Servicing of car air conditioning is recommended at least once a year to ensure its proper operation and long life. Maintaining the efficiency of the air conditioning system not only helps avoid costly repairs, but also improves driving safety and comfort.
The article will discuss basic and advanced maintenance activities, including the use of equipment such as ACT-2 for testing variable displacement compressors and the QST-5 for sensor testing. Checking the appropriate ozone level, indispensable for effective ozone treatment, is possible with the device OCT-3 PRO .
Air conditioning in a car is responsible not only for thermal comfort in hot weather. It also helps dry the interior and prevent condensation, ensuring safe driving even outside the summer season. In vehicles with a continuously driven compressor, proper maintenance must be ensured throughout the year. The importance of regular auto air conditioning service is also underscored by the fact that maintaining its efficiency ensures healthier air inside the vehicle.
Basic automotive air conditioning maintenance includes a series of measures to keep it efficient and trouble-free. The following are the main steps carried out when visiting the site:
Control and replenishment of the refrigerant is carried out by special devices operating on the basis of a closed circuit. What refrigerant is used in a given system has a significant impact on the cost of service. The most popular and widely used are:
In the circuit along with the factor must circulate an adequate amount of oil to ensure lubrication of the compressor. The correct amount of oil must also be verified.
Car air conditioning, due to its operating conditions, especially the persistent humidity, is an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria and fungi. A/C de-fumigation and disinfection should be carried out regularly. For cleaning and de-fumigation of air conditioning use:
The cabin filter is responsible for the purity of the air that enters the car’s interior through the vents. With a high level of filtration, modern filters not only protect the interior from dirt, but also absorb some of the chemical pollutants.
For low to moderate annual mileage, it may be recommended that the filter be replaced at the same time as the air conditioning service. If there is a carbon filter then remember to put it on only after ozonation.
Ozone is a three-atom variety of oxygen that has very strong oxidizing properties. Ozonation of air conditioning involves the introduction of ozone, produced by an ozone generator, into the system.
Ozonation can be carried out using ozone generating equipment that emits ozone into the environment to be cleaned. It is important that this process is carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and safety standards, due to the toxicity of ozone. Ozone has a very characteristic odor, detectable even at very low concentrations. This causes the smell to be very strong even at the low output of the ozone device.
In order for ozonation to be effective, it is important to remember to achieve the right concentration of this gas. The solution is to use the device OCT-3 PRO , which allows you to check the level achieved to document the successfully performed service (it is possible to generate a report from the Android application). Device OCT-3 PRO also has an integrated probe for high ozone concentrations, making it possible to compare the performance of ozonators. It is worth noting that many of the devices offered do not achieve the claimed performance. In addition, high temperature or humidity reduce the effectiveness of generation.
Remember that ozonation does not remove all contaminants, being one of the methods of de-fumigation and disinfection. If organic matter lingers in the system then before long the fungi will re-emerge, causing an unpleasant odor. Sometimes a more radical air conditioning cleaning may be necessary, involving disassembly and physical cleaning of components.
A full air conditioning service may require additional work, especially if you find that some components are not functioning properly.
The dehumidifier filter in the automotive air conditioning system is an important component that is responsible for removing moisture from the refrigerant, preventing corrosion. The recommended replacement interval is 2-3 years or every 40,000-60,000 kilometers. It is also important to regularly check the condition of the dehumidifier filter during air conditioning inspections and replace it if you notice any signs of wear or damage.
In the past, the A/C compressor drive was often disconnected by a solenoid clutch. In such a situation, there is no problem in finding out whether the compressor is engaged or checking the clutch circuit.
In the new solutions, the drive of air conditioning compressors is realized without the use of a clutch and the compressor operates throughout the operation of the engine, and the regulation of operation is adjusted by a suitable valve. In such a situation, it becomes natural and safe to use a dedicated device for such purposes, such as the ACT-2.
If the system is found to be leaking, components such as the air conditioning condenser or evaporator may need to be replaced.
The proper operation of a car air conditioning system is responsible not only for the efficiency of the compressor and the tightness of the system, but also for the operation of the pressure and temperature sensors. Using the QST-5 tester, we can easily check the operation of pressure sensors, both those with voltage output, but also the popular sensors with PWM output often used in VW group vehicles.
The undoubted advantage of the QST-5 is the ability to work independently with the sensor under test, so we are able to check the sensor both inside and outside the vehicle. For off-vehicle testing, we can use an ordinary compressor to obtain pressures in the range up to 10 bar, making it easy to test the sensor in this range.
Use of QST-5 is very simple even for people without much knowledge of car electronics . We can connect the sensor in any way we want, without knowing its leads. The tester will recognize and display the connection layout itself and then let you proceed to the test.
The QST-5 will also come in handy for temperature sensors – it will measure the resistance of the sensor, and when you select one of the available temperature scales, it will allow you to convert it to a value in degrees Celsius.
Professional service is not just the popular air conditioning refill, but the performance of a number of activities to ensure trouble-free operation of air conditioning. When choosing a service, do not be guided only by price, but bet on the quality of the service.
These measures not only ensure optimal thermal conditions and clean air in the vehicle, but also protect the health of passengers from harmful microorganisms and eliminate unpleasant odors, highlighting the importance of adequate ozone levels for proper ozone effect.
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