Cool Autos

05/09/2018

25/02/2018

Air conditioning, which was once a great luxury, is now a common feature on most motor vehicles. While the servicing of modern car air conditioning systems is best left to professionals, you can get the most enjoyment from your ac system if you know a bit about how it works and what malfunctions you should be on the lookout for.
1. Odd smells coming from the air conditioning may be caused by bacterial build-ups
As your car becomes older, or when the air conditioning system is used infrequently, bacteria, micro-organisms, mold and fungi may start growing, just behind the dash panel on the ev***rator causing some very unpleasant odours. Some even claim this can result in headaches and flu like symptom sometimes referred to as “sick car syndrome.”
This problem can be solved by using an anti-bacterial treatment that destroys the bacteria growth and leaves your car smelling fresh again. We can perform this service for you!
2. If your car does not feel cold enough, then you may need to recharge your system
If you feel that your car doesn’t feel as cold as your friend’s car, then your system may need servicing. The air conditioning system in your vehicle is not usually covered by most manufacturers servicing schedules and the refrigerant gas that is used to operate the system depletes over time. On average most vehicles lose up to 15% per annum. This leakage can be caused when then system is not used during the winter months. Thus allowing the small “O” ring seals to dry out resulting in a gradual deterioration in system performance. If this continues, eventually the system will not be able to operate at all.
Most problems of this type can be put right fairly easily by a leak check of your system followed by a complete refill of your air conditioning refrigerant, this is sometimes referred to as a re-gas.
3. Running your air conditioning year round will help maintain the system
If you run the air conditioning in the winter it will help to keep the system well lubricated and leak tight. This is because the refrigerant actually carries the oil that lubricates the system and most importantly the compressor. It also keeps the seals and hoses moist, thus preventing them from drying out and cracking which can lead to leaks.
4. Strange noises coming from the air conditioning should be attended to immediately
If your air-con system suddenly starts making noises you have not heard before it is very advisable to have our qualified vehicle air conditioning specialist to have a look at it.
Some noises could be early symptoms of a compressor failure (the compressor is the air conditioning pump).The compressor is usually the most expensive part on the system, and if the bearings in your compressor break down or if the compressor seizes up it also means that other components can become contaminated with metal particles A flush of the system would then be needed as well as replacement of the compressor, the receiver/drier and the expansion valve - quite a hefty bill! If you have issues call us to evaluate your air-system.
5. Don’t worry about a pool of water forming under your car after using the A/C
If you see a puddle of water on the ground, usually under the passenger area don’t be alarmed. This is a normal feature of the system as it is only water dripping from the air conditioning ev***rator. The ev***rator has a drain tube fitted to allow the condensation from the ev***rator to drain away from the vehicle.
6. Excessive moisture inside the car can be fixed easily
Sometimes the drain tube from the ev***rator may become blocked or detached allowing the condensation to build up inside your ev***rator. If this occurs water will just build up inside your car to a point where there are damp carpets or misting / high humidity type problems. These problems can be solved with low-cost servicing.
7. Have your air conditioning serviced regularly, even if there are no visible problems
Just as the other systems of your car need servicing on a regular basis, the same is true for the air conditioning system. The compressor needs oil, or else it will seize up. The filter collects debris and moisture. If the filter becomes blocked, then the performance of the system will deteriorate and it can even quit working entirely (probably when you need it most!)
Normally the refrigerant gas in a car air conditioning system has to be recharged completely within four years from the manufacture date and thereafter every two to three years.
An annual servicing of your car’s air conditioning system will guard against malfunctions in the compressor and other vital parts of the system. Regular maintenance will save you money in the long run and guarantee you comfort in the hottest months.
To have your Air-Con system re-gas or to know about other issues you may have just a simple phone call can assist, call 622728922

02/02/2018

Cool Autos Website now live!
visit: www.coolautos.es

19/11/2017

How Air Conditioning Works

You might have pondered how your air conditioning actually works, or perhaps you have never given it a moment's thought. Just in case you are curious, let us explain it to you.

Air Conditioning How It Works

Air conditioning like it says 'conditions' the air. It not only cools it down, but also reduces the moisture content, or humidity. All air conditioners work the same way whether they are installed in a building, or in a car.

A number of people don't realise that turning on the air conditioning actually reduces the number of miles per gallon of your car. There is energy used in removing the heat and moisture from the air in the car, and this consumes petrol because of the extra engine load.

Hard tubing and flexible hoses connect all the actual components of the air conditioning in your car. Ev***ration and condensation, expansion and compression are the physics of why it works. There are five main components to the whole system, namely the Compressor, Condenser, Receiver-dryer, Expansion valve, and the Ev***rator.

Air Conditioning Cycle

The fluid that passes around the whole system is the refrigerant. The refrigerant can ev***rate at a low temperature, and then condense again at a higher pressure. In the bad old days, R-12 was the refrigerant used in almost all cars. It was widely available, however it was found to be a contributor to the hole in the earth's ozone layer as it was a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). These refrigerants were discontinued, and all cars after 1996 use a non-CFC fluid called R-134A which is kinder to the environment.

So, here is how all the various parts of a car's air conditioning works:

Compressor: The compressor is the work horse of the air conditioning system, powered by a drive belt connected to the crankshaft of the engine. When the aircon system is turned on, the compressor pumps refrigerant vapour under high pressure to the condenser.

Condenser: The condenser is a device used to change the high-pressure refrigerant v***r to a liquid. It is mounted in front of the engine's radiator, and it looks very similar to a radiator. The vapour is condensed to a liquid because of the high pressure that is driving it in, and this generates a great deal of heat. The heat is then in turn removed from the condenser by air flowing through the condenser on the outside.

Receiver: The now liquid refrigerant moves to the receiver-dryer. This is a small reservoir vessel for the liquid refrigerant, and removes any moisture that may have leaked into the refrigerant. Moisture in the system causes havoc, with ice crystals causing blockages and mechanical damage.

Expansion Valve: The pressurised refrigerant flows from the receiver-drier to the expansion valve. The valve removes pressure from the liquid refrigerant so that it can expand and become refrigerant vapour in the ev***rator.Air Conditioning

Ev***rator: The ev***rator is another device that looks similar to a car radiator. It has tubes and fins and is usually mounted inside the passenger compartment behind the fascia above the footwell. As the cold low-pressure refrigerant is passed into the ev***rator, it v***rises and absorbs heat from the air in the passenger compartment. The blower fan inside the passenger compartment pushes air over the outside of the ev***rator, so cold air is circulated inside the car. On the 'air-side' of the ev***rator, the moisture in the air is reduced, and the 'condensate' is collected and drained away.

Compressor: The compressor then draws in the low-pressure refrigerant vapour to start another refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration cycle then runs continuously, and is regulated by the setting of the expansion valve.

The whole process is reasonably simple when explained like that. All air conditioning systems work on the same principle, even if the exact components used may vary slightly between car manufacturers.

We hope that explains a little as to how that little 'A/C' button works on your car, if you want it explained a little more in depth then if you roll up your sleeves we can show you the components in your car next time you call us for a check or service here at Cool Autos

28/10/2017

Cool Autos use state of the art equipment to provide you with an efficient re-gassing and flushing service of your vehicles air-conditioning system.
As a mobile service, the convenience to the customer is obvious.