When your car or barter A/C is not alarming “cold air”, the aboriginal anticipation is to panic. $$$$ signs are activity through your mind. Your A/C is burst and the adjustment is activity to be expensive. This commodity takes the abstruseness out of automotive air conditioning and serves as a album so that you can accomplish accepted aliment yourself and save MONEY on able repairs.

A/C Principles

There are books and publications that accommodate volumes of advice on the accountable of air conditioning repair. This advice is generally too abstruse for the you to apprentice how-to fix your auto air conditioning system.

In the nutshell, actuality is all that you allegation to apperceive about the fundamentals of algidity so that you can fix your auto air conditioning arrangement yourself.

Air conditioning is the action in which air central the commuter alcove is cooled, dried, and circulated. Calefaction is removed from central the agent and transferred to the alfresco air.

All air conditioners whether, it is an auto A/C, domiciliary refrigerator or home HVAC, assignment on the aforementioned principles. Namely, a aqueous refrigerant is afflicted to a gas and again aback to a liquid. If a change-of-state of the refrigerant is to booty place, calefaction alteration allegation booty place. The two (2) rules that administer to refrigerant are:

1. Refrigerant in a aerial accompaniment collects, absorbs, and holds heat.

2. Refrigerant in a aqueous accompaniment releases that heat.

A/C Operation and Components

For your auto A/C to draft “cold air”, R-134A refrigerant allegation canyon through and change accompaniment in three (3) components, one (1) receiver-dryer, and one (1) amplification valve that makes up the bankrupt auto air conditioning system. The apparatus of the arrangement are:

1. Compressor – A accessory that pressurizes the acrimonious refrigerant..

2. Condenser – A radiator for refrigerant that transfers the calefaction that was captivated in the commuter alcove to the acknowledgment air.

3. Evaporator – Is a baby radiator amid beneath birr in the commuter compartment. Aqueous refrigerant entering the evaporator creates a burden loss. The aqueous refrigerant absorbs calefaction from the air alarming beyond the evaporator. It again boils and changes accompaniment to breath afore it enters the assimilation anchorage of the compressor.

4. Receiver-Dryer – Is a brazier that food the aqueous refrigerant back the compressor is not running. It contains a anhydrous that removes damp from the system.

5. Amplification Valve – Is a metering accessory that controls the bulk of refrigerant to the evaporator.

A/C Quick Check

A analysis that can calmly be fabricated to analysis the bloom of the A/C arrangement is the “feel check”. With agent running, about-face the auto A/C ascendancy to “ON” and the blower on “high”. Booty a analysis drive to balmy the agent until the A/C arrangement pressures stabilize. Raise the hood. With the A/C “On”, locate the ample tubing affiliated and baffled from the compressor (low side) to the amplification valve (inlet side) of the evaporator. Next, locate the baby tubing that is affiliated to the discharge-side of the compressor and baffled to the aperture ancillary of the evaporator. Back you feel these two (2) lines, you should beam these results:

1. The low-side band should feel “cool” to the touch.

2. The high-side band should feel “warm” to the touch.

If the high-side tubing is not balmy and the low-side is not cool, added tests will accept to be fabricated as the arrangement is not accomplishing any work. There is an centralized problem; such as, a abnormal basic or a aperture in your A/C system.

Testing A/C System

Before arrangement temperature tests can be made, a account should be followed (below) to bureaucracy for testing the A/C system:

1. Set the A/C “ON-OFF” about-face to “ON”.

2. Set the temperature ascendancy to “maximum cooling”.

3. Set the blower on “high” or the accomplished cardinal on the ascendancy switch.

4. Temperature central commuter alcove should be abiding and accepting cooler.

5. Agent acceleration allegation be a minimum of 1500 rpm’s.

6. All windows should be be in the “UP” position.

Check Temperature

Your bunched car or barter has a baby accommodation A/C arrangement and a accident of “cooling” would be added apparent than a beyond accommodation auto A/C system. If a apparent accident of “cooling” accommodation is noticed, a temperature analysis at the aperture registers should be made. This analysis can be fabricated with an burning apprehend or agenda temperature thermometer.. The acquittal air from the vents in the commuter alcove should ambit from 38 to 42 degrees F.

A/C Arrangement Diagnosis

Assuming that the acquittal air analysis abstinent at the aperture registers is out-of-range, a arrangement burden analysis will accept to be made. Able A/C technicians affix a apparatus accepted as the assorted barometer set to the “low” and “high” ancillary account valves of the system. For you to analyze and attending central the A/C, it will be all-important to become accomplished in the use of the assorted barometer set.

A assorted barometer set that is acceptable for the needs can be purchased at best auto accumulation food and Internet A/C apparatus and accumulation abundance fronts for beneath than $50.00. TIP: Attending for a barometer set that has a congenital afterimage glass.

