Since the UAE usually faces extremely hot weather, travelling without an air-conditioned car is tough. You must be familiar with what a car air-conditioner is, but you might not know the engineering behind it and how the car AC system works. Similar to many other vehicle systems, a car AC comprises several components that absorb humidity and heat from the passenger’s cabin and deliver cool air by removing moisture.
However, if your car’s AC fails to deliver cool air, then there may be a problem with any of its components. We have compiled a comprehensive guide that will help you to understand essential car AC parts, signs of their failure, and how they use refrigerants to provide cool air in your cabin. Let’s find out.
MAJOR CAR AC PARTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
When you see signs of car AC failure such as reduced cabin cooling or noise from AC, there may be a problem with the components. Hence, understanding the major car AC parts can prove helpful in identifying the problem. The car AC parts include:
COMPRESSOR
The compressor is the power unit of an air-conditioning system mounted in front of the engine. It is a pump which distributes the refrigerant or Freon to all the parts of a car AC system. Besides, the compressor has a clutch that compresses the low-pressure refrigerant gas into high-pressure and temperature gas.
If your AC compressor is not working, it may not carry out the following functions:
- Compressing the refrigerant
- Controlling the temperature change and output
- Smoothly moving air to the next component, the condenser
CONDENSER
A condenser is mounted behind the grille in front of your car. The function of a condenser is to cool the high-temperature refrigerant coming from the compressor. It radiates the heat from the pressurised Freon or refrigerant changing its state from vapour to liquid. A condenser comprises the following components:
- Condenser coil
- Compressor
- Condenser fan
- Motor
- Circuit board
A fan is an essential component in the condenser. It cools the refrigerant which flows to the evaporator. A malfunctioned condenser can be a reason behind the hot air coming from the car’s AC. Hence, cleaning the clogged pipes of the condenser will help maintain its efficiency.
DRYER
Another essential part of a car AC system is the dryer located between the condenser and expansion valve (orifice tube). The high pressure and cooled-down refrigerant from the condenser flows through the dryer’s inlet point. After passing through filters and drying agents (desiccants), the liquid moves to the thermal expansion valve.
The dryer serves as a decent filter removing dirt and debris from the liquid. That said, when the liquid moves into the expansion valve, it doesn’t clog the orifice tube or thermal expansion valve.
THERMAL EXPANSION VALVE
The thermal expansion valve, also known as the metering device or orifice tube expands the high-pressure liquid. The expansion process results in lowering the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant. The metering device is mounted on the high-pressure side of the AC system between the dryer and firewall. When the refrigerant leaves the expansion valve, it is still in liquid form.
EVAPORATOR
Situated behind the dashboard in the cabin, the evaporator is one of the major parts of the car’s AC system. It changes the low pressure and temperature liquid to the gaseous state which flows through the AC vents in your car. If the evaporator is damaged, it can result in weak airflow from your car’s AC.
CAR AC REFRIGERANTS
Choosing the correct refrigerant according to your vehicle model is important. There are the following three types of AC refrigerants.
- HFC-134a or R-134a: Used in car models from the years, 1994 to 2014
- R-1234yf or HFC-1234yf: Used in vehicle models from 2014 to present
- Freon (R-12): Used in vehicles manufactured before 1994
Automobile industries have adopted these different types of refrigerants over the years. The introduction of new types of refrigerants is mainly due to the rising environmental concerns. Besides, you can check the type of refrigerant your car AC requires from the recharge hose. If any problem occurs with AC when you buy a used car in the UAE, this guide will be of ultimate help in understanding the car AC parts names.
Stay connected to the UAE’s top auto blog to understand major parts of your car systems and identify the causes if any problem occurs.
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