Archive for the ‘Auto Air Conditioning’ Category
Friday, August 27th, 2010
A few posts back we discussed how your car’s a/c system works. We now thought it would be helpful to talk about diagnosing air conditioning problems.
A common a/c cooling problem is a coolant leak. Typically the coolant has escaped through a hole in the hose or there is a leak in one of the major parts such as the evaporator or condenser.
For newer cars, leaks are not much of a problem since hoses and seals are new. But for older cars, leaks can be a major problem. If your vehicle is not blowing out cold air, it is possible you have a coolant leak.
Sometimes your vehicle’s air conditioning will intermittently blow out cold air. If this is the case, there could be unwanted air or moisture in the a/c system, which causes ice to form and blocks the system.
If you hear some strange noises when you run your vehicle’s air conditioner, it typically means the compressor needs to be replaced. The compressor is the part of the a/c system that takes the refrigerant gas and pressurizes it before it is sent through the a/c system.
Another problem is smelling a foul odor when you start your vehicle’s a/c system. This often comes from bacteria growing in the vents. Chemicals can be sprayed in the vents to get rid of the bacteria and the smell.
If you’re experiencing any of these problems, we recommend taking your vehicle to a reputable mechanic. A Las Cruces auto air conditioning repair or a Santa Fe auto air conditioning repair will make your summer a lot cooler.
Tags: Las Cruces Auto Air Conditioning Repair, Santa Fe Auto Air Conditioning Repair
Posted in Auto Air Conditioning, Car Repair | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010
If you have an older car, you’re bound to have some component of your vehicle’s air conditioner system serviced or replaced.
Having the knowledge of how your vehicle’s a/c system works will help you understand what’s going on next time your car is getting a Santa Fe auto air conditioning repair or an El Paso auto air conditioning repair.
To understand your car’s a/c system, you first need to know the parts:
- Compressor – This part takes the refrigerant gas (like Freon or R-143a) and pressurizes it
- Condenser – This part takes hot refrigerant gas and condenses it into a liquid
- Evaporator – This part removes heat from the inside of your vehicle and cools it with the liquid refrigerant
These three parts work in tandem to ensure your vehicle stays cool while you’re driving. When the refrigerant gas is pressurized, its temperature rises from absorbing the heat around it. To cool the gas, it is run through the condenser to liquefy the gas into a cool liquid that your evaporator mixes with air and blows through your vehicle’s vents.
The refrigerant gas used in your vehicle’s cooling system has changed over the years. Mechanics today use R-143a, which is a more environmentally friendly coolant than its predecessor Freon, which was found to be harmful to the ozone layer of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Common fixes to air conditioner problems involve recharging your vehicle’s refrigerant or replacing one of the three parts mentioned above.
Tags: El Paso auto air conditioning repair, Santa Fe Auto Air Conditioning Repair
Posted in Auto Air Conditioning | No Comments »
Friday, May 7th, 2010
Brake Masters is giving you an opportunity to win tickets to one of two Diamondbacks games! Stop in to any Phoenix or Tucson Brake Masters today, tomorrow, or Monday and get a FREE brake or A/C inspection.
When you do, you’ll be eligible to win two tickets to either Monday’s Diamondbacks vs. LA Dodgers game or Tuesday’s Diamondbacks vs. LA Dodgers game.
We’ll see you at Brake Masters and GOOD LUCK!
Tags: Diamondbacks Tickets, Phoenix Air Conditioner Check, Phoenix Brake Check, Tucson Air Conditioner Check, Tucson Brake Check
Posted in Arizona Store Info, Auto Air Conditioning, Brake Masters News | 1 Comment »
Friday, May 7th, 2010
There are a lot of conflicting ideas out there about how to get the best gas mileage for your vehicle. With summer getting closer, people tend to focus more on air conditioning as a factor than a simple Las Cruces car tune up or proper tire inflation. Is there any merit to the idea that using the air conditioner in your car hurts your gas mileage?
It turns out, Consumer Reports did a study that revealed you are going to be more fuel efficient if you roll up the windows and use your air conditioning when driving above 40mph, than if you simply roll down the windows. When driving below 30mph, though, you are better off rolling the windows down.
When you are sitting at a stop light, or idling in traffic on your way to work, there is very little air-flow passing over your engine. If you have your air conditioning on at this point, the compressor has to work harder than normal to cool the air. When you are moving along the freeway, though, much of the heat under your car’s hood is carried away and the compressor doesn’t have to work as hard.
So, if you really want to get the best gas mileage this summer, your best bet is to schedule a Las Cruces oil change, ensure proper tire inflation, and keep your speed down. Air conditioning isn’t going to be as much of a factor as some of these other, more common, ailments.
