| August 22nd, 2009 by admin |
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Learning The Basics Of Your Car’s A/C System
Learning The Basics Of Your Car’s A/C System
We’ve explored your vehicle’s air conditioning system in past articles, but mostly from the context of fixing a few specific problems. Many drivers still do not have a basic understanding with regard to how the system works. Without that understanding, it’s difficult to accurately diagnose potential problems.
In this article, we’ll take a top-down approach. I’ll describe the process by which your vehicle’s A/C generates cold and sends it into the cabin. Then, with that perspective in mind, I’ll explain a few factors that can impair its ability to do its job.
Parts, Refrigerant, And Airflow
There are six main parts that comprise your car’s A/C. Each has a specific responsibility to fulfill in order that the system can generate cold.
The first component is the compressor. A belt is connected to the crankshaft. As your engine turns, the crankshaft causes the belt to rotate. That rotation powers the compressor, which sends refrigerant to the condenser in the form of heated, pressurized vapor. The condenser acts similarly to a radiator. While you’re driving, airflow traverses the condenser which cools the refrigerant. That turns the pressurized vapor into liquid form.
Once it has been turned into liquid, the refrigerant travels along to a storage tank called the receiver-drier. There, moisture is removed from it, which prevents it from freezing and causing an obstruction within the assembly.
Next in line is the thermostatic expansion valve. Its job is to depressurize the refrigerant (still in liquid form) in order that it can expand. The liquid is then sent to the evaporator, which is located within the cabin of your vehicle. When the refrigerant reaches this component, it turns back into vapor, absorbing heat from within the cabin. As the heat is absorbed, a fan blows the resulting cool air into the cabin, further reducing the temperature.
What Can Cause A Problem?
There are several factors that can cause your car’s A/C to stop working properly. For example, the hoses and tubes can develop leaks which will allow refrigerant to escape. Or, the receiver-drier, evaporator, or expansion valve can become clogged. Or, the belt that is connected to your engine’s crankshaft can break or loosen.
The type of problem you experience will provide a helpful clue to the issue’s root cause. For example, if the airflow that is coming from your vents is not cool or cold, you might have a leak, a bad or clogged expansion valve, or a failing compressor. If the airflow is cool, but its strength is weak, the belt on the crankshaft might be loose or there may be a blockage somewhere in the system.
In most cases, problems with your vehicle’s air conditioner should be left in the capable hands of an experienced mechanic. That said, if you live in an area that enjoys warm weather, the investment will pay dividends through a more comfortable driving experience.
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