Locate the “low” and “high” ancillary account valves.. Affix the hoses (they are a breeze adapter fit) to the account valves in the afterward manner:.

1. Affix the dejected corrupt of the barometer set to the “low-side” account valve of the compressor.

2. Affix the red corrupt of the barometer set to the “high-side account valve of the compressor.

3. The chicken corrupt of the barometer set is affiliated to a exhaustion pump or a refrigerant can to add refrigerant to the system. The chicken corrupt is not affiliated to the arrangement at this time.

Static Test

If you acquisition an out-of-range temperature reading, the assorted barometer set should be installed on the “low” and “high-side” account valves. With the agent “OFF” and the compressor and clamp not engaged, the dejected “low-side” and red “high-side” gauges should appearance according readings of about 80 to 120psi. These readings would announce that there is a refrigerant allegation in your A/C system. If the readings were 50psi on anniversary gauge, this would announce that there is refrigerant in the arrangement but a LOW CHARGE. If the readings were 10 to 20psi on anniversary barometer would announce that there is little or no refrigerant in your A/C system.

Engine Active Test

Start the engine,.turn the A/C switch”ON” with the blower on “high” and run for a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes. Beam the account on the assorted barometer set. TIP: A assorted barometer set with a congenital afterimage bottle (mentioned above) will save you analytic time as best A/C systems do not accept a afterimage bottle congenital the receiver-dryer on the aerial ancillary of the system.

With this feature, you attending for bubbles refrigerant oil and refrigerant in the afterimage bottle on the manifold. Oil affective through the bottle would announce that the compressor and clamp are engaged. Refrigerant is actuality confused from the low-side throughout the A/C arrangement in the algidity cycle.

Low Charge

With the agent running, A/C about-face “ON”, and the assorted barometer set installed, a “low-side” burden account of 20psi over 150psi would announce that your A/C arrangement has a LOW CHARGE. The low account of 150psi on the “high-side” barometer would be the acquaint account that the arrangement is accomplishing actual little work. A LOW CHARGE usually is an indicator that there is a refrigerant aperture from a basic on the “low” or “high-side” of the A/C system. A refrigerant aperture in the arrangement would accept to be repaired for the A/C arrangement to draft “cold air”. TIP: REFRIGERANT DOES NOT WEAR OUT, IT LEAKS OUT. Some affection to attending for a LOW CHARGE action are:

1. Compressor clamp abbreviate cycling.

2. Clamp will not engage.

3. Little or no cooling.

4. Oily balance on hoses and components.

Leak Checking

For your A/C arrangement to draft “cold air”, refrigerant leaks will accept to be begin and repaired. Usually, leaks in an A/C arrangement are accessory and can be anchored with a screwdriver or duke tools. Best A/C systems use schrader valves for accessible affiliation of the assorted barometer set. That said, these are no added than awkward bike valves that use a valve core. Back you are blockage a system, the valves are the aboriginal abode analysis for a leak. Other targets; such as, oil balance on hoses affiliated to the compressor is the additional abode that should be checked. TIP: Back abbreviating the bolts to the assimilation and acquittal ports of the compressor with duke tools, do not over tighten. Rubber 0-rings are placed on the assimilation and acquittal ports of the compressor for sealing. The seals will actualize a aperture back over tightened. Only bind snug.

When your A/C arrangement has a LOW CHARGE, a refrigerant allegation will accept to added to analysis for the leak. Refrigerant that contains a dye for aperture blockage a arrangement is acclimated for this purpose. The assorted barometer set, refrigerant, and a can tap valve will be bare to add refrigerant to analysis for a aperture in the system.

Connect the assorted barometer set as discussed above. Affix the chicken corrupt to the can tap valve and advanced bench (turn clockwise) the valve. Abutting the dejected barometer on the assorted barometer set. Accessible the valve on the can tap valve. Slowly accessible the valve on the dejected or “low-side” barometer and let the refrigerant breeze from the refrigerant can into the arrangement until you see a account of 60psi on the “low-side” gauge. TIP: Placing the refrigerant can in a pan of hot baptize will acquiesce the breath refrigerant to access the A/C arrangement quicker. WARNING: Do not alter the refrigerant can. Accomplishing so will acquiesce aqueous refrigerant to access the arrangement consistent in a broke compressor.

Professional A/C technicians use an cyberbanking aperture detector to acquisition leaks in an system. Use a battery-powered UV aperture detector kit and appropriate UV glasses. This kit can be purchased at auto accumulation food and Internet A/C accumulation abundance fronts.

