Tips Tricks AutoCare Centre Morley Leeds

Auto Air Conditioning

Is your vehicle's air conditioning a mild breeze or a chilly wind?

Today, as we drive our cars, a great many of us, can enjoy the same comfort levels that we are accustomed to at home and at work. With the push of a button or the slide of a lever, we make the seamless transition from heating to cooling and back again without ever wondering how this change occurs. That is, unless something goes wrong.

Since the advent of the automotive air conditioning system in the 1940's, many things have undergone extensive change. Improvements, such as climate control (which allow you to set the desired temperature and have the system adjust automatically) and improvements to overall durability, have added complexity to today's modern air conditioning system.

Your air conditioning system, can, over the course of a year, lose around 15-20% of its refrigerant gas. This occurs due to the movement and vibration of your engine and its effect on the numerous O-ring joints in the system, which compensate for this movement. These joints can allow small amounts of gas and lubricant oil to escape as they flex, expand and contract.

Low levels of refrigerant and lubricant oil will cause your system to work harder to cool your car and increase your fuel consumption. As levels drop further, there is the risk of compressor failure due to insufficient lubrication. The typical cost of a replacement compressor is £200 - £300 plus labour for installation, and then the cost of recharging the system with gas, and oil.

Your air conditioning is not part of your vehicle's service schedule. To greatly reduce the risk of problems with your air conditioning system, it is advisable to have it serviced on a regular basis, just as you do with your engine. You can also further reduce the risk by ensuring you use the system regularly, whatever the weather; this helps to stop the O-ring joints drying out and corrosion developing in the system. Regular use will also reduce the likelihood of bad smells.

Have you noticed when using the air conditioning that there is an unpleasant smell? This may be particularly noticeable after a prolonged period of inactivity of the system. This is caused by bacterial build up on the evaporator inside the car. The evaporator is cool, dark and moist. A perfect place for bugs to grow! As well as being smelly this can also lead to flu like symptoms for any passengers in the vehicle as the bugs are blown around the vehicle by the air vents.

Did you know that your vehicle's air conditioning not only keeps you cool in the summer, but also keeps your windows de-misted in the winter?

How it works.

The refrigerant vapour is drawn in and compressed by the compressor, the hot vapour is then pumped to the condenser. The vapour is cooled by the air stream and fan so that it condenses into a liquid. The liquid refrigerant flows to the receiver drier which stores and filters refrigerant. The condensed liquid refrigerant is then metered into the evaporator. During this process heat is extracted from the air passing across the evaporator coil. The cooled incoming exterior air is then blown into the vehicles interior. The whole process then starts the cycle again. Click the Thumbnails to enlarge.