AC Repair

AUTO AIR CONDITIONING REPAIR IN FRESNO


At Electric Laboratories we have been working on Auto Air Conditioning Repair since 1904. We offer complete repair and even parts for your vehicle’s A/C and heating components. Call us anytime at (559) 448-8300  to schedule an appointment.


The seasons can be harsh in Fresno and either Summer or Winter are always just around the corner. We are here to make sure your vehicle’s A/C and heating electrical systems are ready to keep you cool or warm whatever the season may be.


When your vehicle becomes too hot, your car A/C better be working and it better be working properly! Maintaining your car’s air conditioner is key to keeping cool in the hotter months… and maybe a 20 oz. fountain drink if you’re lucky. But don’t leave it to just that. Come to our shop for your air conditioning repair.


When you bring your hot wheels to Electric Laboratories we’ll check out your car A/C. We are conveniently located in the beautiful city of Fresno at 133 E. Sierra Ave. Fresno, CA 93710 and service all surrounding areas in Fresno County.


We’ll make sure it’s taking the hot air from your car, moving through the system properly and re-circulating cooler air back into the car’s cabin. Our air conditioning performance check thoroughly examines intricate A/C system components and their performance. This check is well worth it, and helps prevent you from taking a beating from the heat.


HOW WE DIAGNOSE YOUR A/C REPAIR PROBLEMS


Flush And Vacuum


Your compressor failed for a reason. There are two main reasons why compressors fail. Number 2 is oil starvation, where the system is not properly lubricated and thus burns out. The number 1 reason is contamination in the system. Cleaning out this contamination is crucial to ensuring that the new compressor is not also contaminated. We require every system to be properly flushed and vacuumed.


We recommend flushing the system and vacuuming, then inspecting what comes out through a coffee filter for discoloration or metal flakes. Always flush and evacuate before changing parts. Always use A/C system flush solvent. If it is not perfectly clean after the flush and vacuum, we recommend re-flushing the system. If it is still not perfect, then we recommend replacing the condenser and possibly other parts such as hoses or the evaporator. Do not bother flushing a third time. Many newer vehicles have serpentine or parallel flow condensers that simply cannot be properly cleaned and must be replaced at this point.


Oil


Oil is crucial to a properly functioning A/C system. It is crucial to use a high quality oil to ensure that it will not break down over time. Remember the number 2 cause of compressor failure is oil starvation, often from the oil decomposing over time. That decomposed oil can often be the cause of the debris in a contaminated system. We recommend a double end capped PAG oil or better. Check the book for the proper viscosity. Oil comes as 46, 100 or 150 viscosity. You will need the correct type for your vehicle, they are not interchangeable and higher is not better. Each compressor is designed to work with certain oil.


Freon/Refrigerant


Pure R134 for R134 systems and retrofits. Pure R12 for R12 systems. No exceptions. There are a ton of ‘Freon/Refrigerant alternatives’ out there. The bottom line is that none of those have been tested to work with the seals and gaskets inside our compressors. We can therefore not warranty our parts when you use these products. Ensure that you are only using refrigerant from a sealed, trustworthy source. Be careful, there are many of fraudulent products on the market.


Drier/Filter


The drier is the filter on the A/C system. Some vehicles have an accumulator and some have a receiver drier, but either way the internals do the same thing. A new drier is required every time you change the compressor, no exceptions. Inside a drier is a desiccant element that pulls moisture and debris from the system. Remember that moisture from water is very bad, it alters the viscosity and can ruin a system.


Just like you wouldn’t change your engine oil without changing your oil filter, the same is true on A/C systems. You want that drier cleaning your system to ensure long lasting performance. You definitely not want that old drier dumping debris back into the system.


O-Rings


Most modern A/C systems use O-Rings at every connection. Half of all A/C leaks turn out to be wrong, bad or improperly installed O-Rings. We recommend that O-rings be changed with the compressor. We recommend that as you remove an O-ring, that you tape it to a piece of paper and note next to it where it came from. This way if you have a problem in that area later, you can double check that you used the correct O-ring.


Expansion Device


The expansion device is a generic term. It can be an orifice tube, expansion valve or expansion block. An orifice tube should always be replaced, it should never be cleaned. An expansion valve or block is a little more difficult. They should always be removed and inspected or replaced during a repair. A stuck expansion device can allow too much pressure to build in a system and thus blow out the head of the compressor. The rule of thumb is that if you are replacing the compressor because it is leaking or not blowing cold enough, then cleaning is acceptable. Any other failure requires a new expansion device. If unsure, it never hurts to change the expansion device.


Electrical Connections


We make every effort to supply all compressors with the appropriate electrical connections. However, it is possible that the connector on our compressor could be different than your application. Most new compressors are also supplied without a connector. If this is the case, you may cut the wire in order to use your connection WITHOUT affecting your warranty. We recommend using wire nuts secured with electrical tape for these connections. Most compressors are shipped without switches or sensors. If switches, sensors and/or a line manifold are necessary, use these from the old unit.


Clutch/Pulley Turning


All compressors are bench tested at standard RPM’s, However, all compressors MAY NOT ALWAYS turn by hand! Many popular compressors (including H6 Series GM) will NOT turn by hand. Do not force it.


No matter what your vehicle needs, come see us at Electric Laboratories in Fresno, Ca today! From Brakes to engine work, we are the best one stop auto repair shop in Fresno. We are proud to offer a 24-Month / 24,000-mile in-house warranty. We provide trustworthy, fast, reliable, and quality work at the right price. Come see us for any of your auto repair needs at 133 E. Sierra Ave. Fresno, CA 93710. Call us anytime at (559) 448-8300 to schedule an appointment.

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