Here is a detailed flow chart and vehicle specific wiring diagram upon request. Evacuation should be done with a vacuum pump that is capable of achieving and holding a high vacuum (29 inches) for at least 30 to 45 minutes. Recovery equipment can suck air into the recycling tank if an A/C system contains air or if the system has a leak. Overcharging your A/C system with refrigerant will actually DECREASE cooling performance, not improve it. But just because your car’s AC unit can’t keep its cool doesn’t mean you have to lose yours. It can be very frustrating to have your car’s AC go out on you, especially on a hot day when you need it most. On some equipment, this is done automatically. Insert the tip of the probe into a cooling outlet duct and turn on the A/C. This check can be performed with the engine running and your AC turned on to maximum by raising the hood on your auto and doing a visual and audio observation. It is responsible for compressing the refrigerant in the system so it can be cooled and circulated into the evaporator. 3. Faulty A/C control switch. A dirty cabin air filter can provide the perfect breeding ground for odor-causing microbes. All Car wants to offer you some tips and guidance to help you and us determine what is wrong before you bring in your car. The older the vehicle, the higher the rate of seepage. How to tell if your A/C system needs refrigerant: look at the LOW pressure gauge reading when the engine is OFF. Various methods can be used to check for leaks. I got an o-ring/gasket set for my ac lines in my car. If the refrigerant has escaped past a leaky compressor or O-ring seal, leaked out of a pinhole in the evaporator or condenser, or seeped out through a leaky hose, the leak needs to be identified and repaired before the system is recharged. If the leak is small, sealer can often save you the cost and labor of having to replace an expensive component. High head pressure 8. If the compressors magnetic clutch is not engaging when the A/C is turned on, the problem may be a blown fuse or a wiring problem. All Car Specialists use the most modern technology available that help save you money and speed up your repair by locating the exact problem as quickly as possible so the repair can be performed in as short as time as possible, getting you in and out without needless guess work. This can block the flow of refrigerant and lubricating oil causing a loss of cooling and possible compressor damage. If the filter is more than two or three years old, it likely needs to be replaced. Sales Enquiry. When a compressor fails, a lot of metallic debris is often thrown into the system. Most of this debris collects in the condenser where it can cause blockages that reduce cooling performance. So you should also replace the accumulator or receiver-drier if the system is contaminated, has leaks or must be opened up for repairs. Refer to the vehicle manufacturer specifications for normal system operating pressures, and the total refrigerant capacity of the system. For this, you need a set of A/C service gauges. For best performance, an A/C system should contain less than 2% air by weight. The moisture-absorbing "desiccant" in the accumulator or receiver-drier is supposed to prevent this from happening. Possible causes of intermittent cooling in a manual A/C system that might be caused by an electrical problem include: If the compressor has failed, or the system is full of sludge or contamination, the condenser, evaporator and hoses should all be flushed with an approved flushing chemical (such as Dura 141b) to clean the A/C system. The most likely cause of an automotive air conditioner cooling problem is no refrigerant in the system. Career Opportunity. Gallery; Related Tips; Heather Gardens Condos Aurora Co; Air Conditioner With Dehumidifier; Eloquence Fine Jewelry Gifts; The Grinch Jim Carrey Makeup However, there is some risk to using a sealer product because it might cause a blockage elsewhere in the system or cause the seals inside the compressor to swell too much. Aftermarket Car Warranty Sales Pitch vs Sales Hitch Consideration If you buy a new car,…, AAA Member Rewards Card In case some of you don't know it, AAA Member Rewards…, Check Engine Light A repair shop owner comes up with this pay scale because their…. All Car Specialists is now equipped with the latest EIS 5000 Advanced AAA and BAR approved SMOG System for Expanded Years -Makes – Models – Hybrids. Again, a factory scan tool is usually required to perform diagnostics on the system. The clutch is usually in the front part of the AC and should kick on and off at various times while the AC is on. Some refrigerant identifier equipment can detect air in the system as well as other contaminants. More Car AC Repair Tips Ford AC Compressor . ATC has put together a list of pro tips for troubleshooting the most common car air conditioning issues. But system capacities also tend to be smaller on late model vehicles, so any loss of refrigerant will have more of an adverse effect on cooling performance. Older (pre-1996) R-12 systems require mineral oil while R-134a systems (1996 and newer) require various types of PAG oil or POE oil. I’ve tried to refill it with Freon, it blows cold air … Mold likes damp, dark places. There are however other instances where