Car air conditioning system: diagnostics, repair, washing, cleaning, pressure in the system. How do I flush the car air conditioning system?

Warm season is accompanied by frequent calls of car owners to the service shops for such a service as the diagnosis of the car air conditioning system, as well as the elimination of identified problems. Consider the reasons for this phenomenon.

External factor

For the effective operation of any system, there is one important condition - it must work constantly, without being exposed to long downtime. This axiom is relevant for the air conditioner in the car, as well as for all its main components. Russian conditions are such that this system does not work throughout the cold period of the year, which affects its serviceability in the most negative way. Most often, the seals dry up, which leads to loss of their tightness. That's why you often need to diagnose the car air conditioning system.

To avoid forced downtime of the system, it is required to regularly perform a very simple procedure - to turn on the air conditioner every week for about 10-20 minutes.

Difficulties

The lucky owners of large jeeps of foreign production, equipped with an additional rear contour of the air conditioning system, have a pretty strong argument in favor of regular spring testing. The refrigerant is supplied to the rear contour by tubes and hoses that run along the bottom of the vehicle. Usually one or two of our winters turn out to be enough for their transition into an absolutely terrible condition. And for the constant maintenance of the entire structure in working condition, it is necessary to give it increased attention, as well as to regularly inspect the highways.

What are the causes of malfunctions?

Repair of the car air conditioning system may be required as a result of the impact on it of a variety of factors that the driver usually feels on "their own skin". Cooling may be absent for a number of reasons:

• The most common case is a low level of refrigerant, the amount of which must strictly comply with the level specified in the manual. For this, the pressure in the car air conditioning system is checked, after which the problem is eliminated.
• The operation of the cooling unit can be severely affected by the engine overheating.
• Technical malfunction, due to which there is a lack of fresh air to the condenser, which is fraught with many different reasons.
• Various problems with the electrician, which most often are easily eliminated by changing the fuse, but there are cases and "heavier".
• Compressor failure is usually caused by prolonged seasonal downtime, because its internal surfaces tend to rust without the supply of circulating oil.

Troubleshoot problems

It should be noted right away that it is quite problematic to eliminate such malfunctions on their own. This is even fraught with the appearance of even greater difficulties. Here you need professional equipment and special tools, and much more.

Even a simple diagnosis of the leakage of Freon can turn into a complex and protracted process. Downloading refrigerant at home is completely unrealistic, as it requires a special refueling console. By means of it, the proper tightness is ensured, and the needle of the gauge indicates the current level of pressure in the pipeline, etc. The amount of refrigerant charged is also strictly regulated. If it is less or more, it can cause quite serious trouble. The system may not turn on at all, or fail due to a lack of oil, and increased pressure often becomes a cause of compressor breakdown, rupture of highways and other problems.

That is why it is quite reasonable to trust in this case to qualified specialists. This will allow to save money and time in the future, since the emergence of complex breakdowns as a result of independent intervention is quite a frequent occurrence.

Another case

The system of air conditioning of the car in hot weather works almost constantly. That is, when the machine is just starting, the work of all the elements is already beginning, as well as active cooling of the air. In all pipes and ducts, condensation forms, that is, a certain amount of liquid. During driving to the car's interior, a very large amount of plant pollen, sand, dust, small particles of automotive rubber, and much more arrive along with the air. And all these notes can hardly be called useful.

How's it going?

Most of all these impurities are retained by the cabin filter, that is, does not get directly into the car, but remains in the ducts of the air duct and air conditioner. When you reach the destination and then jam the engine of the car, all the bacteria, plant pollen, mushroom spores, etc., than the car air-conditioning system has been filled, are in the most favorable environment for them. It is there that their interaction with the condensate occurs, as well as very active reproduction. The next trip is accompanied by the fact that you breathe in air with it all, which is harmful to the body, and for children it can serve as a catalyst for allergies. The cabin filter saves some time, but gradually it gets wet from the condensate. After this, the process of germination of spores of plants and fungi begins, the mold is formed, which makes the filter itself a new source of danger to health. This causes dampness in the passenger compartment, unpleasant smells, and a feeling of difficulty in breathing and dustiness.

How to deal with this?

The main advice is this: whenever the ride ends, do not stop the engine. Turn off the air conditioner for a couple of minutes. But after that you can muffle the engine. This time is enough for the temperature emanating from the unit to evaporate the condensate, and the tubes become dry, because of which the multiplication of the bacteria inside becomes very difficult.

The car air conditioning system needs replacing the filter twice a year. It is best to do this in the spring, even before the active flowering of plants begins, and also in the autumn, before the beginning of road processing with various reagents. The cabin filter is best used for coal. Its main advantage is that a dense layer of activated carbon delays and absorbs many of the smallest particles of pollen, dust and metals, which allows you to keep the air in the passenger compartment as clean as possible. Replacement of this filter is done once a year.

Alternative options

It happens that in the car there are and do not disappear unpleasant smells of dampness, and the dusty effect of the cabin does not pass at all, while changing the filter does not give any result. It says only one thing: the car's air-conditioning system is captured by mold. In this case, it is necessary to clean using a special antibacterial composition. This can be done at a certified center, where qualified specialists will provide all the necessary services in this area. You can do the work yourself, for which there are special spray cans on the market, on which there is a detailed instruction for use. With the help of them all for half an hour of work in the garage can be carried out cleaning of the air conditioning system of the car. Such tools are very effective.

Other problems

Washing of the car air-conditioning system is required because the main lines and equipment nodes are located in a special way. Many of them are placed under the bottom of the car, that is, where there are special pollution. The risk of accumulation of dirt in the system can be significantly reduced provided that the condition is constantly monitored. But it is practically impossible to avoid pollution, which is why regular washing of the car air conditioning system is required. With this procedure, it is possible to prevent the formation of corrosion, which is usually caused by moisture and dirt. Corrosion causes intensive wear of elements and parts, as well as the formation of holes through which leakage of freon can form. If the level falls below a certain allowable rate, the equipment will overheat and fail.

How do I flush the car air conditioning system?

The process takes place in several steps. First you need to pump out the refrigerant from the system. When all the connecting parts of the system are disconnected, the sealing rings must be removed and no longer used. Further, the expansion valve is dismantled for further washing or replacement. Manometer valves must be closed. Then, the R-11 is pumped into the bottom filling hole of the evaporator until the substance flows from the outlet. The inside of the evaporator must be completely filled with liquid, and when a large number of it starts to flow through the top, the valve must be closed. After a five-minute wait, you can release R-11. These manipulations should be repeated several times in a row.

Cleaning of the car air conditioning system from R-11 is carried out with the help of substance R-12. For this, the temperature of the components of the equipment should be 24 degrees Celsius or more. If as a result of the full release of the R-11 from the system there will be pressure in the car air-conditioning system, then the work on the release should be continued after thirty minutes.