When your car A/C is not forced "cold air", the first thought is usually to panic. $$$$ signs coping your mind. Your A/C is increased and the repair is usually expensive. This article takes the mystery originating automotive Air Conditioning and may be a primer whenever you make common repairs yourself and save money on professional repairs.
A/C Principles
There are books and publications that have volumes of information with regards to Air Conditioning Repair. This information typically too technical for the yourself to learn how-to fix your Air Conditioning system.
In inside the house nutshell, here is all that you need to know about the basic principles of refrigeration so that you can fix your auto Air Conditioning request yourself.
Air Conditioning is this in which air inside the passenger compartment is cooled down, dried, and circulated. Heat is removed from the vehicle and transferred outward air.
All air conditioners whether, it is a vehicle A/C, household refrigerator compared to home HVAC, work comparable principles. Namely, a liquid refrigerant is changed to a gas most of these back to a veggie juice. If a change-of-state for your refrigerant is to take place, heat transfer must that you are. The two (2) rules that place on refrigerant are:
1. Refrigerant from the local gaseous state collects, digests, and holds heat.
2. Refrigerant from the local liquid state releases have heat.
A/C Operation and Components
For your auto A/C to blow "cold air", R-134A refrigerant must come into contact with and change state if the three (3) components, a singular (1) receiver-dryer, and one (1) expansion valve making up the closed car Air Conditioning system. The pieces of the system are:
1. Compressor - A device that pressurizes the usual refrigerant..
2. Condenser - A radiator for refrigerant that transfers heat that was absorbed in his or her passenger compartment to the employees cooler air.
3. Evaporator - Is really a small radiator located under dash if your passenger compartment. Liquid refrigerant entering the evaporator leads to a pressure loss. The liquid refrigerant absorbs heat to your air blowing across the time evaporator. It then boils and still not changes state to computer before it enters the suction port to your compressor.
4. Receiver-Dryer - Is really a canister that stores water refrigerant when the compressor just is not running. It contains a desiccant that removes moisture for your system.
5. Expansion Valve - Will be a metering device that controls normally , how much refrigerant to the evaporator.
A/C Quick Check
A check which is made to check the health of the A/C system the actual "feel check". With engine running, turn the auto A/C control to "ON" which will blower on "high". Embark upon test drive to warm the engine until the A/C system pressures sense of balance. Raise the hood. From the local A/C "On", locate the big tubing connected and routed for your compressor (low side) using the expansion valve (inlet side) just for the evaporator. Next, locate the small tubing that depends on the discharge-side of if the compressor and routed the outlet side of a new evaporator. When you feel the two of these (2) lines, you should observe these results:
1. The low-side line should feel "cool" to the touch.
2. The high-side line should feel "warm" to the touch.
If the high-side tubing has nothing warm and the low-side is not cool, further tests must made as the device is not doing any give you. There is an internal problem; such as, a defective component and a leak in your A/C design.
Testing A/C System
Before system temperature tests can be produced, a checklist should be followed (below) to create for testing the A/C executive:
1. Set the A/C "ON-OFF" switch to "ON".
2. Set together with the temperature control to "maximum cooling".
3. Set the blower on "high" or use the highest number on offer a control switch.
4. Temperature inside passenger compartment also can be stable and getting chilled.
5. Engine speed must be really 1500 rpm's.
6. All windows should be have fun playing the "UP" position.
Check Temperature
Your compact automobiles has a small capacity A/C system and a loss of "cooling" will be more noticeable than a more impressive capacity auto A/C opt for. If a noticeable to shed "cooling" capacity is understood, a temperature check on the vent registers are essential. This check can be produced with an instant pick up or digital temperature thermometer.. The release air from the vents in case the passenger compartment should the particular 38 to 42 levels F.
A/C System Diagnosis
Assuming is your discharge air test measured on the vent registers is out-of-range, a system pressure test must made. Professional A/C technicians connect a tool known as the manifold gauge set using the "low" and "high" side service valves just for the system. For you to diagnose and look inside often the A/C, it will be necessary to make it easier in the use navigation manifold gauge set.
A manifold gauge set that is suitable for the needs can come at most auto packet stores and Internet A/C device and supply store fronts at the bottom of $50. 00. TIP: Look for a gauge set that shows a built-in sight glass.
Locate inside the house "low" and "high" class service valves.. Connect the hoses (they come up with a snap connector fit) contained in the service valves at this site manner:.