the problem may be due to any of one or more different functions or parts malfunctioning. High suction pressure 10. It should also be done if the lubricating oil is contaminated or the system contains the wrong type of oil for the application. If there is any evidence of leakage around the compressor shaft seal, the seal should also be replaced. Tiny flakes of rubber can be carried along to the orifice tube or expansion valve and cause a blockage. No commands to change displacement would indicate a bad control module or a problem in the wiring circuit between the module and compressor. Feel the air coming out of the air conditioner and assess how warm, cool, or cold it is. The hardest leaks to find are those that occur in an evaporator core. This should be done when retrofitting an R-12 system to R-134a. But noise can also be caused by cross-contaminated refrigerant (operating pressure too high), air in the system or the wrong type of compressor lubricant. Troubleshooting A/C Superheat, Sub-Cooling & Delta In order for our personnel here at APR Supply to help you solve air conditioning problems we need some help from you. The most common problem experienced when turning on your auto’s air conditioning system is a lack of cool air or an intermittent level of temperature. These include "parallel" flow condensers and those with extremely small passageways. The AC won’t turn on At the top of your list of fears when you initiate your air conditioning troubleshooting review might be that you’ll turn on the system and hear nothing and feel nothing. ), the compressor has seized and needs to be replaced. Newer vehicles have better seals and barrier style hoses so typically leak less than a few tenths of an ounce of refrigerant a year. Decreasing the stroke reduces the volume of refrigerant pumped through the system to reduce cooling. If your car's air conditioner (AC) stops blowing cold air and appears to only blow air, it may be low on Freon -- or it may require a new AC compressor. An electronic leak detector can sniff out leaks instantly as they occur. Flushing can help prevent repeat compressor failures and system blockages by dislodging and cleaning out sludge and debris. Using the wrong lubricant in an A/C system can damage the compressor. AC System Operation. Actually I should get both side 105psi. The AC oil in the lines can actually hold onto the tiny little metal particles. To fix your car's air conditioning system first you have to find out what is wrong with it. This makes it harder to see leaks. If the clutch works but fails to turn the compressor (the belt may squeal in protest! Check to see if the relay is receiving voltage when the A/C is turned on. Most newer passenger car A/C systems do not hold much refrigerant (14 to 28 oz. The best replacement filters also contain a layer of activated charcoal to absorb odors. If the debris is carried through the condenser and enters the liquid line, it can plug the orifice tube or expansion valve. If your air is blowing cool but not cold, the problem could be a clogged filter, cooling fan problem, radiator trouble, or it could simply be that you need to recharge your Fast Testing and Certificates Serving San Gabriel, Arcadia, Pasadena, Pomona, Monterey Park, Monrovia, Temple City, Rosemead. The actual pressure readings will vary depending on the type of refrigerant (R-134a or R-1234yf) that is in your A/C system. The evaporator is buried deep inside the HVAC housing under the dash so you can't observe it directly. This troubleshooting checklist and visual/audio examination is not designed as a complete diagnosis, but rather a visual observation once you have made note of the symptoms on your checklist. If there is little or no refrigerant in your A/C system, you will first have to add some refrigerant to the system before you can pinpoint the leak. Aftermarket Car Warranty – Should You Buy? On a 90 degree day, the LOW side reading should be about 70 psi or higher. If your AC system has either quit working or has stopped working well, you're faced with driving your vehicle around with the windows down - which brings little relief when it is hot outside. Evacuating the system with a vacuum pump will purge it of unwanted air and moisture. If the temperature sensors are reading correctly, the scan tool can also be used to verify whether or not the A/C compressor is receiving the correct commands to change displacement as the temperature does up or down. An A/C system that blows cold air for awhile then warm air is probably freezing up. Installing an in-line filter is also recommended for added insurance. Use the key to start the car and turn the air conditioner on high. If the voltage to the clutch is low, or the clutch coils have too much resistance, or the air gap in the clutch is too great, the clutch may not engage to drive the compressor. Click Here to Download or Print This Article. Air conditioner troubleshooting flow chart • Arnold's Service … Besides smelling bad, it can be unhealthy to breathe (ever hear of Legionnaires Disease?). There are many things that can cause your car’s AC (air conditioning) to malfunction. The compressor runs all the time when the engine is running, and it uses Variable Displacement to increase or decrease the volume of refrigerant it pumps through