May 2020

44 AFTERMARKET MAY 2020 AIR CONDITIONING AND THERMAL MANAGEMENT www.aftermarketonline.net qualification courses to help them gain a better understanding of the system and products they’re working with, rather than following just the legal obligation of holding a qualification to meet the requirements for handling R134a. Technicians can take advantage of dedicated training sessions through our AutoEducation platform. “Euro Car Parts’ Autoclimate solution provides technicians with full-service technical support for their equipment when they are working on customers’ vehicles. This support is provided free of charge over the phone, with the aim to get equipment up and running the same day. Adam added: “Euro Car Parts has 12 full-time Autoclimate engineers on hand to support customers working in garages, bodyshops and fast-fits. As the largest automotive air con supplier in the UK, the team carries out more than 8,000 service and repair activities every year, for more than 14,000 customers.” Meanwhile, Euro Car Parts has teamed up with engine cooling and climate solutions manufacturer Nissens, to bring its range to customers of Euro Car Parts, Andrew Page, and in Ireland Euro Car Parts Team P R Reilly. The new range covers more than 25,000 OE numbers, across condensers, A/C compressors, evaporators and interior blowers, as well as radiators, oil coolers, EC fans and more. Colin Cottrell, Marketing and Central Operations Director at Euro Car Parts, commented: “We know that there’s strong demand for Nissens products among our trade customers, and we’re pleased that with this partnership, we’re taking our relationship with Nissens to the next level.” Compressor Individual components need special care. Take the compressor as an example. “The lifetime of a DENSO Aftermarket compressor,” observed DENSO Assistant Manager, Aftermarket Network UK & IE, Mike Sadler, “is only guaranteed when the correct amount of recommended oil used. If contaminated by foreign oil or additives, such as the wrong or too much UV dye, the refrigerant must be flushed before new parts are installed. “A compressor is lubricated by oil, which mixes with the refrigerant gas and when the vehicle starts-up. It forces the refrigerant gas/oil mix around the system. As the mixture flows around the system, oil coats the inner surfaces of the pipework, condenser tubing and remaining components. “When technicians check for leaks, only 3-5cm3 of UV leak dye should be added to a system containing up to 1kg of refrigerant and 2cc for a 500g system. However, it can only be added once, as too much would degrade the lubricative quantities of oil.” Necessary On flushing, Mike said: “DENSO Aftermarket’s philosophy is that where metal particles are suspected to be present and contaminating the system, following catastrophic internal compressor failure for example, best practice is to change the entire system, as flushing will not guarantee the removal of those metallic particles. When flushing, technicians should use dedicated flushing equipment and correct type of refrigerant – without using an air conditioning service station.” “If the system has been flushed, the DENSO Aftermarket compressor can be installed directly. Turn the compressor systematically by hand to distribute oil evenly, as this will avoid damage when the compressor during start-up. “For some applications it is necessary to add oil; for example, where there is one and the same part number for single and dual evaporator cycles or when the oil quantity of the new compressor differs from the vehicle specifications. However, oil should never be added to the compressor; instead, it should always go into the condenser, receiver dryer or second evaporator cycle. “Always stick with the recommended oil type ND-oils. Never mix or use a ‘universal oil’, as doing so is likely to shorten the life expectancy of the new compressor and cause severe damage. After installing a new compressor, it is essential to ‘run it in’, to distribute the oil and start-up lubrication. Set the temperature to ‘max cool’, switch blower to ‘max speed’, start the engine and maintain engine RPM at ‘idle’, and switch on the air conditioning for a minimum of five minutes.” Mike concluded: “After only conducting this procedure is it safe to increase the engine speed and test the air conditioning.” Get fresh Cabin air filters also have an important role to play. Karl Ridings, Aftermarket UK & Ireland Sales Manager at UFI Filters commented: “In order to guarantee ultimate protection against harmful particles and boost the efficiency of the air conditioning system, UFI Filters recommends replacing the air cabin filter regularly: Every 9,000 miles – or even at shorter intervals in particularly dusty areas – or at the latest, every six to 12 months. This operation is crucial for guaranteeing health and comfort inside the vehicle.” Karl continued: “UFI recommends ensuring that the selected filter corresponds to the application suggested in the catalogue because the use of incorrect part numbers is a frequent cause of malfunction, and even collapse of the filter. Garages should follow service procedures as suggested by the VM and filter element manufacturer in order to achieve convenient service operations and prevent functionality issues.” Installation Filters need to be installed correctly. According to Karl, the same fitting mistakes tend to regularly reappear: “Sometimes, the position of the filter is not identified and the disassembly/assembly procedure is not thoroughly understood. In other cases, residues in the filter housing are not removed and the housing is not properly cleaned. It is sometimes necessary to use an anti-bacterial spray. “Another mistake is where the replaced filter is not perfectly sealed in its housing e.g. as the new filter is not the same as the one being replaced. Meanwhile, noises or Above: UFI filter range