Keeping up with maintenance on your vehicle’s heating and air conditioning system helps keep it working when you need it. Leaks in the air conditioning system mean a loss of refrigerant, which then causes the A/C system to work inefficiently, if at all. Independent Auto and Diesel Repair in Jamestown, TN, has recently acquired a brand-new 1234YF A/C machine, so we can take care of all your air conditioning needs, whether your vehicle has R-12 (unlikely), R-134a or 1234YF.
What Issues Can Arise in Vehicle Air Conditioning and Heating Systems?
Auto heating and air conditioning systems have several components where issues can arise, including:
- Refrigerant Leaks: Vehicle air conditioning can develop leaks in any of the hoses or A/C components.
- Coolant Leaks: The heater uses the hot antifreeze to heat the air in the heater core. If the coolant is low, the heat may not be efficient.
- Compressor Clutch Failures: The compressor clutch rides in front of the compressor. It locks the pulley into the compressor when the system turns it on. Otherwise, the compressor pulley just turns freely.
- Compressors: The compressor is the heart of the air conditioning system. It compresses the refrigerant into a high-pressure gas, aiding in drawing heat out from the cabin.
- Condensers: The condenser helps cool the refrigerant before it goes through the cycle again.
- Evaporators: The evaporator is where the coolant passes through and absorbs heat from the cabin.
- High and Low-Pressure Lines: These lines carry the refrigerant through the system, from the compressor to the evaporator and back.
- Heater Cores: The heater core usually rides behind the dash and helps increase the temperature of coolant so the fan blows hot air into the cabin.
- Accumulators / Driers: Depending on your vehicle’s setup, the accumulator or drier absorbs any moisture in the refrigerant.
- Expansion Blocks / Orifice Tubes: The expansion block or orifice tube is right before the evaporator. A vehicle will have either one, but not both. They start changing the pressure of the refrigerant before it moves through the evaporator core.
- Electric Fans: The fan helps cool the refrigerant as it passes through the condenser.
- Heater Hoses: These hoses carry hot water from the radiator to the heater core and back.
- Blower Motors: The blower motor blows hot or cold air into the cabin, depending on whether you have the heat or air conditioning on.
- Blower Motor Resistors: The resistor allows you to change the speed of the blower motor.
- Head Units: The head unit is where you control the heat and air conditioning. It has several parts connected to it, including blend doors, vacuum lines, and other components, depending on the type of air conditioning system your vehicle has.
Although our new machine primarily specializes in detecting leaks, it isn’t a comprehensive diagnostic tool for all the issues listed. Our certified vehicle HVAC technicians have many years of experience diagnosing problems with the heating and air conditioning systems.
What the 1234YF A/C Machine Can Do for You
The 1234YF A/C machine is the first commercially available machine that meets SAE’s requirements to recover, recycle and recharge systems that use the new refrigerant. If there’s uncertainty about the type of refrigerant in your A/C system, and the technician is unable to determine it through the Schrader valves, the machine has the capability to identify the refrigerant type.
It can service hybrid and standard air conditioning systems. The new machine has a programmable vacuum operation, allowing the tech to correct the vacuum level in any condition. Even better, it helps us detect big leaks. While conventional leak testing may be necessary for detecting minuscule leaks, the machine significantly expedites the process of locating larger leaks.
It also tells us how much oil was drained from the system so we are sure to put the correct amount back in.
The machine also purges any air in the holding tank to ensure that the refrigerant isn’t contaminated when it goes into your vehicle. It also allows us to flush your vehicle’s air conditioning system with liquid refrigerant instead of harsh chemicals that can damage lines and components over time.
Additionally, the new 1234YF A/C machine enables the printing of service reports for your records.
Contact Independent Auto and Diesel Repair
For your auto AC services and heating maintenance needs every spring and fall, reach out to Independent Auto and Diesel Repair at (931) 863-2888 for an appointment. We are conveniently located at 4859 S. York Hwy Jamestown, TN 38556.
