AUTONEWS

Avoid the crowds - fix your air conditioner before the unbearable heat

Although it seems like summer is still far away, the scorching heat will arrive quickly. And then many drivers will rush to the service stations after realizing that their air conditioner is not cooling properly. Unfortunately, there will be crowds there, so there will be days or weeks of waiting. Many service stations say that the same story repeats itself every year...

Therefore, we sought answers from experts to various questions about air conditioners. For example, how to prevent expensive breakdowns, how to recognize that something is wrong, what are the most common breakdowns...

Can a compressor "die" due to a lack of freon?...Yes, a compressor can break down due to a lack of freon, because thanks to freon, oil circulates through the system that lubricates the compressor, and the compressor is cooled by freon.

Prevention can save a lot of money...At the Hekom air conditioning service, they say: "Most drivers do not know how the air conditioner works, that it needs to be serviced and checked regularly. Only when a malfunction occurs or when they notice that there is no cooling, do they contact the service and, as a rule, go to the nearest service.

Of course, there are many quality services with trained and professional workers, but there are also services that only "partially" perform air conditioning servicing. This partial service mainly consists of charging the air conditioner and a visual inspection.

A serious inspection includes, among other things, checking the amount of freon, the condition of the compressor, the condition of the radiator, and the like, and based on the condition of the entire system, the customer is recommended further steps.

When a malfunction occurs due to irregular air conditioning maintenance, drivers are usually surprised to hear how much the repair will cost. And that malfunction could have been prevented with regular service or inspection.

Otherwise, regular service should be done every 2 years, and the inspection, which is free in most services, is done between regular services.

Air conditioning repairs can be very expensive. It depends on the make, model, generation, availability of parts...The most expensive part is the compressor, especially when it comes to an exotic or very luxurious car, and there are various other factors. The compressor is the one that breaks down the most.”

If the gas from the system leaks slowly and imperceptibly, so that the driver does not notice that the air conditioner is cooling less and less, can this damage the compressor?

Hekom answers: “Of course. The compressor needs cooling, and it is precisely the freon that cools it. Namely, the compressor heats up while it is working, but it is mostly heated by the car engine. For example, the engine block is at 95 degrees Celsius, while the compressor is at 75 degrees. That is a really big difference, although it may not seem that way to some.

Good cooling of the compressor ensures a longer lifespan. A lack of gas (freon) in the system automatically leads to weaker cooling, which directly affects the compressor.

The oil that lubricates the compressor is also extremely important. Freon carries oil throughout the entire system, so as soon as there is a lack of freon, the oil does not circulate properly and the compressor does not have proper lubrication. A lack of freon can also lead to the accumulation of oil in some “pockets”, which only worsens the situation.

Of course, the compressor can break even if there is enough freon and oil, just like any other part on the car. It depends on the quality of the compressor, the quality of the gas, the quality of the service provided by the service, etc."

How to extend the life of an air conditioner?...The air conditioner should be turned on once a week, even when cooling is not needed, in order to circulate the oil throughout the system. In addition to lubricating the compressor, oil also helps the rubber seals last longer and seal better, which is especially useful for older cars.

Before stopping the vehicle, or before the end of the trip, you should turn off the air conditioner 5 minutes earlier, turn the fan to its highest setting, and open the windows to dry out the evaporator and reduce the possibility of various microorganisms forming on it.

Also, you should avoid turning on the air conditioner while driving at high revs. It is ideal to turn on the air conditioner when the car is idling.

Don't wait three days before going to the seaside to repair the air conditioner...Drivers usually come to the service center because of a lack of freon. You notice that the air conditioner is not cooling well, and it turns out that the problem is a lack of freon. Adding freon, oil, and UV dye to the system fixes the problem this problem, but it is necessary to check with a special lamp after about ten days whether and where the freon is leaking.

If it is leaking, it usually turns out to be leaking somewhere on the radiator or hose. Of course, it can also be determined at the first inspection that the compressor is faulty. Namely, if the freon is filled during the first visit and it turns out that the compressor is not working, then the compressor is usually repaired.

Some faults are not easy to find the first time, but the driver has to come several times, especially if the air conditioner has never been serviced or has no service history.

Also, when the heat starts, due to the sudden influx of customers, air conditioning repair shops are physically unable to devote maximum attention to each car. Workers in these shops are overloaded, as they have to work faster than usual, and this can lead to errors in the performance of work, no matter how experienced and professional the repairman is.

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