the system. A problem in the control module or control head (this usually requires using a dealer scan tool to read fault codes and perform self-diagnostics). The clutch should not be engaged when the AC is turned off. Sludge is usually the result of moisture-contamination. Inside the variable displacement compressor is a swash plate that changes the stroke of the pistons as they move back and forth. Defective expansion valve 11. If you live within 5 miles, we will pick up your car for service. It's your choice. Check to see if the cooling fans on your radiator are running. The low pressure side is 80psi and the high pressure side is 105psi. If there is a fault in the control system that prevents the compressor from increasing its displacement when more cooling is needed, there may not be enough cooling output to keep the driver and/or passengers comfortable. To get rid of the unwanted organisms, various chemicals can be sprayed on the evaporator directly or through the blower ducts or air intake. On an 80 degree day, the LOW gauge should read about 56 psi or higher if the A/C system contains an adequate charge of refrigerant. In which case, a relatively simple and affordable system recharge will solve the problem. NOTE: Some types of compressors can be very difficult to flush completely. Diagnose car AC with gauges — Ricks Free Auto Repair Advice … On many systems, the compressor will not turn on if the refrigerant is low because the "low pressure safety switch" prevents the compressor clutch from engaging if system pressure is low. Also, most late model vehicles have a Cabin Air Filter (usually located behind the glove compartment or at the base of the windshield in the engine compartment) to filter outside air before it enters the passenger compartment. Turn thermostat switch back 2. Such problems would might include one or more faulty interior temperature sensors, a fault in the compressor control module or wiring between the module and compressor, or a problem with the swash plate inside the compressor. Check the routing of the hoses, support brackets, etc., to pinpoint the noise. Here is how to troubleshoot car air-conditioning problems. More than 6% air can cause a very noticeable drop in cooling performance, and possibly cause evaporator freeze-up. One repair option you might consider if you have a leaky evaporator, condenser, hose or pipe is to add a can of refrigerant that contains sealer to your A/C system. The lack of power could be something as simple as a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker, which means you’ll have to reset the circuit breaker or replace a blown use. While you will not be able to perform specific tests in troubleshooting your AC’s problem before you come into the shop, (and by the way, you shouldn’t attempt to do so), there are a few things you can look for and make note of in checking for a more serious obvious problem. Bacteria can also thrive under such conditions. Plugged receiver drier 5. In fact, the fix may be a relatively inexpensive repair that can be done in just a matter of minutes. Air conditioning is now a standard feature in most vehicle manufacturing. Some possible causes of intermittent cooling (or no cooling) on automatic A/C systems include all of the above, plus: There are many possible reasons for this but the most common in newer cars is simply a low Freon level. Your car’s cabin has an air filter, which expedites the flow of air from the air conditioning system under the hood and into your vehicle’s interior. However, when you take your vehicle for a routine repair or checkup, the priority is usually the engine and other essential aspects of the vehicle Consequently, car owners often overlook developing issues that can impact their car air conditioner and wind up paying heavy fees to get the AC fixed or replaced Your car AC electrical can be a very confusing thing to diagnose yourself. : The air conditioning in my Wife's car stopped working yesterday and by listening to the engine when engaging the AC button, the compressor didn't come on. Just because your car air conditioner has stopped cooling doesn’t mean that all is lost. Many replacement evaporators have a special chemical coating that inhibits the growth of mold and bacteria. It is a well-known fact in the industry that a large RepairPal makes it easy to find a trusted mechanic to look under the hood for you. The next thing you should check when troubleshooting a no cooling problem is system pressure. If your car has a “Max AC” setting, select that option. All Car Specialists is a certified automotive repair and alignment shop in Los Angeles. If the compressor is receiving commands but is not changing displacement, the problem would be a bad compressor. Noise from the compressor usually means the compressor is on its way out. Replacing badly contaminated parts such as the condenser, accumulator or receiver-drier and orifice tube or expansion valve is another way to get rid of these contaminants, but flushing is usually a more practical and economical choice. Also check the relay wiring and ground connections. Telltale signs of a possible leak in an evaporator include oily mist or fog on the inside of the windshield through the defroster ducts. 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