1. Connect the blue hose of the gauge founded the "low-side" service valve your compressor.
2. Connect the red hose to your gauge set to often the "high-side service valve your compressor.
3. The yellow hose for your gauge set depends on a vacuum pump very well as a refrigerant can to add refrigerant to the system. The yellow hose is not connected to the system at this schedule.
Static Test
If you discover an out-of-range temperature researching, the manifold gauge set also can be installed on the "low" possesses "high-side" service valves. From the local engine "OFF" and the compressor and clutch not yet engaged, the blue "low-side" and red "high-side" gauges had show equal readings of about 80 to 120psi. These readings would indicate that there's a refrigerant charge in your pc A/C system. If is readings were 50psi involving each gauge, this would indicate there presently exists refrigerant in the system but an occasional CHARGE. If the readings we have been 10 to 20psi recorded on each gauge would indicate there presently exists little or no refrigerant while having A/C system.
Engine Running Test
Start the engine,. turn the A/C switch"ON" making use of their blower on "high" and run for a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes. Click on the reading on the question gauge set. TIP: A manifold gauge full of a built-in sight glass (mentioned above) will save you diagnostic time as most A/C systems you don't a sight glass built-in the receiver-dryer towards the high side of entire body.
With this feature, to look for bubbling refrigerant oil and refrigerant if your sight glass on offer a manifold. Oil moving through the glass would indicate where compressor and clutch are engaged. Refrigerant is being moved to your low-side throughout the A/C system in his or her refrigeration cycle.
Low Charge
With inside the house engine running, A/C re-define "ON", and the a lot more gauge set installed, a "low-side" pressure scanning of 20psi over 150psi would make your A/C system takes a LOW CHARGE. The low reading of 150psi for your personal "high-side" gauge are tell tale that body shape is doing very little work. A LOW CHARGE might be an indicator that there's a refrigerant leak from a factor on the "low" or "high-side" to make the A/C system. A refrigerant leak in the system needed to be repaired for the A/C method blow "cold air". CRITICAL POINT: REFRIGERANT DOES NOT WEAR OUT, IT LEAKS OUT. Some symptoms to determine a LOW CHARGE weather factors are:
1. Compressor take hold of short cycling.
2. Clutch never engage.
3. Little possibly no cooling.
4. Fat residue on hoses and components.
Leak Checking
For your A/C path to blow "cold air", refrigerant leaks must found and repaired. Regularly, leaks in an A/C system are minor , and they are fixed with a screwdriver in any other case hand tools. Most A/C systems use schrader valves for quick connection of the manifold gauge set. That explained, these are no a smaller amount than overgrown bicycle valves employ a valve core. If you wish to checking a system, the valves are the first place check for prefer the leak. Other targets; including, oil residue on hoses connected to the compressor is the second place to generally be checked. TIP: When tightening the bolts through suction and discharge ports to your compressor with hand items, do not over thorough. Rubber 0-rings are dress yourself in the suction and discharge ports for your compressor for sealing. The seals can create a leak when over tightened. Only tighten warmer.
When your A/C system posseses an LOW CHARGE, a refrigerant charge will no doubt added to check on your leak. Refrigerant that contains an immense dye for leak checking the very best is used for this function. The manifold gauge database, refrigerant, and a can tap valve can look needed to add refrigerant to check out the leak in the cells.
Connect the manifold supervise set as discussed of greater than. Connect the yellow hose through can tap valve but in addition front seat (turn clockwise) often the valve. Close the blue gauge to the manifold gauge set. Open the valve to get a can tap valve. Slowly open the valve to the blue or "low-side" gauge making the refrigerant flow from the refrigerant can into the system until you recruit a reading of 60psi towards the "low-side" gauge. TIP: Placing the refrigerant can from the local pan of hot water would allow the vapor refrigerant to go into the A/C system limited. WARNING: Do not invert the refrigerant can. Doing so will allow liquid refrigerant to type in the system creating a ruined compressor.
Professional A/C technicians make use of an electronic leak detector to track down leaks in an executive. Use a battery-powered UV leak detector kit and does not special UV glasses. This kit come in at auto supply attractions and Internet A/C provide store fronts.
The UV glasses also can be worn when checking on your own leaks. Simply place the tip of the detector following a fitting or connection to each and every component to be checked generally if A/C system. When a leak rests, a light greenish color are certain to get seen through the UV glasses.
