7 Steps That Make A Car AC Work

 

We all enjoy the chill blasting from the car’s vents, particularly if we need to survive the hot and humid climate. We do not wish to take it to smog test centres unnecessarily. If the car AC is turned on and it blows cool and refreshing air, the entire journey becomes easy and enjoyable. But, no car comes with an ice machine, full of many ice cubes. The cold air that we receive from the AC vents is transformed from the hot air. The hot air has to go through various steps to transform into the cool and fresh air.

During my auto repair and service in California, I was told that the Thermodynamic process involved here is what maintains the temperature inside your car room. The pressure is involved and changes the temperature inside. To understand how the system works, we have to know about the major elements involved

 

The major components used in Car’s AC are as follows:

 

Compressor

 

The compressor of the AC is the heart. It strengthens the pressure of the refrigerant so that it can convert vapour refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant allows the overall flow of air through the condenser.

 

Condenser

 

The condenser is a tiny device that regulates condensing. If you wish to set the car’s temperature to low or high, liquid refrigerant transmitted by the compressor has to face the convection force produced by the radiator fan or by a separated fan. This force helps in regulating it.

 

Expansion Valve

 

Expansion Valve helps to expand the high pressure, by transferring low-temperature liquid refrigerant by the condenser. As the name suggests, it manages the expansion and reduces the pressure. It releases the pressure from the refrigerant before sending it to the evaporator.

 

Evaporator

 

The evaporator is placed behind the AC vent and seems to be the heat exchanger. The evaporator collects the heat from the car and transforms it into liquid refrigerant by changing it into vapour. Then one can take the pleasure of cooling through the fan inside the passenger’s section.

 

Orifice Tube

 

As observed during an auto repair in California, the orifice tube is cone-shaped and limits the flow of refrigerant. It lets the refrigerant convert high to low-pressure liquid refrigerant mist before entering the evaporator.

 

Receiver Dryer

 

Receiver Dryer is the safety catch as it preserves safety in the car. If we use the Air conditioner, sometimes liquid begins flowing towards the compressor rather than vapours, which can harm the compressor. So the receiver dryer is applied to insert the compressor and evaporator to convert the remaining liquid into vapours and then send it for compression.

 

AC Inline Filter

 

The air conditioning inline filter kit captures wreckage and provides you with the cleaned air.

 

AC Refrigerant

 

Refrigerants have a low boiling point and are employed by the AC for heat exchanging. It is in fluid form, so altering the temperature becomes very simple with it. At low temperatures, the refrigerant transforms into a gaseous form, while it stays liquid at a high temperature.

 

Accumulator

 

Accumulator bears the refrigerant. It dries the refrigerants bag by removing moisture from it and then spreads it inside the car.

 

How does Car AC work?

 

Now, you should know how every component of the Car AC helps Car AC work sequentially.

• The entire work starts with the Compressor. It squeezes or pressurizes the refrigerant and transforms it into the liquid from its gaseous state.

• The compressed liquid refrigerant must pass through specific tubes in the condenser. Here, the fresh air from outside comes in contact with liquid refrigerant. The condenser features a high-temperature liquid. So there is a temperature incline between liquid and fresh air. Later, the heat moves from the liquid and blends with air.

• Then, the refrigerant shifts to the receiver drier or accumulator. The desiccant separates the moisture from the air and refrigerant that causes the formation of a cooler refrigerant while preserving the system.

• The refrigerant, already in the cool liquid state, flows into the expansion valve or orifice tube. This process lessens complete fluid pressure and lets it move to the evaporator, which is another part of AC.

• The transformed refrigerant will then shift to the evaporator. The air from the car will be drawn into the evaporator and go inside the evaporator core. The refrigerant temperature is cooler as of now and it can change the outside heat into the cold air.

• Fans close to the passenger seat assist in blowing the cold air through vents and cool the car’s temperature. This process also separates moisture from the air and lets you enjoy fresh and dry air. Because the liquid refrigerant in the AC system becomes hotter after working, it reconverts into a gaseous state.

• This hot and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant again spreads and goes back to the compressor. This way the new cycle takes place and you avail yourself of the cool, dry and fresh air.

If your AC is not functioning accordingly, then you should get it checked.

