[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]With the beautiful sunshine that we’ve been having recently, summer is well and truly here! Is your vehicle ready for it though?
After almost a year without touching the air conditioning unit, now is when drivers will be looking for the air con dial – only to find that it may not be working as well as it used to – not ideal when your car has black leather seats, and the temperature is above 30 degrees!
Many people don’t realise that vehicle air conditioning systems require regular maintenance, just like the rest of the vehicle; otherwise it can become[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
So, how does it work?
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]A typical vehicle air conditioning system is made up of six different parts:
- Refrigerant (also known as the gas)
- Compressor (this contains the gas)
- Condenser
- Receiver
- Thermal Expansion Valve
- Evaporation Coil
To summarise, when a driver activates the air conditioning unit, the refrigerant travels to the condenser and drops in temperature to transform into a liquid. This liquid then passes through the receiver which removes impurities before arriving at the thermal expansion valve. It is at this point that the temperature is adjusted to that set by the driver. The liquid then turns into a vapour as it passes through the evaporation coils.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
How do I maintain my air conditioning system?
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]As a general rule of thumb, you should endeavour to re-gas your vehicle air conditioning system every two years or so. There is good reason for this, as it is estimated that a vehicle permeates between 10% and 15% of gas each year, before you’ve even switched on the air conditioning! To ensure that your vehicle is ready for summer, it’s best to keep it topped up.
In most cases, your local garage will be able to do this for you, for a small fee. If you’re local to Hastings, pop in to Tivoli Auto Services! We’ll also use this as an opportunity to de-bug your air conditioning system and decontaminate it of any bacteria.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
What if my car air conditioning system is broken?
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Fortunately, this is something our mechanics can help with too. If your system is broken, it will likely still blow out air, but it won’t be cool air or to the temperature you have set. Usually, this is a sign of a refrigerant gas leak or a faulty compressor.
In these cases, our team of experienced mechanics will test the air conditioning system using a set of manifold gauges to retrieve pressure reading and help diagnose the problem. We will then act accordingly depending on what the problem is.[/vc_column_text][minti_spacer height=”10″][vc_column_text]We’re guessing you’ve never re-gassed your vehicle or had an air conditioning service, so now’s the time. Contact Tivoli today by calling 01424 44 22 77 or email info@tivoliautoservices.co.uk to ensure you don’t overheat this summer. We look forward to taking your call – and keeping you cool![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
