Auto Air Conditioning

Summer is coming up and for most people that presses the importance of getting their auto air conditioning repaired so they can beat the heat. If your auto air conditioning is not working like it should then you may have to take it to a professional to have it fixed or you can do it yourself if you at least understand the basics.

There are a number of problems that may arise in your A/C system. There could be a leakage, low levels of refrigerant, the condensers may be clogged or the compressors may just stop working. If the problem is easy enough to fix, then maybe you can tackle it yourself, especially if you have a little experience with this. However, some A/C issues may be more complicated or harder to identify and so a mechanic may have to do the job. 

The major parts to a vehicle’s A/C system are:

 

1. Compressor – This is the main part of the system. The compressor is responsible for compressing and transferring refrigerant gas. The compressor is like a pump and so it has two sides, one for intake and one for discharge. The side designated for intake sucks in refrigerant gas from the outlet of the evaporator and in some cases, the accumulator. The refrigerant is then carried to the condenser where the heat from the inside of the vehicle is absorbed and transferred.

2. Condenser – The condenser plays a role similar to that of the car’s radiator and so it somewhat looks like one. The condenser’s job is to radiate heat. Hot condensed gas is cooled as they enter the top of the condenser. The cooled gas exits through the bottom of the condenser where it is turned into a high pressure liquid.

 

3. Vaporator – The evaporator serves many functions including its most important one which is to remove heat from inside the vehicle. It also prevents dust and pollen from entering the inside of the vehicle. 

4.Thermal Expansion Valve – This component allows you to control the amount of cold air.

5. Drier or Accumulator – This component acts as a back-up for the system. While the compressor is supposed to compress the gas form of the refrigerant, there could be excess liquid which can damage the compressor. The drier ensures that no liquid gets to the compressor.

Since these are the major components of the A/C system, the technician needs to be familiar with not only what each of them does but how they affect each other. They should also take the time to check for leaks. This can be done without taking the components apart. Air conditioning repair also involves being familiar with other parts such as switches, fuses, wires and fan belts.

It is totally possible to maintain you’re A/C system yourself. Learning about the few parts of A/C systems can save you money as you will be able to do certain jobs yourself. The parts themselves can be expensive so being able to save money by carrying out repairs at home can be helpful to your pocket.