We offer a while you wait service for the normal A/C servicing and recharging the work will take less than an hour. This service is available at Sean Greig Auto Repairs. This service is by appointment only – please telephone for an appointment. If you can not get your vehicle to us please ring or Email us and we will arrange to collect. In the case of an agricultural vehicle see our Agricultural Vehicle page
Our range of air conditioning services include anything from a recharge / service to component replacement and diagnostics. When being serviced all the AC system is fitted with new oil and an ultraviolet dye (at no extra Charge) so if there is a problem with gas loss in the future it can be quickly and easily traced. For older classic vehicles designed to use R12 Freon gas we can convert them to run on the new R134a gas without incurring major expense. We offer a full range of diagnostics including high pressure Nitrogen testing. We have a range of state of the art and older equipment to suit all applications and situations. We do not try to compete with seasonal special offers and loss leaders because we believe that our service is reasonably priced (at less than a tank of fuel these days!) and of consistently high quality.
Comfort – Safety – Health
The air conditioning system ensures comfort during car journeys 12 months a year! The temperature inside the vehicle is pleasantly constant, meaning you can concentrate for longer and arrive at your destination safely. As well as the pleasant coolness on hot days, it makes sure the air inside the vehicle is dehumidified quickly. In other words, misted-up windows are cleared quicker. The air conditioning also cleans the air in the vehicle removing pollen, dust & soot, particles, some bacteria and other micro organisms
Servicing & Maintenance
With your health and comfort in mind, you should have your air conditioning system serviced annually. The focus should be these important factors in particular:
The evaporator – regular disinfection
It is here that bacteria and micro-organisms like to breed. These enter the interior through the ventilation system and can cause unpleasant smells and allergic reactions in some people.
Interior filter – regular replacement
This filter is particularly important for clean air inside the vehicle. It filters out pollen, dust, dirt and many other impurities. The interior filter should be replaced once a year or every 12,000 miles.
Refrigerant
A new or well serviced air conditioning system is filled 100 % with refrigerant. Every year, a small amount of the refrigerant can escape from the air conditioning system due to seepage. Over a longer period, air and moisture can penetrate the system. This can be exacerbated even further by leaks (caused by stones thrown up from the road, porous O-rings or corrosion). Leading to the filter-dryer becoming saturated very quickly, preventing it from absorbing moisture. If this happens, the air conditioning system no longer performs at full capacity. Over time humidity and refrigerant form an acid. In turn, this attacks the various components of the air conditioning system causing corrosion from within. The damage to components caused in this way can often lead to large repair bills.
HOW IT WORKS
In a vehicle air conditioning system, the refrigerant is circulated under pressure through the five major components, in a closed circuit. At these points in the system the refrigerant undergoes pre-determined pressure and temperature changes:
1. The COMPRESSOR takes in low pressure refrigerant gas through the suction hose (low side) and as the name indicates, pressurises the heat-laden refrigerant and forces it through the discharge valve (high side) on to the condenser.
2. Ambient air passing through the CONDENSER removes the heat from the circulating refrigerant, resulting in the conversion of the refrigerant from a gas to a liquid.
3. The liquid refrigerant moves on to the FILTER/RECEIVER DRIER where impurities are filtered out and moisture removed. This component also serves as a temporary storage vessel for the liquid refrigerant.
4. The liquid refrigerant, still under high pressure, then flows to the EXPANSION VALVE/JET. This valve/tube meters the amount of refrigerant entering the evaporator (inside the vehicle).
5. As the refrigerant passes through the valve/jet and enters the EVAPORATOR it vaporises absorbing heat energy, turning the external surface of the evaporator very cold. Hot air is drawn or blown across the evaporator by a fan. Since the evaporator is colder than the air, it absorbs the heat from the air, discharging cool dry air, which is then pushed into the interior of the vehicle. The moisture in the air condenses on the evaporator (thus dehumidifying & drying the air) and then drains out of the car. The cycle is completed when the heated low-pressure refrigerant (now a gas again) is drawn back into the compressor and the cycle continues.
GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR AIR CONDITIONING.
On most systems the evaporator is integrated into the heater box. This means the air conditioning can be used all year round (to cool down the inside in summer and to provide dehumidified / dry warm air in winter).
To get dehumidified hot air, turn the air conditioning on and set the heater controls to hot. This will create a nice dry atmosphere inside the vehicle and demist the windows very quickly. For instant demisting, direct the air on to the windscreen. Once the windows are clear, direct the air to where you prefer. To get maximum cooling turn the air conditioning on, set the temperature control to cold and select a medium fan speed. Select recirculation (where fitted)
For vehicles fitted with recirculation control: switch to recalculated air for fast dehumidification, rapid cooling or to avoid fumes, smoke etc. On long journeys, switch to fresh air for a few minutes every hour or so. After stopping your vehicle, you may often find a pool of water under the vehicle if you have had the air conditioning on. This is a normal occurrence and is a direct result of the dehumidification process.
Copyright © 2008 DMP Thurgood Engineering