AIR CONDITIONING REPAIR 101
By: Dave McCombs (Auto Air Conditioning Expert )

In Arizona, just about every new car, truck or SUV is sold with air conditioning. It’s a must during the dog days of 110 plus degree summer temperatures! We Phoenicians don’t take this modern-day luxury for granted. It’s easy…just press a button for air conditioning in your car and if it’s working properly, within seconds cold air starts flowing from your car’s vents.

Here’s how it works ~

Air conditioning is the process by which air is cooled and dehumidified. The air-conditioning in your car, your home and your office all work similarly.

Basically, air conditioning systems operate on the principles of evaporation and condensation.

The principles of evaporation and condensation are utilized in your car’s A/C system by a series of components that are connected by tubing and hoses. There are six basic components: the compressor, condenser, receiver-drier, thermostatic expansion valve, the evaporator and the refrigerant.

Refrigerant is a stable substance that can be condensed and under pressure gets cold.

First, the compressor is the power unit of the A/C system. A drive belt connected to the engine’s crankshaft powers it. When the A/C system is turned on, the compressor pumps refrigerant vapor under low pressure to the condenser.

Secondly, the condenser is a device used to change the high-pressure refrigerant vapor to a liquid. As the car moves, air flowing through the condenser removes heat from the refrigerant, changing it to a liquid state.

Third, refrigerant moves to the receiver-drier. It removes moisture from the refrigerant.

Fourth, as the compressor continues to pump, liquid refrigerant under high pressure is circulated from the receiver-drier to the thermostatic expansion valve. The valve controls the low side pressure and regulates the temperature.

Next, the evaporator is very similar to the condenser. As the cold low-pressure refrigerant is released into the evaporator, cool air will be available for the occupants of the vehicle. A blower fan blows air across the cold evaporator and inside the passenger compartment that helps to distribute the cooler air.

And finally, the heat-laden, low-pressure refrigerant vapor is then drawn into the compressor to start another refrigeration cycle.

That’s it! Pretty simple ~ but as you are well aware, if your A/C system isn’t functioning properly, whether it be a loose or broken drive belt, inoperative compressor, clogged expansion valve, leaking/low refrigerant or a number of other faulty parts, it won’t blow cold air.

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