Air-conditioning management

Air-conditioning compressors are an essential part of air-conditioning systems. Motorservice has both belt-driven and electrical air-conditioning compressors in its product range.

In petrol-driven and diesel vehicles, belt-driven air-conditioning compressors are driven by the combustion engine and only work when the engine is running. Motorservice offers more than 20 belt-driven air conditioning compressors and a large number of electrical air-conditioning compressors in OE quality for over 40 million passenger cars from European vehicle manufacturers.

In contrast to air-conditioning compressors in vehicles with conventional combustion engines, the electrical air-conditioning compressor for hybrid and electric vehicles is equipped with its own electric motor. This is why electrical air-conditioning compressors work even when the engine is switched off. The refrigerant approved by the OE must be used for the air-conditioning compressor.

When replacing the electrical air-conditioning compressor, the system must be flushed. In addition, all non-flushable parts must be replaced, including the expansion valve, the air-conditioning receiver-dryer and the seals. Otherwise, impurities may remain in the system which damage the new air-conditioning compressor.

With the pressure switches from Pierburg, Motorservice covers a fleet of more than 200 million vehicles worldwide, including many hybrid and electric vehicles. They are approved for applications with R134a and R1234yf refrigerants.

The refrigerant circuit in air-conditioning systems is divided into a high-pressure and low-pressure side in vehicles. Generally, two pressure switches are installed in the vehicles: one for the high-pressure side and one for the low-pressure side. Alternatively, there is, for example, a combined pressure switch for both sides.

The pressure switches monitor the pressure in the air-conditioning system. If an excessively high or excessively low pressure is detected, they switch off the air-conditioning compressor to prevent damage to the system. 

The expansion valve is an important component of air-conditioning systems and, together with the air-conditioning compressor, separates the high-pressure side from the low-pressure side. The expansion valve reduces the pressure from the high-pressure side to a constant pressure of approx. 2.5 bar. As the expansion valve is located directly at the evaporator, the refrigerant expands into the evaporator and becomes gaseous. It absorbs heat which is dissipated to the inside of the vehicle via the interior fan.

An important reason for replacing an expansion valve is that all non-flushable parts should also be replaced when replacing an air-conditioning compressor to remove impurities from the refrigerant circuit – and therefore so should the expansion valve. With the new expansion valves in OEM quality, replacements can be carried out in over 46 million vehicles worldwide.

Air-conditioning receiver-dryers from Pierburg impress with high-quality filter media and meet all OE specifications. High quality is extremely important, as this is the only way to guarantee reliable refrigerant filtering. The air-conditioning receiver-dryer should therefore be replaced regularly. It removes impurities and moisture from the entire refrigerant circuit, which would otherwise lead to corrosion and other damage.

A service kit consisting of air-conditioning receiver-dryer and accessories (item no. 7.14833.00.0, OE ref. no. 1597579-A0-A) for the Tesla refrigerant circuit – for over 3.7 million vehicles from the electric vehicle manufacturer worldwide – has been launched.

With over 20 air-conditioning condensers from Pierburg, Motorservice currently offers reliable quality for over 20 million vehicles from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover and others. This includes vehicles with combustion technology as well as high-voltage vehicles.

An air-conditioning condenser must be replaced if the functionality of the air-conditioning system is significantly restricted. Stone chips in particular can damage condensers. If such damage is clearly visible, replacement may be appropriate.

Condensers are essential components of the refrigerant circuit. The air-conditioning compressor first draws in the evaporated refrigerant and compresses it, which causes it to heat up. The compressed and hot refrigerant is conveyed under high pressure to the condenser and condenser fan. There, the heat is drawn from the refrigerant so that it condenses into a liquid. The condenser emits the heat to the cooling agent, the external air flowing through it.

In many vehicles, air-conditioning systems are part of the series equipment. Motorservice has added another component for the refrigerant circuit to its range – 7 evaporators for 10 million vehicles worldwide.

The refrigerant expands directly into the evaporator through the expansion valve, which is responsible for a continuous pressure. There, it expands and enters a gaseous state. During this process, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the ambient air. The resulting cold is conveyed into the vehicle interior.

Besides non-functional evaporators, however, there is another reason for replacement: microbial contamination. Due to condensed and non-draining water, microbes, viruses and bacteria may settle on the evaporator in the humid environment. If disinfection no longer helps, the evaporator must be replaced; otherwise there is a health risk.

The expansion tank is a central component of the cooling system. It forms part of the pressure and volume management of modern engine cooling systems and is equipped with a pressure relief valve. It absorbs the thermal expansion of the coolant agent, stabilises the system pressure in the event of excess pressure or vacuum and ensures optimum filling of the entire circuit. Its position at the highest point of the cooling system enables continuous self-ventilation, reduces cavitation and protects pumps, seals and heat exchangers against overstressing.

The tank, which is made of temperature-resistant materials, combines maximum dimensional stability with low weight. Integrated pressure relief valves with precise opening pressures of 1.0 to 1.5 bar increase the boiling point of the coolant agent. Some versions have an integrated level sensor, optimised flow guidance and suitable connections. Expansion tanks from Pierburg are supplied as a complete repair solution.

Radiators are often referred to as coolers. With 46 new radiators, Motorservice currently covers vehicles from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Jaguar, Volvo and Porsche.

Pierburg products in OE quality are an important component of engine cooling, as they dissipate the heat from the engine and prevent overheating. Friction and combustion cause enormous heat in the engine. Part of this heat is absorbed by the coolant agent. The water pump, also known as the coolant pump, transports the hot coolant agent to the radiator. In most cases, this is located at the front of the car. The coolant agent flows through the fine channels of the radiator. At the same time, the head wind flows through the radiator and dissipates the heat. In most cases, the radiator is supported by a fan to ensure optimum cooling.

In the event of leaks in the radiator, replacement is essential to prevent overheating and thus permanent damage to the engine and other components. It is important to use a suitable antifreeze as otherwise the fine channels of the radiator may burst in the event of frost. The antifreeze also contributes to corrosion protection.