Refrigerant Revolution: What R-1234yf Means for Service, Equipment, Safety
The new R-1234yf refrigerant is more than just a new jumble of numbers and letters on a label. For your shop, R-1234yf means several new procedures, a certification and new equipment in order to properly handle these new systems. Why the difference in handling and servicing R-1234yf systems versus R-134a? The reason is flammability. Don’t
Case Study: 1996 GMC 1500 with no temperature control
• No A/C, no vent control, no temperature control • A/C and recirculation buttons will not light up • All new components, including compressor and control head Cars with a little age on them can be temperamental when diagnosing what might seem at first to be an easy problem. This 1996 GMC had already gone
A/C Oil Service: Avoid Compressor Failure With Proper Maintenance
HVAC systems often fail because the air conditioning compressor fails. Not following the proper service procedures or compressor oil recommendations could be factors that contribute to premature compressor failure. Refrigerant Since the mid-‘90s, all vehicles have been using R-134a refrigerant, but soon, vehicles will arrive at your shop equipped with R-1234yf refrigerant. This is the
Saturn HVAC Performance Issue: Noise Concern
Condition Some customers may comment that the vehicle’s A/C is not cooling or is not cold enough and/or the A/C compressor is noisy. Correction Do not replace the A/C compressor. For concerns of A/C system noisy during slow parking lot maneuvers, replace the HVAC hose with suction line (P/N 20757021 or aftermarket equivalent). For concerns of A/C
Hybrid Fluid Service 101
Does the phrase ”hybrid fluid maintenance” scare you? It shouldn’t. With more than 3 million hybrids on the road, and many of your customers considering purchasing one, servicing hybrid vehicles is in your future. Some special procedures must be followed when working on a hybrid.
Air Conditioning System Advances Change Service Opportunities
The attention-grabbing headline in the world of air conditioning is usually the switching of refrigerants as the industry and regulators continue to search for the next level of environmental friendliness. But the underrated A/C story that’s slowly developed during the same time period is the overall improvement of A/C systems.
Audi: Rattle Noise From Engine Area
Customers complain of a rattle noise from the air conditioning compressor. The noise is particularly audible in ECON operation. When the compressor operates under load, the noise is hardly audible. This condition is exhibited only in vehicles equipped with a DENSO air conditioning compressor with a plastic pulley.
Recover, Recycle and Recharge with Matco Tools’ A/C Machines
Matco Tools recently introduced the exclusively designed AC788 and AC789H R/R/R machines. Certified for compliance with SAE J2788 for the recovering, recycling and recharging of R-134a, these machines provide all of the features and benefits designed with the modern automotive repair shop in mind.
Relax – R1234yf Is Not The End Of The World
I attended the Mobile Air Conditioning Society’s 2014 Training Event and Trade Show in New Orleans last month. The main topic of discussion was R1234yf, or “twelve-thirty-four” in A/C lingo. There has been a lot of hype about the changeover to this refrigerant. Don’t panic. The reality is that it is not the “air conditioning apocalypse” some are predicting.
Four Seasons Honored With Most Innovative New Product Award At MACS Show
Four Seasons was recently honored with the “Most Innovative New Product” award for its Deslugger compressor clutch timer during the 2014 Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide Training Event and Trade Show, held in New Orleans, La.
Why Oil Balancing Is Critical When Replacing A Compressor
The purpose of oil balancing is to make sure the amount of oil in the A/C system remains at the correct level. The first thing to consider when performing the process is the amount of oil contained in the replacement compressor. This can vary from a full charge of oil (8 oz./236 mL), to a half charge of oil or no oil at all. If oil is contained in the replacement compressor, it will have to be removed and reinstalled in the correct amount to properly balance the system.
A/C Compressors Take A Pounding
The A/C compressor is a pump that compresses and circulates refrigerant within the A/C system. Some have pistons inside while others have rotating vanes on an eccentric or a pair of metal scrolls or spirals around an eccentric. Many late-model vehicles have “variable displacement” compressors that change the piston stroke to increase or decrease the volume of refrigerant flowing through the system. Some of these run continuously instead of cycling on and off like conventional A/C compressors.