AC is Not Working Inspection Service Cost:
Starting From $80

The Air Conditioning System

The AC system basically devises a way to use temperature and pressure of the refrigerant to your advantage. It does this by compressing the AC’s refrigerant to create high-pressure gas. Next, the condenser turns the refrigerant into hot liquid of high pressure. This liquid afterwards goes into the receiver. The resulting liquid is passed into the orifice tube or expansion valve. This facilitates a drop in pressure and changes the liquid refrigerant into what you want – a cold gas with low pressure that controls the temperature in your car.

The components of the air conditioning system include:

• Compressor:

The compressor is responsible for pressurizing the refrigerant and is literally central to your AC system. The compressor is driven by the serpentine belt. It turns on or off depending on the compressor clutch.

• Compressor clutch:

The compressor clutch dictates whether the compressor should turn on or off. And so it ensures that the refrigerant has the right pressure for the condenser to use.

• Condenser:

The condenser cools and reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, converting it into a liquid.

• Receiver/Dryer:

The receiver or dryer can be found in cars with a thermal expansion valve. It functions to keep the compressor and the AC system in general protected from liquids and particles that may cause damage to the AC. It also helps to separate gas from liquid, and it takes contaminants off the AC system.

• Accumulator:

The accumulator and receiver share similar functions. So AC systems come with either of the two, but not both. Present in cars with an orifice tube, the accumulator regulates the refrigerant that flows into the evaporator, in addition to keeping out moisture and unwanted particles. It is also responsible for retaining excess refrigerant which could otherwise damage the compressor. A thermal expansion valve is not present when there is an accumulator.

• Thermal expansion valve or orifice tube:

Like the accumulator and receiver, the thermal expansion valve functions similarly to the orifice tube. Car AC systems actually come with either of the two, but not both. The orifice tube can be found between the evaporator and condenser. The key function of the orifice tube, or thermal expansion as the case may be, is to check the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator while reducing both temperature and pressure.

• Evaporator:

The Evaporator is located behind the dash and is chiefly responsible for keeping your car cool. How? By removing cabin air humidity and cooling subsequent air. There’s also a clutch cycling switch that ensures temperature inside the core of the evaporator is stable, the absence of which can lead to freezing, damaging the entire AC system.

Blower motor:

The Blower motor is responsible for driving cool air through the vents in your car. Its fan speed is controlled by a central control head or resistor. The direction of air flow is also controlled by a number of mode doors in the distribution system.

All vapour-cycle AC system essentially come with the aforementioned parts. However, depending on the manufacturer, there are often variations in the way the refrigerant is controlled, metered and restricted in the system.

Why this problem may occurs:

While a glitch in any part of the AC system can practically lower the effectiveness or total activity of your AC, some common problems have been implicated, one of which is low refrigerant. Although recycled, the refrigerant may be lost due to leaks in some parts of the AC system.  This means that a quick fix replacement of the refrigerant will really not work long term.

Other potential causes include:

• Faulty compressor

The compressor has an essential role to play in air circulation. In the event that it produces strange sounds or stops working entirely, you may have to make a replacement. Oil and refrigerant leaks may also occur when the compressor is bad. An expert will however be able to spot these problems and ensure you get the right solution.

• Damaged condenser

Whether from the road or internally generated, debris can accumulate and restrict the activity of the AC condenser. This consequently leads to damage and poor air circulation. However, when circulated air seems not to be sufficiently cool, the fan clutch or electric cooling fan cannot be ruled out too.

• Blower motor or resistor:

Blower motor or resistor problems are indicated when unusual noise is heard or there’s flow of insufficient air after turning on your the AC. Additionally, the blower may also only work when put at maximum speed.

• Damaged receiver/dryer:

In some cases, accumulated moisture may not go resolved after defrosting. If this occurs alongside poor air circulation, then chances are high that the receiver/dryer may be damaged. A replacement should be made promptly to prevent damage to other components of the AC system.

• Blown fuse:

A blown fuse can result from high resistance in the circuit. But the best way to zero in on the cause is to have a mechanic assess your car. Other electrical components may also be assessed to unmask underlying problems.

There you go on the most common problems likely to impede the smooth operation of your air conditioning system. These common issues can therefore fall into one of the following categories:

1. Problems with the hydraulic system under the car hood, such as insufficient refrigerant, poor compression, excess refrigerant, or a faulty refrigerant control device.
2. Damage to electrical components. Problems here include the AC clutch coil, low-pressure cut-off switch, high-pressure cut-off switch, circuit protection device, or clutch relay.
3. Problems with electrical components in the dash. These include damaged computer control head or module, blend door command motor or AC switch problems.
4. Mechanical faults like broken blend door, damaged mode door, or broken recirculation door.

Getting started:

If you detect problems with your AC system, a good first step is to get professional help by hiring an expert mechanic to fully assess all components. A comprehensive inspection would help provide leads to underlying problems and enable the mechanic to evaluate the cost of repairs to be made.

The process:

This is usually done by an expert mechanic, and it often involves visual inspection of the entire system, assessment of the refrigerant, checks for CFC gas leaks and proper functioning of the heater control. Other parts of the AC system will be inspected based on identified faults and symptoms.

Why this service is important for your car:

A fully functional Air conditioning system provides superior comfort and ease when on the road. Running on very high temperatures and pressures, it’s not uncommon to have faults develop in your AC system. Always seek professional assistance to nip problems in the bud and restore the functionality of the AC system in your car. Our expert mechanics are always ready to help. So book an inspection service with one today if you detect problems with your cooling system.