Tag: AC poor performance

ac temperature out of the vents

How the a/c should be operating in order to cool down the interior of your car

Check inside the vehicle:

  • The A/C climate control should be set to Max Cold Position.
  • A/C Climate control set button On.
  • Recirculation/fresh air mode set to recirculate.
  • Engine temperature should be in the normal range (not overheating)
  • Outside ambient temperature should be sensing outside actual ambient temperature.(Ambient temperature should be above 37 F )
  • Engine RPM’s should in the normal everyday range.
  • With the A/C  blower on Max, the mass of air coming out from the vents should be strong.
  • Cabin air Filter should be clean.
  • A/C evaporator coil should be free from debris and leaks.

Check the engine compartment :

  • The front of the vehicle should be free from any road debris.
  • The radiator and A/C condenser should be free from leaves, bugs or dirt.
  • With the A/C system ON the radiator/condenser fan assembly should be operating.
  • The Drive belt should be running all the accessories and in good condition.
  • The A/C compressor CLUTCH should be engaged with A/C ON.
  • The A/C compressor ECV should be modulating the hvac compressor output for max cold.
  • All A/C lines and hoses should be free from dye, oil ,ice or damage.
  • The A/C system should be properly charged with exact amount of refrigerant specified by the manufacturer.
  • Hvac box drain tube should be draining water from underneath the vehicle.

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automotive ac compressor and refrigerant lines

Sun Load or Ambient Light Sensor

The sun load sensor function as an input for the module in charge of automatically controlling the headlight operation and air conditioning system control module.

How to test the Sun Load or Ambient Light Sensor ?

A bright LED light may be used to artificially force the sensor  to adjust for light intensity and angle. With the headlights in the automatic setting position, we should see the running lights coming on and off and the automatic climate control adjusting the air temperature out of the vents. Exposing the sensor photocell to the strong led light will increase the current flow from the sun load sensor while  covering the sensor photocell will decrease the current flow signal to the hvac control module and headlight control module. With a scan tool connected to the vehicle or a multimeter we should be able to see these variations in voltage when the sensor is operating properly. The most common voltage range is between zero and five volts, but is always a good idea to compare the readings against manufacturer specs.

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automotive ac compressor and refrigerant lines

Solar Sensor, Sun load sensor or Ambient light sensor.

The solar, sun load sensor, or ambient light sensor detects the heat load of the sun, elevation and azimuth. It is used to adjust the amount and direction of the cooled air through the dash vents and to control headlights operation of the vehicle.

Do you need assistance with the sun load sensor in your car ?

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How to add oil to air conditioning compressor ?

how much oil does my car ac system need ?

how much oil does my car ac system need ?

The amount of auto air conditioning system oil and the correct type for the vehicle is vital to the life of the a/c compressor. Proper lubrication is a must for ac compressor long life. When the a/c compressor is operated ,oil gradually leaves the compressor, and the oil is circulated through the entire ac system together  with the refrigerant. After the air conditioning system is operated for the first time an oil balanced condition is reached in which a certain amount of oil is retained in the compressor and a certain amount is re-circulated through the ac system components with different amounts of oil depositing in them . If a component of the system is replaced after the system has been operated, we need to compensate for this by adding oil to the new replacement ac part.

HOW AN OVERCHARGE/UNDERCHARGE A/C OIL CONDITION AFFECT THE A/C SYSTEM?

Too much oil in the a/c system could result in extremely high head pressures which will cause poor air conditioning performance and premature wear and failure of the hvac compressor. If there is a surplus of oil in the system, too much oil circulates with the refrigerant ,causing the cooling capacity of the system to be reduced and the compressor head pressure to increase. Too little oil results in poor lubrication of the compressor and an increase in the heat of compression which shorten the life of the ac compressor.

OIL BALANCING AN AC SYSTEM

When there has been excessive leakage of refrigerant, or it is necessary to  replace a component of the refrigeration system oil balancing is necessary to assure that the total oil charge in the system is the correct one after the leak has been repaired or the new ac part is installed in the car.

