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 >
The effects of air contamination in an A/C system
January 11, 2022
If you perform an Internet search for effects of air contaminated refrigerant on automotive A/C system pressures, you’ll find many results. This information leaves no doubt that air contamination of refrigerant in an automotive A/C system can affect system pressures and temperaturesRead 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 >
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 >
Exploring electronically controlled variable displacement compressors
November 23, 2021
Electronically controlled variable displacement compressors (ECVDs) have been in use now for over 15 years. However, there are a lot of technicians in the field who have very little knowledge about them and their operation.Read Article >
Electronically controlled variable displacement compressors
November 16, 2021
what if" this system used an electronically controlled variable displacement compressor instead of the pressure controlled variable displacement compressor? What would the results be?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 >