Air Conditioning Specialists in Stroud

We can help you keep your A/C system cool! ❄

 

SERVICE & MAINTENANCE NEEDS

Here at AMA, we don’t use the term ‘top up’ when it comes to our air conditioning servicing. It is a rare case that a vehicle has just simply run low on refrigerant. Should this be the case, it is likely down to the porous nature of the hoses; a system can typically lose up to 10% of it’s charge through this. In the vast majority of cases, there will be another reason that your system isn’t working as it should. If your vehicle has lost it’s gas through a failure or a leakage point, we will quote to repair the system. Please note it is illegal to add refrigerant to a system with a known leak.

Like any complex mechanical system, air conditioning requires maintenance to ensure optimum performance and long, trouble free life. It is suggested that you have your air conditioning serviced every 2 years.

Unfortunately, there is little awareness at driver or garage service level about the importance of regular servicing. Failure of the air conditioning is not an obvious safety issue and will not prevent the vehicle from being used so it is not an “emergency” repair. Furthermore, the deterioration of the performance of air conditioning can be gradual and go unnoticed for some time.

Despite this, air conditioning is an important feature for drivers’ comfort and wellbeing so drivers will seek cost effective diagnosis and repair of faults.

In cases of crash damage, a full test and re-gas will be the minimum service requirement.

Our vehicle air con service will involve a pressure test, refrigerant replacement or clean and re-charge,  and a UV dye shot. We also offer the option of a ‘cabin refresh’, which is an anti-bacterial clean for the evaporator and ventilation system. This helps get rid of mould and mildew build up which can result in unpleasant ‘stale’ smells within the vehicle.

To book your car or van in for an air conditioning service, call 01453 832884 or email us here.

 

 

REFRIGERANT TYPES

R134a refrigerant is the most common refrigerant used in vehicles manufactured before 2014. All vehicles with air conditioning manufactured since 1st January 2017 include the new R1234yf refrigerant, which was brought in due to being much more environmentally friendly than R134a. Since this date, manufacturers are no longer allowed to use R134a in a bid to reduce global warming as the old gas is more damaging to the environment. R1234yf gas was phased in by vehicle manufacturers over time so vehicles rolling off the production line between 2014 and 2016 could require either gas. To find out which type of air conditioning gas your car needs and to start a booking to have your air con gas recharged, get in touch with us.

 

 

COMMON FAULTS & DIAGNOSIS

We will check your air conditioning system thoroughly, feedback any issues we find. Poor air conditioning system performance may be attributed to:

Poor Performance

Lack of interior cooling effect is often the first sign that the system is faulty. If some cooling effect is evident then the most likely cause is low refrigerant level (see below). The receiver drier is a regular service item and it is normally recommended that the receiver drier be changed annually. Failure to replace the receiver drier on a regular basis may lead to water contamination, dirty refrigerant and poor performance. Alternatively, the problem could be too much refrigerant in the system which prevents adequate expansion and flow. If no cooling is evident, then any of the common faults below could be the cause.

Leaks / low refrigerant levels

One of the most common problems is leakage of refrigerant. This will lead to low or zero refrigerant content and consequently low or zero cooling effect. Refrigerant operates at high pressure in some parts of the system and refrigerant has a relatively small molecular atomic structure so leaks can happen almost anywhere but the following are common:

  • Hose joints, pipe unions and valves
  • Pad joints at condenser, drier and evaporator entry/exit ports
  • Rubber hoses in exposed, hot, corrosive or abrasive areas
  • Condenser joints or tubes, particularly adjacent to mountings, pipes or brackets
  • Compressor seals or end plates

Diagnosing a leak can be difficult. Audible leaks are unlikely although visual signs of a leak may be evident due to tell-tale “clean spots” or visible holes or cracks. If refrigerant is still present in the system then a “sniffer” probe should pinpoint the location. If the system is totally empty then a nitrogen pressure test will identify if leakage is the problem.

Lack of system pressure

Lack of system pressure can be easily detected using the appropriate test equipment coupled to the system. Low pressure usually indicates:

  • low refrigerant possibly due to leakage
  • poor compressor performance due to slipping drive belt, faulty seals or internal damage caused by corrosion or lack of lubrication
  • blocked or unserviceable receiver drier
  • faulty expansion valve

Electrical or control faults

If the compressor fails to engage or disengage by operation of the electro-magnetic clutch then there may be an electrical fault. If the system operates continually without temperature regulation then the thermostat is the most likely cause. Common electrical faults include:

  • blown or missing fuse
  • loose or corroded terminals at the clutch / compressor
  • terminals or connecting blocks faulty
  • clutch solenoid failure
  • thermostat failure
  • switch or relay failure
  • broken or shorted wiring

Identifying electrical faults is a process of methodical investigation. Basic circuit testing equipment can be used to check power supply at key points in the system and by a process of elimination the problem can normally be located.

Mechanical failure

Mechanical failure from accident damage or wear and tear can usually be identified visually, only the compressor and expansion valve have any internal moving parts where damage may not be immediately apparent. Frequent mechanical failures include:

  • compressor seals failure
  • drive belt missing, broken or loose
  • clutch solenoid failure
  • receiver drier saturated or blocked
  • condenser punctured or cracked
  • pipe or hose broken or chaffed
  • valve seal failure

To book your car or van in for an air conditioning service, call 01453 832884 or email us here.