Air Conditioner Service: Troubleshooting Guide

Perhaps your car air conditioner is in need of a simple air conditioning service, or it may be a more complex matter requiring complete air conditioner repair. Either way, our technicians will be able to diagnose the function of your auto air conditioner compressor and other air conditioner components. This is what we call complete air conditioner service, and we can even retrofit your older car to take advantage of the new advances in refrigeration, such as EPA mandated R-134a retrofitting, to help you get that old AC up and running again.

To explain to you how our air conditioner service works is no simple matter, Discount Brake auto repair mechanics feel you must first have a basic understanding of the system and how it works. Your air conditioning compressor is a pump that is set into motion by your fan belt or, on some models, your car's electrical system. Unlike just any pump, however, the compressor is designed to cut on and off depending on the need for cooling inside your cab. The device that controls this thermostatic activity is a device not unlike the thermostat in your home. It works in conjunction with a device that records the pressure of the Freon in your refrigeration lines. As Freon is heated, it expands and increases pressure inside the refrigeration lines. Then, when it is needed, it passes through a small pinhole, or orifice, known as a thermal expansion valve. As it does, the Freon will "flash off", and it is this combination of expansion and contraction that allows the Freon to get very cold, so that it can remove the heat from the cab of your vehicle and get rid of it at the evaporator core. The evaporator core acts as a small radiator that removes the heat from the Freon. It is worth noting that most automobiles have moved away from what we traditionally think of as Freon to a more environmentally friendly refrigerant called R-134a. This refrigerant operates differently than the traditional R-22 (Freon), which requires a different diameter line, as well as different o-rings designed for its specific chemical make-up.

On a less complex note, were you aware that driving your vehicle with the windows down consumes more gas per mile than running a properly functioning air conditioner turned on? Of course, driving with the AC is much more comfortable, too. When you want it to work, does your car air conditioner leave you disappointed by blowing hot air from the vents, working intermittently, or making loud unpleasant noises?

Even the seasoned mechanic doesn't have all the requisite knowledge for automotive air conditioner repair. This auto service requires advanced training and certification, as it is a complex matter dealing with changes in the state of matter of the refrigerant. Here at Discount Auto we have mechanics that posses and maintain these certifications, which also help ensure EPA compliance. We offer a complete range of air conditioning services. Whether you need a simple recharge, or complete air conditioning repair, come by and see us. We service the areas of Blaine, Spring Lake Park and Fridley, Minnesota.