Top 5 Auto Repair Maintenance Tips

 Acquiring a car has always been a dream of every individual, at least in the new millennium. That’s how the ideal automotive market works globally! We all aspire to own a car, even though we have to visit smog test centres quite often. 

 

A car is not just an asset for us, it’s a symbol of your grace and dignity. However, once you purchase a car, it has its own set of challenges. I take my car to the nearest shop for auto repair in Ontario.

 

Then I realized that maintaining a car is very crucial to keep it in proper running condition. Despite the availability of smog test stations around us, maintenance of the car in proper shape is challenging. Here, we bring you the top 5 auto repair maintenance tips applicable for your car. All these steps are uncomplicated and simple and they can be done by yourself which is DIY in the popular term.

 

1. Refer to The User’s Manual Thoroughly

A User’s manual or owner’s manual is provided free of cost to every buyer. If you are a new buyer, you should go through the manual to understand more aspects of your car. The owner’s manual will provide you with details like service interval, engine oil change interval and some basic troubleshooters. So, going through the owner’s manual can help you to solve some basic problems you face during the ownership of a car. Even if you go for a smog check in Riverside CA, the service centre or a mechanic will also suggest you refer to the manual.

 

2. Top-up/ Replace Engine Oil

According to all smog test stations, engine oil is like the blood that flows inside the engine to keep things intact. Replacing engine oil at frequent intervals is very crucial as it influences the strength of the engine. You can simply check the engine oil level through the dipstick or the digital display. During the first service, you can ask the mechanic to show how to monitor the oil level. Regularly secure the suggested oil level and check for the quality of oil on a longer run.

 

3. Scrutinize all Fluids

Apart from engine oil, there are many other fluids in your car. Essential fluids of a car are coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, AC coolant and washer fluid. Continuously fill the fluids according to the markings. You can avail the help of a mechanic. Replacing fluids at frequent intervals will save you a lot of money, and will help you maintain your car in natural condition in the longer run.

 

4. Test Battery

Devoid of a battery, your car will not start! Contemporary batteries are simple to maintain as you only have to check them once in a while. Examine the terminals of the battery for any rusting or corrosion and clean them regularly. If you are not using the car for a long time, ensure that you run the car at least twice a week to keep the battery alive. In the longer run, replacing the battery is also very simple.

 

5. Monitor Tyre Pressure

Monitor the tyre pressure at least once in 10 days. Under-inflated tyres will not only impact the procedure but will also result in more fuel consumption. The tyres will wear out quicker if the tyres are under-inflated. Over inflating the tyres is also not safe as it might cause tyre burst. Always keep the tyre pressure as advised by the manufacturer.

By adhering to these simple maintenance tips, you can maintain your car in good condition. A properly maintained car will deliver excellent performance.

Important Steps To Renew Your Car Registration

 

Do you own a private car? If yes, then are you aware of the process of vehicle registration renewal in California?

At the outset, let me clarify that it is a different concept compared to vehicle registration in California. The former is an annual event whereas the latter a one-time event, once you purchase your new vehicle.

You have to renew your vehicle's registration every year.  The DMV will send you a vehicle registration renewal notice well in advance before the vehicle's registration expiration date with the following:

 

• Information regarding your vehicle.

• The expiration date of your license plate tag.

• Renewal fees for registration.

• Information regarding the late renewal penalty.

• Parking ticket late fees (if applicable).

 

If the smog check is needed, then you must ensure that you take your vehicle to any of the leading smog test centres or any smog inspection centre.

 

If the DMV does not have your vehicle insurance information on file, they will ask you to mail your insurance card or come down to the DMV office to drop off your insurance card.

You can renew your registration with the help of any of the following methods:

 

• DMV's online registration:  http://www.dmv.ca.gov (Click on Online Services followed by Registration Renewal and do adhere to the instructions).

• DMV's phone registration: Call (800) 921-1117 and follow the instructions.

• By mail:  Go through the instructions carefully on your vehicle registration renewal form.

• In-Person: Visit any DMV office.

 

You can also fix an appointment with the DMV for a shorter waiting time at the DMV's office. You can schedule an appointment utilizing the DMV's online appointment for vehicle registration or call (800) 921-1117 to set up an appointment. 

