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Your car’s air conditioning (A/C) system provides a means of cooling down the passenger compartment when the outside temperature increases. There is quite a bit of physics involved in the process, as the refrigerant (typically R-134a) changes from a gas to a liquid and back to a gas as it cycles through the system. We will keep our explanation of how the system works as simple as possible.
Nancy breaks down the full process in her video on how a car’s air conditioning works.
When you turn the A/C switch on, it engages the A/C compressor clutch which engages the A/C compressor. The compressor forces the refrigerant at high pressure through the condenser (in a gas state) and as it is cooled – both by the electric fan and airflow through the condenser fins from driving – it returns to a liquid state. The liquid refrigerant continues to flow through the accumulator (or receiver/drier in some systems) to remove any moisture before reaching the expansion valve (or orifice tube in some systems), where the pressure is reduced. The refrigerant then enters the evaporator (which is located inside the passenger compartment) at low pressure and it is at this point where the refrigerant is cold and the blower motor inside the car flows air across the evaporator which results in cold air entering the passenger compartment.
Are You Wanting to Drive a Cold Vehicle Again?
Stop sweating and putting up with the window breeze anymore by taking your vehicle to the best in AC repair in Mays Landing today.
Here is an overview of how the automotive air conditioning system works:
As the refrigerant flows through the A/C system, there are multiple points of potential leakage and these include the connections between components and the components themselves. If the refrigerant leaks out, the pressure will drop and the low-pressure sensor will deactivate the system so it does not run without refrigerant as this could damage the A/C compressor. There is also a high-pressure sensor used to detect abnormally high pressures that could potentially cause a hose to burst or a system component to fail. In the event of higher than normal pressure, the switch will deactivate the system to avoid damage to the system.
In the event of an A/C compressor failure, the system will need to be completely flushed to ensure that any foreign matter is removed from the system. Additionally, the accumulator or receiver/drier must be replaced anytime there is a repair requiring the system to be opened because once it opens the atmosphere, it will absorb moisture from the atmosphere and no longer be able to absorb moisture from the A/C system.
Another common AC complaint is weak airflow even when the system is blowing cold. That’s usually the blower motor. Here are 5 signs your blower motor is failing.
It is recommended to have your A/C system inspected annually to ensure that it is running optimally as this can minimize unexpected failures of your A/C system.
If you notice the air getting warmer over time, the system may need a recharge. We explain what happens when your car needs an air conditioner recharge.
Air Conditioning System Services We Perform:
- A/C System Service
- Air Conditioning Not Cooling Diagnosis
- Noisy A/C Diagnosis
- A/C Belt Replacement
- Refrigerant Leak Detection
- Refrigerant Recharge
- Replacement of A/C Compressor
- Replacement of A/C System Components (i.e. Condensor, Hoses, Switches, Accumulator, Evaporator, etc.)
Ready to Make An Appointment For Your A/C System Service?
At Kneble’s Auto Service Center we always want to make the process of getting your car serviced as convenient as possible. To ensure that we can get your car serviced in a timely manner, we ask that you make an appointment.
We are able to accommodate those who desire to wait for their A/C system service as we feature a comfortable waiting area complete with TV, complimentary refreshments, a library, desk, and a charging station. And yes, we even have free Wi-Fi!
In some cases, we may determine that the car needs to stay overnight either due to the time required for service or the unavailability of parts.
If you need service and have not made an appointment you can always feel free to call us at (609) 625-3286 to get on the schedule.
Please note that we offer a shuttle service within a 10 miles radius of the shop (Atlantic City, Mizpah, Estell Manor, Dorothy, Pleasantville, and surrounding areas).
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Conditioning Systems:
There are a wide variety of causes for your A/C system to not work. Some of the more common reasons include low refrigerant or a faulty pressure switch. The best course of action is to have one of our expert ASE Certified A/C Technicians assess your vehicle to make an accurate diagnosis.
Your car’s A/C system is a sealed system and should not need to be recharged unless there is a leak. We do recommend an annual inspection of your A/C system to proactively ensure that there are no potential problems with the system.
This could be caused by a loose drive belt or a seized A/C compressor pulley. A visual inspection of the vehicle by one of our ASE Certified A/C Technicians would help pinpoint the exact problem.
What does the recirculation button do?
The recirculation button on your dashboard controls where the air inside your car comes from. When it’s on, the AC system recirculates the air already inside the cabin rather than pulling in fresh air from outside. This makes a real difference on hot days.
