Helping your customer understand their A/C repair
December 16, 2021
To help service shop owners, MACS has created a 30-page consumer guide for your customers that explains how their car’s engine cooling system and air conditioning system works. “Getting to know your car’s air conditioning and engine cooling system,” details how these vital climate systems work and why they may require an extensive repair.Read Article >
The pulse width modulated duty cycle signal
December 7, 2021
Several years ago, when vehicles using these compressors were just starting to show up at shops for service with some regularity, we were searching to find some detailed information about their behavior to use in clinics. There was not a lot of it available, so we borrowed several vehicles and did some videos. The following are some clinic slides produced from one of those videos.Read Article >
Diagnosing electronically controlled compressors
November 30, 2021
When preparing to conduct diagnostics on a system using an electronically controlled variable displacement compressor, the diagnostic process needs to focus on four areas.Read Article >
Troubleshooting the “what ifs” in a mobile A/C repair
November 9, 2021
High side: Likely somewhere around 130 psi (at an idle) & 140 psi at 1500 rpm. Why? With only a 35% charge in the system, the compressor isn't going to be producing a lot of pressure.Read Article >
Meet MACS member, Tom Lech
November 8, 2021
Stationed in San Francisco, California, Thomas Lech has maintained a bustling business for almost three decades. Lech Auto Air Conditioning has been busy for 365 days a year from opening at 7 a.m. to closing at 7 p.m. for the last 27 years, with summertime only increasing the demand for the shop’s services.Read Article >
What do you know about the fixed displacement piston compressor?
November 2, 2021
What do you know about the fixed displacement piston compressor?Read Article >
Bring the heat!
November 1, 2021
At this time of year, I often end up with an earworm in my head from a Canadian rock band … Summer’s going fast, the nights are growing colder. Then it’s the line everyone knows from something more mainstream … Winter is coming. It’s early September, and the leaves on some trees are already starting to change. Winter is coming.Read Article >
Tesla aftermarket repair information
October 29, 2021
NASTF has released new information on industry changing news! After 4 years of working together with Tesla, NASTF is pleased to announce that Tesla scan tool and service information is now available to the aftermarket. For the American and Canadian markets (Canadian version is in the final testing stages) things are changing rapidly that's why the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) has brought their best experts to explain how to find, set-up, and implement this new information so you can add this new service opportunity to your shop.Read Article >
The concept of superheat
October 19, 2021
We illustrated the concept of superheat in last week's article by boiling water and superheating steam in a moonshine still. This week we will apply this concept to refrigerant in an air conditioning system. The still has been replaced with an evaporator.Read Article >
Over 500 automotive scholarships available
October 14, 2021
The University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF) is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2022-2023 school year on its Automotive Aftermarket Scholarship Central website. Scholarships from UAF and more than 40 donor organizations are consolidated and easily accessible at AutomotiveScholarships.com.Read Article >
Understanding and troubleshooting data lines on heavy-duty trucks
September 23, 2021
Understanding and Troubleshooting data lines on heavy-duty trucks will be presented byLarry Turay of LETCO Enterprises. In Larry’s Saturday morning class, attendees will learn how components and subsystem inputs and outputs can influence HVAC operations.Read Article >
A burned clutch is a symptom of another problem
September 14, 2021
Not much thought is given to compressor clutches until they fail, but they are extremely durable. I have personally owned three vehicles that had between 200, 000 and 240,000 miles on them. They all still had the original compressors and clutches, and they were still functioning perfectly.Read Article >