HOW TO OIL BALANCE MY CAR AC SYSTEM

The recommended procedure step by step

  1. Measure the oil recovered from the system while recovering the refrigerant prior to part replacement
  2. Drain and measure the oil left in the old part
  3. Drain the new part(if factory oil-prefilled)
  4. Refill the new part with the same amount of oil removed from the old part and the amount of oil recovered from the system

WHAT TYPE OF OIL ACCORDING TO TYPE OF REFRIGERANT R-12 R-1234YF AND R-134a

The refrigerant oil required by the automotive ac system depends on a number of factors ,but it is primarily dictated by the type of refrigerant used in the system.R-12 car systems used a mineral oil. Mineral oil mixes well with R-12  without breaking down and losing its lubrication characteristics. Mineral oil however cannot be used  to lubricate ac systems with R-134a refrigerant.R-134 systems require a different synthetic oil,polyalkylene glycol (PAG).There are different blends of PAG and POE oil; always use the recommended by the vehicle manufacturer or the replacement part manufacturer.

The lubricant oil used in automotive air-conditioning systems is a non-foaming, sulfur free grade specially formulated for use in cars a/c systems. New refrigerants like R-1234yf might use PAG 46 and are backwards compatible for use with R-134a systems, but the R-134a old PAG 46 oils are not forward compatible with R-1234yf systems.

OIL RECHARGE AMOUNTS

REFRIGERANT OIL Recommended PAG oil: DENSO ND-OIL 8  
Add the recommend refrigerant  oil in the amount listed if you replace any of the following parts:
A/C condenser(including receive Dryer.25 mL (5/6 fl oz)
Evaporator40 mL (1 1/3 fl oz)
Line or hose10 mL (1/3 fl oz)
Receiver/dryer10 mL (1/3 fl oz)
Leakage repair25 mL (5/6 fl oz)
A/C compressorFor A/C compressor replacement, subtract the volume of oil drained from the removed A/C compressor from 82 mL (2 3/4 fl oz), and drain the calculated volume of oil from the new A/C compressor: 82 mL (2 3/4 fl oz) - Volume of removed A/C compressor = Volume to drain from new A/C compressor.
NOTE: Even if no oil is drained from the removed A/C compressor, do not drain more than 50 mL (1 2/3 fl oz) from the new A/C compressor.

NEED ASSISTANCE

How can i make my car ac colder

How can i make my car ac colder

Radiator cooling fan should be working at 100 %

-RADIATOR COOLING FAN

Two fan system

One fan system

-FAN CLUTCH SYSTEM

AIR ACTIVATED

TEMPERATURE ACTIVATED

***CHECK THE FAN OPERATION BEFORE MAKING ANY REPAIR TO THE AC SYSTEM***

The radiator fan(s) should be on any time the A/C is on.

IMPACT OF DEBRIS ON THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

Road debris affect the heat transfer of heat exchangers in your vehicle and the overall capacity of the air conditioning.

Clean all the road debris outside the car

(on the windshield)

(on the condenser coil)

Clean all the debris inside the car

In cabin air conditioning filter

Evaporator core

Screen air inlet

IMPACT OF AC COMPRESSOR OPERATION BECAUSE OF SLIPPING DRIVE BELT ON HVAC COMPRESSOR PULLEY 

-Check Drive Belt tension

An excessively loose drive belt will negatively impact the air conditioning compressor capacity.

HOW TO KNOW IF MY AC SYSTEM IS PROPERLY VACUUM AND RECHARGED.

Check refrigerant charge with gauges (You need special hvac equipment and EPA certifications)

Check refrigerant charge by sensing A/C lines temperature (Do it yourself)

CHECKING THE A/C SYSTEM BY SENSING THE A/C LINES TEMPERATURE.

-Open the hood to get access to the engine compartment (Be aware of all moving parts and hot components)

-Start the engine up.

-Set the A/C Climate control for Maximum blower speed position.

-Set the A/C Climate control for Maximum cold temperature position.

-Let the A/C system run for 5 -10 minutes.

