Car air conditioner repair-Riga

The principle of the air conditioning system

The air conditioning system serves not only to cool the air in the interior of your car, it also cleans it of various odors and moisture. Its main feature is that the work is carried out not from electricity, as is the case with household air conditioners, but from the engine. The principle of operation can be compared with an ordinary refrigerator; the system is a sealed container filled with special oil, which is necessary for lubricating the pipes and the compressor, and freon.

If in a traffic jam the car began to overheat and consume more fuel, then, most likely, the condenser of the air conditioning system has failed. In addition, oily stains may appear on it. Another alarming sign may be overheating of the engine and the entire engine compartment, slipping of the drive belt and electromagnetic clutch, as well as the appearance of unpleasant odors and water drops in the passenger compartment. This all indicates a malfunction of the evaporator.

Automotive air conditioners are made up of six main components:

• Refrigerant … The refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor is heated, passed (under high pressure) through the condenser and converted to liquid.
• Compressor – compresses the refrigerant, sends it to the air condenser of the car air conditioner.
• Capacitor – located near the main radiator, converts refrigerant from gas to liquid, transfers heat to the environment.
• Expansion valve / expansion valve (thermostatic expansion valve) – a nozzle that reduces the pressure of the liquid refrigerant of the system. As it expands, the liquid becomes vapor inside the evaporator. A special movable rod inside the valve, moving up and down, measures the refrigerant flow, atomizes steam. (diagnosed with a serviceable system – tightness of the system and a properly operating compressor)
• Evaporator – located in the passenger compartment, it works opposite the condenser, here the liquid refrigerant becomes a gas, absorbing heat from the air in the compartment.
• Dehumidifier – filters the refrigerant with oil, removing moisture, pollutants in the air conditioning system.

External signs that will indicate to you the main malfunctions of the air conditioner in your car

• White foam in the receiver dryer
• Cooling down

Indicates Leakage damage after wear of the gasket, flaring and deformation of pipes, wear of the hose.

• Turn off the air conditioner yourself

Indicates a clogged condenser

• Turn off the air conditioner yourself
• Noises when the air conditioner is operating
• Poor cooling of the vehicle interior
• Evaporator freezing

Indicates that the air conditioner is contaminated with wear particles

• Bad smell when the air conditioner is on

Indicates Clogged drain tube and evaporator

• Turning off the air conditioner yourself

Breakage of the pressure sensor

What can cause damage to the air conditioner?

The most common reason for the failure of a car air conditioner is unfavorable working conditions, since dirt, debris, poplar fluff are constantly clogged in some parts of the system, water and deicing reagents get into it. Basically, all dirt accumulates in those places where it can linger, i.e. under the clamps, frame nuts, and fluff and dust fill the space between the radiator and the condenser, which leads to the rapid failure of the latter. That’s why it is recommended not to forget about the radiator, condenser and the space between them when washing a car …

The operation of the evaporator and condenser can be affected by the ingress of water, air, lack or excess of refrigerant and oil. … The reasons for the failure of the evaporator are: corrosion, both internal and external; its pollution; blockage of drainage pipes. The condition of the filter drier is affected by non-compliance with the rules and technologies for filling, servicing and repairing the air conditioning system and, as a result, its pollution. If there is a failure in the electrical part, or if the bearing is worn out, this will lead to a malfunction of the fan.

Diagnostics of the air conditioning system

Experts recommend diagnosing the air conditioner about once a year to properly maintain the required temperature and humidity parameters.

Diagnostics of the car air conditioner includes the following steps:

• Checking the system for leaks
• Overpressure check
• Vacuum test
• Diagnose possible problems with faulty switches, fuses, wiring, capacitor or diagnose a failed compressor internal seal
• Adding dye when refueling
• Checking the air duct system, air supply.

Diagnostics of an air conditioner using special equipment allows you to identify a problem area. After identifying a breakdown, specialists begin to repair the air conditioner, eliminating current malfunctions, and also carry out manipulations to prevent and prevent all kinds of new troubles that may arise with the air conditioning system after a while.

Air conditioner repair may include the following procedures: replacement / repair of the radiator, replacement / repair of pipes, replacement / repair of the compressor, etc.

