Air Conditioning
The first automobile air conditioning was a breeze that resulted from a top speed of 15 mph. When car companies began closing up the cabs on cars, something had to be done. Vents were put in the floors of cars, but this brought in more dirt and dust than it did cool air.
Did You Know?
The first car with an actual refrigeration system was the 1939 Packard. The "cooling coil", a large evaporator, took up the entire trunk, and the only control was a blower switch. This option allowed Packard to advertise, "Forget the heat this summer in the only air conditioned car in the world."
A/C was a rare option for many years, but it's estimated that now over 90% of the cars and light trucks in operation have air conditioning, and most of these systems are very efficient.
CFC's (chloro-fluoro-carbons, also known as R-12 or Freon) are causing a great deal of damage. A tiny quantity can destroy a lot of ozone. Auto repair businesses are taking steps to reduce the amount of R-12 that escapes during service work.
The future of automotive air conditioning is changing, and for the better. Most cars today use a new refrigerant called R-134A, which contains no chlorine, and which helps to protect our environment.
To help efficiently operate your car's air conditioning system, vehicles now have more electronics and compressor designs. To add to the complications, we now have tough environmental regulations that govern the very simplest of tasks, such as recharging the system with refrigerant.
Now more than ever, your auto mechanic is at the mercy of this environmental legislation; not only is he required to be certified to purchase refrigerant and repair your air conditioner, his shop must also incur the cost of purchasing expensive dedicated equipment that insures the capture of these ozone depleting chemicals, should the system be opened up for repair.
Basic knowledge of your air conditioning system is important, as this will allow you to make a more informed decision on your repair options. A schematic of the typical automobile air conditioning system is below, along with an important link for you. And don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
