Bagian 1

The fluid that passes around the whole system is the refrigerant. The refrigerant can
evaporate at a low temperature, and then condense again at a higher pressure. In the
bad old days, R-12 was the refrigerant used in almost all cars. It was widely available,
however it was found to be a contributor to the hole in the earth's ozone layer as it was
a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). These refrigerants were discontinued, and all cars after 1996
use a non-CFC fluid called R-134A which is kinder to the environment.

So, here is how all the various parts of a car's air conditioning works:

Compressor: The compressor is the work horse of the air conditioning

system, powered by a drive belt connected to the crankshaft of the engine. When the
aircon system is turned on, the compressor pumps refrigerant vapour under high
pressure to the condenser.

Condenser: The condenser is a device used to change the high-pressure refrigerant

vapor to a liquid. It is mounted in front of the engine's radiator, and it looks very similar
to a radiator. The vapour is condensed to a liquid because of the high pressure that is
driving it in, and this generates a great deal of heat. The heat is then in turn removed
from the condenser by air flowing through the condenser on the outside.
Receiver: The now liquid refrigerant moves to the receiver-dryer. This is a small
reservoir vessel for the liquid refrigerant, and removes any moisture that may have
leaked into the refrigerant. Moisture in the system causes havoc, with ice crystals
causing blockages and mechanical damage.

Expansion Valve: The pressurised refrigerant flows from the receiver-drier to the
expansion valve. The valve removes pressure
from the liquid refrigerant so that it can expand
and become refrigerant vapour in the evaporator.

Evaporator: The evaporator is another device

that looks similar to a car radiator. It has tubes
and fins and is usually mounted inside the
passenger compartment behind the fascia above
the footwell. As the cold low-pressure refrigerant
is passed into the evaporator, it vaporises and
absorbs heat from the air in the passenger
compartment. The blower fan inside the
passenger compartment pushes air over the
outside of the evaporator, so cold air is circulated inside the car. On the 'air-side' of the
evaporator, the moisture in the air is reduced, and the 'condensate' is collected and
drained away.

Compressor: The compressor then draws in the low-pressure refrigerant vapour to start
another refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration cycle then runs continuously, and is
regulated by the setting of the expansion valve.

The whole process is reasonably simple when explained like that. All air conditioning
systems work on the same principle, even if the exact components used may vary
slightly between car manufacturers.

We hope that explains a little as to how that little 'A/C' button works on your car, if you
want it explained a little more in depth then if you roll up your sleeves we can show you
the components in your car next time you bring it infor a check or service here at
AirconCars.

Bagian ii

Analisis kerusakan

Why Won't My AC Blow

Cold Air?
 When you turn on the air conditioner in your car, you expect to receive a flow of fresh, cold air.
However, that’s not always what happens. A number of different problems can prevent your AC
from blowing cold air into the cabin, and some are more serious than others.

Potential causes of hot air

As mentioned, there are many potential causes for your AC to blow warm or hot air into the cabin
rather than cold, fresh air. These include:

 Low Refrigerant: Low refrigerant will prevent your air conditioner from operating (the clutch
won’t kick in and make the compressor cycle if the amount of pressure in the system is off).
This is actually the single most common problem for an AC not to blow cold. Low refrigerant
can stem from a number of things, including leaks and failed components.

 Bad Clutch Cycling Switch: If the clutch cycling switch has failed, then the electromagnetic
clutch on the air compressor won’t kick in, which means that the refrigerant cannot be
pressurized and the system won’t work.

 Blocked or Broken Condenser: The condenser is where the magic happens in your air
conditioner and if it has been blocked up with debris or is damaged, you won’t get cold or
even cool air from the system.

 Restrictions in the System: What happens when you kink your garden hose? The water
won’t flow, right? The same is true for your car’s AC system. If there’s a restriction
somewhere in the system, it blocks it all up and prevents the AC from blowing cold.

While there are several potential issues, the most common is low refrigerant. The level of refrigerant
in your system decreases naturally over time (very, very slowly), but leaks can also occur. If your AC
isn’t blowing cold, it must be serviced by a licensed mechanic certified for HVAC (Heating,
Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) work.