When you first turn on the AC in a hot car, the system has to fight against a constant flow of warm outside air. Hitting the recirculation button closes the outside air intake and lets the AC cool down the same air over and over, which gets the cabin cold faster and puts less strain on the compressor.
There’s a practical safety benefit too. If you’re stuck in traffic or behind a diesel truck, recirculation mode keeps exhaust fumes from being pulled into the cabin through the fresh air intake.
Some newer vehicles have a moisture sensor that automatically switches between fresh air and recirculation based on humidity levels inside the cabin. If your car doesn’t have that, a good habit is to use recirculation when the AC is running on hot days and switch to fresh air mode occasionally to prevent the windows from fogging up in humid conditions.
One more trick: if you get into a car that’s been sitting in the sun, roll the windows down for the first minute of driving to push the hottest air out before closing them up and switching to recirculation mode. It gets the cabin comfortable faster than the AC alone.
Read the full video transcript
How many times have you looked at something on your dash and went, “I don’t really know what the function of that button is.” For example, what is the purpose of the recirculation button?
Hi, I’m Nancy at Kneble’s Auto Service Center. All too often with these hot summer days, wouldn’t it be wonderful to turn on the AC and have the entire vehicle filled with cold air inside? Hence, the recirculation button. Using this feature will recirculate the cool air from the AC and distribute it evenly throughout the vehicle.
Don’t mistake this for the button for the fresh air, that brings in the air from the outside into the vehicle. And you don’t want more of the warm air in the vehicle on that hot summer day, fighting against the air conditioning, trying to get it cool. FYI, using this button, also when there is exhaust from a vehicle in front of you, will prevent that from coming inside the car.
For those of you with a newer model vehicle, you may even have a moisture level sensor. These sensors detect the moisture level in the cabin of your vehicle and automatically switch between fresh air and recirculating air. Another option for the older vehicles is rolling down the windows when you first start driving to help remove the hot air, anything you can do to speed up the process of cooling down the inside of your vehicle. Stay cool on these hot summer days.
R-1234yf refrigerant: what it means for your AC service cost
If your vehicle was manufactured after 2015 or so, there’s a good chance it uses R-1234yf refrigerant instead of the older R-134a. Since 2021, R-1234yf has been required in all new vehicles sold in the US. It’s better for the environment (much lower global warming potential), but it costs significantly more than the older refrigerant.
Most AC systems hold between one and two pounds of refrigerant. So if your system develops a leak and needs to be recharged, the refrigerant alone on a 1234yf system can add up quickly before any repair work starts.
This doesn’t change how the AC system works. The compressor, condenser, evaporator, and expansion valve all do the same job regardless of which refrigerant is inside. But it does mean that keeping your system leak-free is more important than ever. A slow leak that you might have topped off cheaply with R-134a becomes an expensive ongoing cost with R-1234yf.
We recommend an annual AC inspection to catch small leaks before they drain the system. A leak detected early usually means a minor seal or O-ring replacement. A leak ignored until the system stops blowing cold often means a more involved repair plus a full refrigerant recharge at the higher price.
Not sure which refrigerant your car uses? We can tell you in seconds. Call us at 609-625-3286 or schedule an AC check online.
Read the full video transcript
When you turn your air conditioning on in your vehicle, all you’re thinking is where is that cold air? Hi, I’m Nancy at Kneble’s Auto Service Center. No one wants to sweat in their vehicle while driving, not at all. You probably never gave it much thought on how your air conditioning system gets cold, but you will if your vehicle is one of the many vehicles manufactured with R-1234yf Freon.
This Freon is much friendlier to the environment than the R-134a. And it will be government-mandated in all new vehicles by 2021. Freon is a refrigerant gas that becomes pressurized from a gas, into a liquid, and back into a gas as it passes through your air conditioning system.
This still may not mean much to you, but believe me, your wallet is going to be crying the next time your air conditioning system develops a leak, and you need this new Freon, R-1234yf. The cost of the new Freon is significantly more than R-134a. Your air conditioning system, remember, may hold up to two pounds of Freon. So calculate that. Ouch.
How much are you willing to pay to keep cool? Try and stay cool this summer, and if your air conditioning system is not working, call us today, or schedule an appointment through our website for a free AC check.
Schedule an Appointment for Your Air Conditioning
Automotive Air Conditioning Videos
Where to Get Your Vehicle’s Air Conditioning Repaired?
Our Address
5473 Somers Point Road
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Our Hours
Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday:
8:00am – 4:00pm