The most common malfunctions:

• Refrigerant leaking.

If a gas station detects a leak, then specialists proceed to search for the location of the leak and the causes of the leak. Leaks are usually caused by leaks. Leaks in the system can occur due to corrosion of aluminum pipes, mechanical damage to the condenser, radiator, hoses or pipes. Aluminum tubes are susceptible to corrosion at the points of attachment to the body, sometimes depressurization occurs due to grinding of the tubes. Rubber tubes often fail due to chafing. It is eliminated by welding damaged sections of aluminum tubes with argon welding, or by replacing them. The rubber tubes are replaced when rubbing is detected. It is not always possible to detect a leak visually.

• Malfunction of compressor and clutch

The compressor is one of the main parts of the air conditioner, and even the smallest breakdown of it leads either to incorrect operation of the air conditioner, or to its complete failure. The following symptoms may indicate compressor breakdowns:

• Reduced cooling capacity;
• Extraneous noise during compressor operation;
• Squeak of the compressor drive belt when starting the air conditioner;
• The presence of oil leaks on the compressor;
• Compressor refusal to start when the air conditioner is turned on.

Noise, creaking and other extraneous sounds occurring during the operation of the compressor indicate its imminent wear. Leaking oil means that the seals and oil seals on the compressor have lost their tightness and must be replaced.

It is recommended to repair the compressor, or replace it, and flush the system.

• Evaporator malfunction.

The evaporator must be checked in the following cases:

• Smell in the cabin (this problem and its solution were mentioned above);
• Deterioration of the air conditioner;
• The appearance of water in the cabin for no apparent reason.

Evaporator malfunctions arise mainly due to the peculiarities of its location in the car – it is located directly in the passenger compartment, although it is hidden under the front panel. If water appears in the passenger compartment, this may indicate a clogged drain tube – condensate from the evaporator collects in the pan, but does not flow out through the drain tube, but goes directly into the passenger compartment.

Deterioration in the operation of the air conditioner can occur due to a clogged evaporator, as well as due to corrosion. Of course, the clogging and corrosion of the evaporator tubes is much slower than in the condenser, but the consequences and solutions to the problem are the same here.

It is recommended to flush the system, repair the evaporator, or replace the evaporator.

Condenser malfunctions

Capacitor problems may be indicated by the following symptoms:

• Deterioration of the air conditioner, especially when the car is stopped;
• Oil leaks on the condenser;
• Dirty condenser.

The most common problem that absolutely all capacitors face is their contamination and corrosion. The reason is the peculiarity of the location of the condenser – this element is usually installed in front of the engine cooling radiator, so dirt, dust, insects, chemicals from the road, etc. get into it. All this leads to clogging of the gaps between the radiator tubes, which seriously reduces the efficiency of its operation (since excess heat is removed from a smaller area).

Another serious and no less frequent problem is corrosion. Condenser tubes under the influence of external factors (especially water and chemicals) corrode, which leads to a loss of tightness – hence oil leaks, a decrease in the level of refrigerant in the system and other related problems.

It is much easier to identify capacitor faults than to fix them; to repair this component, you must contact a specialist.

• Malfunctions of the electrical part of the air conditioner.

Electrical diagnostics are recommended. Eliminate electrical faults.

• Receiver drier dirty / filter drier defective

The following “symptoms” can indicate problems with a filter drier (which is often combined with a receiver):

• Interruptions in the operation of the air conditioner;
• Deterioration of the air conditioner;
• Frequent shutdowns of the compressor;
• Ice build-up on the filter drier and piping leaving it.

Most often this is due to clogging of the filter drier, or to the depletion of the resource of the moisture absorbing element. There is only one solution to the problem – replacing the entire filter drier unit. However, there is one peculiarity here: after replacing this component, it is necessary to evacuate the system and replace the refrigerant, so it is best to entrust this work to specialists.

• Air conditioner radiator clogged with dirt , no heat transfer, no effective refrigerant cooling. The air conditioner seems to be working, but not cooling. Quite often it is not possible to pump the correct amount of refrigerant.

It is recommended to flush the air conditioner radiator in the engine compartment with dismantling.