Service and maintenance of car air conditioners - not only fumigation
For the correct operation of the air conditioner, the driver must arrange for it to be thoroughly checked at least once every two years. For health reasons, the cabin filter should be changed every six months, and the system should be cleaned once a year.
In new cars, the air conditioning system in the early years usually does not require serious service intervention. Routine maintenance is usually limited to adding coolant and changing the cabin filter. As a result, the system is able to effectively cool the interior, creating a pleasant atmosphere for the driver and passengers.
Start by disinfecting your car's air conditioner.
The air conditioner in used cars requires more maintenance, especially those with little known service history. The first step after the purchase should be the disinfection of the system, it is also an automobile air conditioner from the fungus. In professional services, this can be done in several ways. The most popular is ozonation with a special generator.
“Put it in the middle of the car and start it up. Then we turn on the air conditioner along the internal circuit. Ozone not only removes germs and odors from the ventilation system, but also from door, seat and ceiling upholstery,” says Sławomir Skarbowski from El-Car in Rzeszów.
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This procedure takes about 15-30 minutes and costs about 50 PLN.. The second, more recommended method is chemical disinfection. To carry out this fungus removal, the mechanic must reach the evaporator, which sprays it with an aseptic disinfectant. Experienced professionals use specialized liquids with a wide spectrum of action. After starting the internal circulation, the agent is pumped into the entire system and the interior, which is thoroughly cleaned of fungi and mold that cause unpleasant odors and contribute to respiratory diseases.
A dose of disinfectant is injected into the air channels with a probe. In the case of very neglected systems, sometimes the mechanic has to dismantle the cab to get inside the dirty ventilation ducts. “Chemical disinfection is more effective,” Skarbowski explains.
Chemical fumigation costs about 70 PLN. They can be combined with ozonation for the best results. Then a full service costs about 100 PLN. After buying a used car, it is worth replacing the cabin filter, which wears out the fastest in the entire system. The contribution to popular car models is about PLN 40-50 for the paper version and about PLN 70-80 for the activated carbon version. The latter is especially recommended for allergy sufferers. As Slavomir Skarbowski emphasizes, once a year it is worth disinfecting the car air conditioner, we change the cabin filter every six months.
Maintenance of the condenser and dehumidifier, or what to do to make the air conditioner last longer
However, cleaning the system is mostly healthy. Cooling problems usually have a completely different background. Mechanics are advised to start searching for the cause of the problem by inspecting all the nodes, and not with a preventive coolant filling. It is based on a leak test of the system, which can also be performed in several ways. A very popular method is to fill the system with nitrogen, carefully injected at a pressure of about 8 bar. Why nitrogen?
– Because it is an inert gas that also removes moisture from the system. If you notice a significant drop in pressure within half an hour, you can look for leaks with a stethoscope. When the pressure drops a little, we suggest supplementing the medium with a dye. The client comes back to us in about two weeks, and with the help of an ultraviolet lamp we pinpoint the source of the leak,” explains Sławomir Skarbowski.
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In order to reduce diagnostic costs, no more than half of the factor is pumped into a leaky dye system. Finding losses using nitrogen costs about PLN 30. Filling factor and dye about 90 zł. An item that many drivers forget to replace is the air dryer. Although car manufacturers recommend buying a new one every two years, in our climate the period can be extended to three to four years. The task of this element is to remove moisture from the system. Since it is packed with salts and gels, corrosive substances for aluminum fall out during use. Progressive corrosion of the entire system can lead to very serious malfunctions, the elimination of which will be expensive. At the same time, the replacement of the dryer, depending on the model of the car, usually does not exceed PLN 150-200.
- This is the price for this element, for example, for Toyota Avensis or Corolla, where it is in the form of a separate bag. The situation is worse in the latest models of cars, including French ones, where the dryer is usually combined with a condenser and a number of other elements. Here, the cost can reach thousands of zlotys, the air conditioner maintenance specialist calculates.
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The capacitor is a less burdensome element to operate. With regular maintenance of the air conditioner, it is usually enough to clean it once a year. Most often, such a procedure is carried out after the winter. Since in most models this is the first radiator behind the model engine, access to it is very easy, and the price of the service should not exceed 10-20 zł. It is worth remembering to clean the capacitor, because if it rusts, then replacing it can be very expensive. The cheapest replacements for popular car models cost around PLN 250-300. But, for example, an original capacitor for a 2009 Honda CR-V costs PLN 2500-3000.
The compressor is the heart of the car's air conditioning system.
Repairing a compressor, the heart of a car's air conditioning system, can also be a major expense. He is responsible for pumping the coolant. If the compressor does not work, then even a full-fledged air conditioning system will not cool the interior of the car. The inspection usually consists of looking and listening to the device, which is particularly prone to bearing and seal failures. The first set usually costs no more than 70-90 PLN. Fillings cost about PLN 250-350. In the case of a scheduled inspection, the compressor can be additionally topped up with oil. It is added together with the factor in an amount of not more than 10-15 ml. It is important to follow the viscosity of the lubricant recommended by the manufacturer.
– Defects that cannot be repaired are mainly damage to the pistons. Typically, the cost of spare parts exceeds the purchase of a new device. In addition, aluminum components are not very suitable for grinding. For example, original compressors for Volkswagen Group cars are produced in Poland, and their price starts from about XNUMX PLN,” says Sławomir Skarbowski.
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A problem resulting from damage to the aluminum pistons and compressor housing is also sawdust contamination of the entire system. Then the oil becomes cloudy and has a graphite color. Then the air conditioning system should be flushed with a special agent injected into the system using appropriate devices. In order for the flushing to be effective, it is necessary to additionally replace the expansion valve or nozzle, dryer, compressor and condenser. The evaporator only needs to be cleaned. Such a worst-case scenario requires about PLN 2500-3000 for repairs. In comparison, the annual maintenance of a car's air conditioner is about 10 percent of that amount.
*** Don't end blindly
Proper refrigerant charging must begin with refrigerant recovery and weighing. This lets the mechanic know how much agent needs to be added to achieve 10% infill. In an efficient air conditioning system, about 90 percent of the factor can be lost during the year. Although this should not significantly affect the effectiveness of the system, it is worth updating it regularly. Compensation for losses with a leak test and UV staining costs approximately PLN 200 to PLN XNUMX.