-On the engine compartment identify the A/C lines.

-The Liquid line should be warm to cool even in a hot day

. (A liquid line cold or hot indicates a problem)

-The Suction Line should be cold

. Heavy frost or excessive moisture condensation on the Suction Line indicates a problem.

. Ambient temperature or too hot Suction Line indicates a problem.

-There should be a Temperature difference (TD) between the Liquid Line and the Suction Line (Check temperature before the Metering Device)

If the temperature of both lines is the same, it indicates a problem in the A/C system:

1-Compressor not pumping.

2-Compressor not turning on.

3-Low on refrigerant.

How long should an air conditioner compressor last in a car?

How long should an air conditioner compressor last in a car?

The air conditioner compressor should last the entire life of the vehicle. The car ac compressor damage is usually a sign that something else in the cooling system or car ac system is not operating properly and is negatively impacting the auto ac compressor operation.

There are multiple ways to ensure the auto ac compressor last for the entire life of your vehicle.

Do you need to get the ac compressor in your vehicle checked up before it gets damaged ?

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How can i make my car ac colder

What are the symptoms of a bad fan clutch?

We need the fan clutch to cool down the vehicle ac condenser in order to allow the refrigerant condensing and subcooling process to happen as efficiently as possible. A bad fan clutch will decrease the vehicle a/c performance.

Symptoms of a bad fan clutch and air conditioning impact.

  • Excessive high a/c system pressure.
  • Hvac compressor safety relief valve venting refrigerant.
  • Low a/c system refrigerant condition.
  • A/C system underperformance.
  • Air conditioning hose and lines damage.
  • A/C compressor damage.
  • Subcooling and de-superheat inefficient
  • Overall poor a/c performance.

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ac vacuum controlled door

AC vacuum controlled door.

MANUAL CONTROL SYSTEMS

The air delivery system controls the movement of heated and cooled air into and throughout the passenger compartment. The Hvac housing is the plenum unit located and beneath the instrument panel. It contains the evaporator, heater core, the blower motor assembly, blower speed control device and the vacuum controlled door actuators.

The plenum houses the air doors and door actuators that direct airflow to the correct ductwork. The doors may be controlled by cables, vacuum, or electrical actuators. Single zone systems are usually equipped with three doors.

 

hvac box showing harness ,door actuators and vents.

AC vacuum-controlled door actuator main fault

Automotive ac climate control panel levers may operate a rotary switch to select the various vacuum or air routings to the motors that control A/C modes. The main fault experienced with vacuum-controlled door actuators is vacuum leaks.

 

Do you need assistance with the ac vacuum-controlled door in your vehicle?

We have auto ac mechanics in your area in Miami-Dade County. Some ac door actuators may be located underneath the dashboard of the vehicle and to get access to them could be labor intensive. Give Us a Call Today!

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How can i make my car ac colder

Belt troubleshooting

A car is equipped with an A/C compressor driven by a V-type belt. As the compressor cycles, the belt squeals briefly. A check with a belt tension gauge indicates the belt is correctly adjusted.

Belt slippage troubleshooting.

A V belt that is not wide enough will run on the bottom of the pulley providing very little belt friction regardless of the correct tension. V belts get their friction by wedging themselves into the V groove.

Why belt squeals when I start my car up?

An overcharged AC system condition can cause the high-side pressure to be so high as to resist the start-up of the compressor. In the long run, the clutch or belt will usually fail.

air conditioning service near me

The air-conditioning system cools satisfactorily during the early morning or late evening, but does not cool during the hot part of the day.

The problem is that the A/C system seems to work fine in the early morning and evenings, but does not during the heat of the day. During a performance test, the low-side gauge reads normal and then drops dramatically.

  • Ice could be forming on the expansion valve

  • The receiver drier could be saturated with moisture

Moisture in the system can be released from the desiccant in the receiver-drier by an increase in temperature on the high side. When the ambient temperature is lower the desiccant may be able to hold the moisture out of the refrigerant. Internal freezing of the expansion valve could produce external icing on the valve.

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