Air Flow
An often overlooked factor for your A/C system reduce your blowing "cold air" were definitely debris that clogs often the condenser. Bugs, plastic hand bags, and leaves from locale and highway driving will prevent air from passing contained in the fins of the condenser. The condenser also can be cleaned with a purifying solvent. Bent fins to get a condenser should be straightened contained in the fin comb.
Restrictions
A restriction is a disorder that is a blockage. Regularly, it is traced around the outlet side of offer a condenser. Some form of debris has formed causing a restriction of refrigerant flow the particular condenser tubes.. The passages in the tubes on most condensers that are used in compact motor vehicles are very small. An effective way to diagnose a restriction of your A/C system is the time manifold gauge set. The "high-side" (red) gauge would move into the DANGER zone, throughout 300psi.
System Repairs
When a merchandise has been opened, as well component removed, moisture has entered your inventory. For your A/C to pay "cold air", that moisture must removed with the aid associated with a vacuum pump.
At this pair the repair, you have two (2) alternatives to finish the repair of your A/C system. The first choice is take the automobile to an A/C good. At their shop, these individuals evacuate the system, look at your work, and recharge the A/C system for a small fee.
The second choice is usually to repair your A/C character yourself. You will should to borrow or buy a vacuum pump to finish the procedure. A small 2-stage vacuum pump that is the platform for automobile refrigeration systems is available within $100. 00.
After replacing portion, moisture has entered your inventory during the repair. For the A/C procedure to blow "cold air" the moisture must removed. Install the manifold gauge set to your car service valves as cited. After repairs, your A/C is actually evacuated and recharged through the use of the below steps:
1. Blue hose through "low-side" service valve.
2. Red hose through "high-side service valve.
3. Yellow hose through suction port of any vacuum pump.
4. Close a game valve to the vacuum pump.
5. Back seat (open) a game valves on the unhappy and red gauges your manifold gauge set.
6. Connect the electric power to the tidier pump.
7. Open a game valve on the vacuum pump.
8. Run the vacuum pump couple of (3) minutes.
9. The needle to get a "low-side" gauge (blue) show will need to be in a vacuum by way of 28. 3hg.
10. A merchandise with no leaks will pull cleaning of 28. 3hg in three (3) minutes.
11. If the needle of the blue gauge don't fall to 28. 3hg, the evacuation must aborted as there is a leak in your vehicle A/C system.
12. The leak must found in the A/C system in front of the UV detector and ULTRA VIOLET glasses.
13. Once the leak has been discovered and repaired, continue the evacuation steps as named for 25 minutes.
14. Front seat (close) a game valves on the violet and red gauges and observe the needle on the crimson gauge.
15. The syringe should hold steady outside 29hg, indicating a tight system devoid of leaks.
16. Any needle movement toward "0" to the blue "low-side" gauge could possibly indicate a leak in case the system and the evacuation needed to be aborted and conduct ripped abs for the leak.
16. Examination the owners manual or service manual for those factory recommended refrigerant are priced. It is usually from 16 to 28 oz ..
17. Attach the can tap valve associated with a can of refrigerant Ensuring that the tap valve set valve is front gourmet dining (closed).
18. Turn the A/C control in order to the "ON" position and blower change to "high".
19. Start the best engine and run at the 1500rpm's.
20. Place the refrigerant can inside an pan of hot deliquescent. Warning: Do not invert they will certainly for this process as liquid would go into the system and ruin the reed valves on your compressor.
21. Continue this process until the factory charge (approximately 2 1/2 cans) has entered the device.
22. Shutoff your car engine and let personal A/C system stabilize. A particular readings on the dunkle and blue gauges be very equal, remove the blue "low-side" hose the service valve.
23. Restart the engine and take away the red "high-side" hose heli-copter flight service valve.
24. Close the hood and take your truck for a three (3) mile try.
25. Place an instant determine or digital thermometer in the present vent register in the passenger compartment.
26. The temperature should may include 38 to 42 degrees F upon the 90-degree day.
Tools which Materials
1. Manifold gauge set
2. Dyson pump
3. Hand tools
4. Fueled UV leak detector
5. May possibly tap valve
6. 134A refrigerant dye
7. 134A refrigerant
8. Instant read temperature thermometer
9. Digital temperature thermometer
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