Tags: Auto Air Conditioner, Las Cruces car tune up, Las Cruces oil change
Posted in Auto Air Conditioning | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
It’s getting warmer outside and that means it is time to start thinking about your next Santa Fe auto air conditioning repair. As the temperatures rise, more and more people will begin running the air conditioning in the car during their daily commute. The air conditioning in your car operates a lot like the air conditioner in your home.
- Freon is moved through a compressor where the gas is compressed and cools.
- After the Freon is cooled, it moves through a series of hoses to an expansion valve where it can be made to expand or contract.
- This process further cools the Freon until it is pushed through an evaporator core. This core is what the air blows across to provide the cool air inside of the vehicle.
The air conditioner also removes the warm air from the car by passing warm air from inside the vehicle across the evaporator where it heats the Freon. The warmer Freon is pushed through fins and slits where moving air carries the heat from the Freon so that the process can start over again.
When your next Santa Fe car tune up comes due, ask your mechanic to check that your Freon pressure is good, and that the level is not low. Low Freon pressure or levels can lead to poor performance from your air conditioner this summer. Other things to look out for include inoperable cooling fans and excessive engine heat. Either of these issues can limit the ability of your car’s air conditioner to keep you cool this summer.
Tags: Santa Fe Auto Air Conditioning Repair, Santa Fe Car Tune Up
Posted in Auto Air Conditioning | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
As we get closer and closer to the warmer months, it’s starting to become necessary to consider the condition of your car’s A/C. You don’t want to be without an auto air conditioner in the middle of the summer so if you need El Paso auto air conditioning repair, now is the time to get it.
Here are some common signs that there might be a problem.
• Strange wet odors – This may indicate that there is some sort of mold growing in your evaporator box.
• Low air flow from the vents – This is likely a sign that the evaporator is getting too cold and freezing up, thus preventing air from flowing like it should.
• Strange noises and vibrations – If something is caught in your A/C’s fan this may lead to a vibrating sound that will need to be fixed.
• Wet Carpets – Auto air conditioners are built with a drain that gets rid of water below the vehicle. If this drain gets clogged, you may end up with wet carpets.
If you notice any of these issues, the best thing to do is get Phoenix auto air conditioning repair right away.
Tags: Auto Air Conditioning Repair, Phoenix air conditioning repair
Posted in Auto Air Conditioning | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
How to diagnose a broken auto air conditioner. And what to do about it.
During the sweltering summer months, a broken car air conditioner can make driving your vehicle practically unbearable. If your A/C stops working correctly, your best bet is to go to a Las Cruces auto air conditioning repair facility. However, for those with a little technical know-how, there are some things you can check on your own.
An auto air conditioner is essentially a strange refrigerator that uses refrigerant to move heat from inside of your vehicle to outside. It’s important to note that putting refrigerant into your system if it’s leaking or otherwise releasing refrigerant into the atmosphere is illegal in the United States.
- A low level of refrigerant is one common problem in many auto air conditioners. If your air conditioner cools very slightly than it might be because the pressure in the system is too low. If this is the case, simply fill the refrigerant back to normal levels.
- Check for leaks in the system that may cause your refrigerant to completely leak out. To do this you can buy a fluorescent dye from any auto parts store and run it through your system. This will allow you to find exactly where and how large the leak is.
- Check the compressor while your engine is running. The compressor is a pump with large rubber and steel hoses attached to it. It is responsible for circulating refrigerant through the system. If you’re A/C is running but the pulley on the compressor is not working, you have located the source of your problem.
- Other potential issues with your A/C unit can include broken wires, burnt out fuses, bad switches, and worn out fan belts. Check over all parts of the system to search for parts that look worn or broken.
Please only attempt to work on your car air conditioner if you understand exactly what you are doing as you can cause damage to yourself and your vehicle if things are done wrong. If you need help, find a Santa Fe auto air conditioning repair facility near you.
Tags: Auto Refrigerant, Car Air Conditioner, Las Cruces Auto Air Conditioning Repair, Santa Fe Auto Air Conditioning Repair
Posted in Auto Air Conditioning | No Comments »
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Introducing the new Brake Masters blog.
Welcome to the Brake Masters Blog.
This blog is owned and maintained by Brake Masters, the “honest brake” store.
Its purpose is to provide consumers with product updates, news, Brake Masters coupons and consumer suggestions for automotive inquires and operations.
We will write about how to maintain your vehicle, auto brake repair issues, common causes for vehicle issues, product suggestions, how to expand the life of your vehicle, money saving ideas, and other important information to help benefit you.
We hope you will become a regular reader of our blog. Grab the blog feed here and enjoy!
Posted in Air and Oil Filters, Arizona Store Info, Auto Air Conditioning, Brake Repair Tips, California Store Info, Car Fluids Info, Car Lubricant Info, Nevada Store Info, New Mexico Store Info, Oil Change Tips, Texas Store Info | No Comments »