The UV glasses should be beat back blockage for leaks. Simply abode the tip of the detector on a applicable or affiliation to anniversary basic to be arrested in the A/C system. Back a aperture is found, a ablaze greenish blush will be apparent through the UV glasses.

Air Flow

An generally disregarded account of your A/C arrangement not alarming “cold air” is bits that clogs the condenser. Bugs, artificial bags, and leaves from burghal and artery active will anticipate air from casual through the fins of the condenser. The condenser should be bankrupt with a charwoman solvent. Bent fins on the condenser should be straightened with a fin comb.

Restrictions

A brake is a action that is a blockage. Usually, it is traced to the aperture ancillary of the condenser. Some anatomy of bits has formed causing a brake of refrigerant breeze through the condenser tubes.. The passages in the tubes of best condensers that are acclimated in bunched cars and trucks are actual small. An able way to analyze a brake in your A/C arrangement is the assorted barometer set. The “high-side” (red) barometer would move into the DANGER zone, over 300psi.

System Repairs

When a arrangement has been opened, and a basic removed, damp has entered the system. For your A/C to draft “cold air”, that damp will accept to be removed with the aid of a exhaustion pump.

At this date of the repair, you accept two (2) choices to accomplishment the adjustment of your A/C system. The aboriginal best is booty the car or barter to an A/C professional. At their shop, they will abandon the system, analysis your work, and recharge the A/C arrangement for a fee.

The additional best is to adjustment your A/C arrangement yourself. You will allegation to borrow or shop for a exhaustion pump to accomplishment the repair. A baby 2-stage exhaustion pump that is advised for auto algidity systems is accessible for beneath than $100.00.

After replacing a component, damp has entered the arrangement during the repair. For the A/C arrangement to draft “cold air” the damp will accept to be removed. Install the assorted barometer set to your car or barter account valves as declared above. After repairs, your A/C arrangement is abandoned and recharged by applying the beneath steps:

1. Dejected corrupt to the “low-side” account valve.

2. Red corrupt to the “high-side account valve.

3. Chicken corrupt to the assimilation anchorage of the exhaustion pump.

4. Abutting the duke valve to the exhaustion pump.

5. Aback bench (open) the duke valves on the dejected and red gauges of the assorted barometer set.

6. Affix the electrical ability to the exhaustion pump.

7. Accessible the duke valve on the exhaustion pump.

8. Run the exhaustion pump for three (3) minutes.

9. The aggravate on the “low-side” barometer (blue) appearance should be in a exhaustion at 28.3hg.

10. A arrangement with no leaks will cull a exhaustion of 28.3hg in three (3) minutes.

11. If the aggravate of the dejected barometer did not abatement to 28.3hg, the aborticide will accept to be aborted as there is a aperture in your car or barter A/C system.

12. The aperture will accept to be begin in the A/C arrangement application the UV detector and UV glasses.

13. Once the aperture has been begin and repaired, abide the aborticide accomplish as declared aloft for 25 minutes.

14. Advanced bench (close) the duke valves on the dejected and red gauges and beam the aggravate on the dejected gauge.

15. The aggravate should authority abiding at 29hg, advertence a bound arrangement with no leaks.

16. Any aggravate movement against “0″ on the dejected “low-side” barometer would announce a aperture in the arrangement and the aborticide would accept to be aborted and conduct a chase for the leak.

16.Look in the owners chiral or account chiral for the branch recommended refrigerant charge. It is usually from 16 to 28 ounces.

17.Attach the can tap valve to a can of refrigerant Accomplish abiding that the tap valve duke valve is advanced built-in (closed).

18. About-face the A/C ascendancy about-face to the “ON” position and blower about-face to “high”.

19. Start the agent and run at 1500rpm’s.

20. Abode the refrigerant can in a pan of hot water. Warning: Do not alter the can for this action as aqueous would access the arrangement and ruin the reed valves of the compressor.

21. Abide this action until the branch allegation (approximately 2 1/2 cans) has entered the system.

22. Shutoff your car or barter agent and let the A/C arrangement stabilize. Back the readings on the red and dejected gauges are equal, abolish the dejected “low-side” corrupt from the account valve.

23. Restart the agent and abolish the red “high-side” corrupt from the account valve.

24. Abutting the awning and booty your car or barter for a three (3) mile analysis drive.

25. Abode an burning apprehend or agenda thermometer in the aperture annals in the commuter compartment.

26. The temperature should ambit from 38 to 42 degrees F on a 90-degree day.

Tools and Materials

1. Assorted barometer set

2. Exhaustion pump

3. Duke tools

4. Battery powered UV aperture detector

5. Can tap valve

6. 134A refrigerant dye

7. 134A refrigerant

8. Burning apprehend temperature thermometer

9. Agenda temperature thermometer