 

 Also, you can visit the DMV service centre if you are a member. You may check the status of your smog check from any smog test station.

 

After you receive the registration stickers from the DMV, attach them to your license plates. Do remember to keep your registration in the car at all times without fail.

5 Commonest Reasons Of Check Engine Lights

If a check engine light has lighted up on your dashboard, the possibilities are it's one of the five things causing it. 

 

According to an engine diagnostic service in California, nothing strikes fear into the heart of an aware car owner like a check engine light. However, while there is a possibility there could be a critical issue, it’s most likely that the issue behind the warning light is something quite minor.

These are the most common causes of the feared CEL:

 

1. Faulty oxygen sensor-Probably is the commonest cause of all. An oxygen sensor or 02 sensor’s function is measuring oxygen levels in the exhaust, feeding back information to the ECU. The ECU will then fiddle with the air/fuel mixture as required.

 

If the sensor isn’t functioning, expect your car to run much richer, burning more fuel. This will eventually create problems for other components like the spark plugs.

 

2. Mass airflow sensor fault- Remember when we talked about the fuel/air mixture earlier? The MAF or mass airflow sensor plays a significant role in this process, assessing how much air is going into the engine. If there’s a problem with it, your engine may start running more roughly than before and there’ll be a check engine light illuminated on your dashboard.

 

3. Spark plug or coil issues-As far as spark plugs are concerned, they too can throw up a check engine light. Defective spark plugs can lead to misfires or even cylinders stopping running completely. The coil packs that sit on top of the plugs can be the cause of the same symptoms when defective.

 

4. Loose petrol cap- Possibly the most convenient check engine light to fix. If you forget to put your fuel filler cap back on the can, it can actually trigger a CEL, as the car identifies the incorrect pressure within the tank.

 

5. Catalytic converter problems- The honeycomb structure within a catalytic converter - which captures all kinds of nasty pollutants and prevents them from being spat out of the tailpipe - can become congested or even crumble over time. During a free check engine light diagnosis, it has been seen that if there’s an issue with your cat, you can expect a decline in performance and a sulfur smell emerging from the exhaust.

 

Unless the cause is something pretty imminent like the stray fuel cap mentioned in an earlier point, you must detect the cause of a check engine light as early as possible. 

We wish you happy riding!

Importance of Smog Check

 

During an auto repair in California, I found that a  smog check is a crucial part of vehicle maintenance apart from taking a drastic step forward to contribute to the environment that is nurturing us. Ever since the rules and regulations for the vehicles which are high on smog have been established, they have been of immense benefit to lessen the pollution and smog level throughout the entire United States. 

Therefore, smog checking is not only facilitating to regulate the number of pollutants in the air but also helps to monitor the vehicles that should not be allowed to run on roads leading to a high level of pollution. The owner of the same auto repair station in California said so.

Nevertheless, based on the present condition of your car, you may have to avail three various options of selecting an accredited station that is approved by the BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair) in California. It is bound to help you with your car repair in California.

First are the test stations which are exclusively for conducting smog test and not for any repairs or diagnostic checks. Do not confuse it with any auto repair and service in California.

Second, there are test and repair stations aplenty that can assist you with checks, tests and repairs to make your car remain under the vehicle smog guidelines. 

The third type of smog stations which you may require is the approved and licensed emission-related checks that solely focus on the emission of the vehicles.

If your vehicle goes through a smog check on an authentic place like a leading smog station, your vehicle would be scrutinised for so many different components. It may have to work on emission systems, engine lights, fuel system, tailpipe emissions, on-board diagnostics and it is mandatory that your vehicle should clear all the visual checks and functional inspection to receive certification for smog limits.

Despite the fact that there are many set of conditions for which your vehicle is considered eligible for checks, you can’t ignore them. For example, if you are driving a vehicle that is of 20 years or above with a hybrid, flex-fuel or gas power source, then it may necessitate needing a smog check. On the contrary, for the vehicles which are not older than 6 years, then in such instance you can skip the need to visit a smog station.

So, if you still have any doubts about the smog check and its significance to drive on the highways, please ensure that you search for a “Smog Near me” to avail professional expertise and assistance.