The desiccant myth
April 12, 2022
There is a myth that exists involving A/C service work and driers that seems to come up from time to time. I have encountered it when handling tech calls and have seen it come up in A/C forums. Read more to find out what it is.Read Article >
No drier replacement, no compressor warranty!
April 6, 2022
Compressor manufacturers and parts distributors are adamant about driers being replaced when one of their compressors are installed. No drier replacement, no compressor warranty!Read Article >
What is a receiver drier?
March 29, 2022
With A/C season just around the corner, this seems like a good time to provide some updated information on these units. NOTE: Receiver driers are sometimes called filter driers and accumulators are sometimes called accumulator driers.Read Article >
Heat pump basics
March 2, 2022
An internal combustion engine (ICE) is relatively inefficient, using only about a third of the fuel's heat energy (BTUs). The rest of the heat energy is “wasted” in friction, cooling and exhaust heat losses. Yet, the ICE’s wastefulness benefits the vehicle's interior heating.Read Article >
The benefits of MAP-controlled thermostats
February 9, 2022
A customer driving a 2014 BMW 328i arrived at the college's 2nd-year electrical lab reporting his illuminated check engine light. The customer had no complaints other than the light. The vehicle had just over 82K miles showing on the odometer. A student (Phil) assigned to the BMW performed a review with a scan tool, and a single code (P0597 – Thermostat Heater Control Circuit Open) was present.Read Article >
Air contamination in an A/C system can ruin your day
February 2, 2022
I had a memorable encounter with air contamination in the mid 1990s. I was conducting a lot of retrofit clinics at the time and had recently acquired a demo refrigerant identifier which I took to those clinics. At one clinic, there was a technician who was extremely interested in the refrigerant identifier.Read Article >
Read all about it!
February 1, 2022
Read all about it! MACS February 2022 digital issue of ACTION magazine is ready to view.Read Article >
MACS changes leadership
January 31, 2022
MACS is changing leadership. Elvis L. Hoffpauir, is stepping down at the end of January 2022 from his duties as MACS president and chief operating officer to enjoy retirement. Following a 42-year distinguished career at the Mobile Air Climate Systems Association (MACS), Elvis will transition to past president and association advisor.Read Article >
Heater Insight
January 25, 2022
Recently, a customer brought in a 2006 Honda Insight with a heater that was blowing cold but had no other vehicle concerns. A local garage had informed the customer the head gasket had failed; however, the owner felt a second opinion was necessary.Read Article >
Variable output scroll compressors
January 5, 2022
This compressor has been around for quite some time and the vehicles it is used on are getting some age on them. However, they still show up in shops with regularity and there still seem to be a lot of technicians that are not aware of the problem, diagnostic procedure and cure.Read Article >
When you don’t know about clutch wires
December 27, 2021
The conversation involved a clutchless compressor unit. A CSR who had sold one to a shop contacted me and said his customer (who was both the shop owner and technician working on the car) had just called him. There was a concern that the compressor didn't have a clutch wire.Read Article >
An overview of electronic variable displacement compressors
December 21, 2021
we have focused on electronically controlled variable displacement compressor operation and behavior. It is important to have a good understanding of how these compressors operate and behave. This is because the percentage of vehicles coming into shops using these units is growing and will continue to grow.Read Article >
