Warning: The air conditioning system is under high pressure. Do not loosen the system fasteners or remove any system components until the system is discharged. The system refrigerant must be properly drained into a special type of container at a dealer service department or an automotive air conditioning repair shop that is properly equipped. In any case, wear safety glasses when disconnecting the system.
1. The following checks should be performed to ensure that the air conditioner is operating at maximum efficiency:
- a) Check the auxiliary drive belt. If it is worn or damaged, replace it with a new one (see Section 10);
- b) Inspect the air conditioning hoses for cracks, bulges, stains and general deterioration. Inspect the hoses and their fittings for oil bubbles and leaks. Any of these signs indicate wear, damage or leakage of the hose, which should be replaced immediately with a new one;
- c) Clean the condenser plates from leaves, insects and other dirt with a special scraper or compressed air.
Warning: Wear safety glasses when using compressed air!
- d) Make sure the drain pipe at the front of the evaporator is not clogged. Please note that while the system is in operation, clear water will drip from this pipe, which may cause a fairly large puddle to form under the vehicle.
2. It makes sense, especially in winter, to turn on the system at least once a month for approximately 30 minutes, since prolonged non-use of the system can lead to hardening and subsequent failure of the seal.
3. Due to the complexity of the air conditioning system and the special equipment required to service it, troubleshooting and repair of the system are not included in this manual. For more information on servicing and repairing automotive air conditioners, please refer to the book "Heating and Air Conditioning Systems Guide.".
4. The most common cause of poor cooling is simple - low system refrigerant charge. If you don't feel any cool air flow when the cooling is on, the following quick check will help you determine if the refrigerant level is low.
5. Warm up the engine.
6. Place the air conditioner lever in the cool position and the fan lever in the maximum position. Open the doors to make sure the air conditioning system does not stop working until it has cooled the interior.
7. When the compressor is turned on, the clutch will noticeably click and the center part of the clutch should rotate. Try and feel the compressor's inlet and outlet pipes. One of them should be cold, and the other hot. If there's no noticeable difference between the two pipes, this indicates a problem with the compressor or the entire system. It could be a low battery or something else entirely. Take your car to a service station or an air conditioning specialist.