall into a small pipe that is designed to filter garbage and must be cleaned to restore air flow through the ventilation openings.