Basic Automotive Air Conditioning Trouble Shooting & Service - By: Terry S Vostor

It used to be that most backyard mechanics had a simple fix for most summertime air conditioning woes. The fix for almost all of the cooling woes ' was simply to recharge the juice i.e. that was to "recharge the air conditioner". Not any more.
Global warming and the outlawing of Freon as a refrigerant has made the backyard mechanic's topping up of your cooling system out of the question ' wrong illegal and even immoral . This is all due to concerns of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and concerns of Ozone depletion in the atmosphere.

Looking at the sight glass - overall nothing should be visible. It should appear "empty". If it does and cold air is circulating in the passenger compartment , then you can bet the system is more than sufficiently charged. Step one can be checked off. Perhaps it's the challenge to the backyard mechanic, perhaps it's the cost, or perhaps it's just that its summertime and you are hot, hot, and hot and the repair shop is backed up with work till next month.

First of all you can check the "drive belt". Never ever overcharge an air conditioner - be it a stand alone outdoor unit , a window unit or a car mobile auto cooling system. Adding too much refrigerant can damage the compressor and thus reduce system performance and reliability and integrity. Checking the clutch . Start the engine with the parking brake set and the transmission in park mode. Set the air conditioning controls to maximum cooling and fan levels. Open the hood and be sure that the entire compressor-clutch assembly is being turned by the air conditioner belt. Put on your safety goggles and work gloves. Now you have it made it the shade.U.V. or bus. Locate the air conditioner drive belt. Today most mobile automotive air conditioners are factory units built in , that come with the new vehicle . This makes the job of diagnosis by the mechanic or auto air conditioning specialist much easier. Factory manuals , diagnostic steps and parts are easily afforded online. Expertise can be had. Years ago few new vehicles were equipped with factory cooling devices. It was a hodge podge of 3rd party units - each air conditioning system and its install being radically different and thus a lot harder to work on. It does look like a fan belt, but if you look carefully there will be a belt lower front of the engine that may or may not go around the fan pulley and on to the air conditioning system compressor. Have a helper in the garage switch the air conditioning control to the Off position and then alternatively to the "On" setting. Meantime look , inspect and listen for the typical sounds of the clutch assembly both engaging and disengaging. Some sight glasses of mobile air conditioners have a protective cover made of cardboard or stiff paper. This is the "heart" of the air conditioning system, and it must be running at proper speed for the system to operate.

Once the drive belts are tight, and in good condition, start the engine and turn on the air conditioning system. Alternatively if the sight glass is clear and there is no cold air circulating in the passenger compartment , then the system may be empty of refrigerant and coolant. Take your vehicle - be it truck , S.U.V. or standard car to a competent air conditioning specialist , shop or dealer service center. Experts note that if the sight glass show bubbles that look like moving water bubbles , then you can bet that without changing and replacing the refrigerant you are going to be driving in the depths of heat and humidity. The compressor has a drive pulley at its front end. This pulley rotates while the car or auto's engine is running. It is also important to remember , that if your air conditioner is low , it most likely reinforces the call by your mechanic or refrigeration technician that there is a leak somewhere else. Recharging the system temporarily restores cooling - which is good in mid July, but the coolant fluid and gas will eventually leak out unless the leak is properly and fully repaired.

If you have now solved your basic problem with your air conditioning system you should now be driving in a cool, comfortable cabin in your vehicle. Pleasant summer driving.

About the Author

Terry S. Vostor Edmonton Fort mcMurray Auto Financing Alberta Chrysler 300 2010 New Used Chrysler 300

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