Repair And Fix it

Air conditioning was one of the great inventions of the 20th century that most of us take for granted. For granted, that is, until we encounter a hot summer day without electricity or with a malfunctioning vehicle AC system. The Mercedes Benz 2003 E320 air conditioning system, like all vehicle air conditioning systems, has three main components---a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. Its a quick task to locate the condenser.

Instructions

1

Locate the hood release under the dash close to the drivers side door. It is a small level that in located above the emergency brake pedal and below the emergency brake release lever. You may have to feel under the dash for the hood release lever.

2

Pull the hood release lever towards you. You will hear a noise and observe the hood rise slightly when the hood unlocks.

3

Proceed to the front of the vehicle and lift the hood slightly. A grey or black tab will protrude out through the grill. Pull on the tab and open the hood by lifting it.

4

Look down to area at the front of the vehicle behind the location of the grill prior to opening the hood. You are now looking at the radiator and the condenser. The condenser is in front of the radiator.

Charging a Dodge Caravans air conditioning unit, called commonly "A/C" or "AC," with new freon is not a hard task to do, and the reward of having your A/C working properly again is plenty of motivation. If your air conditioning unit is not working, a recharge of the A/C systems chemical cooling agent, called rigerant or often freon, may be just what you need. If your Caravan was made before 1995, a professional will have to make other adjustments before you can recharge with rigerant on your own.

Instructions

1

Check your Caravans air conditioning line for air conditioning leaks before attempting to add rigerant. Auto parts stores sell leak-detection kits that you can use to detect leaks while also sealing small ones. Follow manufacturers directions on how to use the leak detection kit you choose. If there is a large leak, do not add rigerant; instead, take your Caravan to a professional.

2

Find the Low Pressure Side service port. It is marked Low and is black in color. Remove it.

3

Turn on the A/C to the coldest, highest settings possible. Use a pressure gauge to make sure there is pressure. If the pressure gauge is not measuring any pressure, then there may be a bigger problem that needs the attention of a professional.

4

Attach the hose to recharge the rigerant on the Low Pressure Side. Open the valve so the rigerant can flow into the system. Keep the can upright. When it is emptied, remove the ill hose and close the cap.

5

Turn on your air for 30 minutes to allow the rigerant to make its way completely through the system. Check the pressure again; it should have increased. If it has not, add more rigerant.

An air conditioner (AC) condenser has similar functions to that of a radiator. A condenser does to refrigerant what a radiator does to coolant. The condenser and radiator even look similar although the condenser is a bit smaller. Having information on an AC condensers functions can be beneficial to vehicle owners.

Primary Function

The AC compressor changes refrigerant into a pressurized gas form then feeds it into the top of the condenser. The condensers job is to cool the gas and condense it back into liquid refrigerant form for use throughout the AC system.

Debris Collection

AC condensers have another important function as well. Compressors let out debris during the course of their operation. Condensers catch this excess trash coming from the compressor. Because of a condensers low position within an auto AC system, oil is naturally collected by it as well.

Tips

Condensers can get dirty from the trash they collect over time. Replacement is an option even though its not the cheapest. A tip for this issue would be flushing the condenser which can remove debris from the condenser without the need of having to replace it altogether.

Of all the components that make up a vehicles charging system, the alternator is at the head of the pack. It is responsible not only for making sure the battery remains charged, but also for creating power to supply the needs of everything electrical within the vehicle. Having information on diagnosing known alternator failures can be beneficial to auto owners.

Identification

A classic way to identify if your vehicle is having trouble with its alternator is an unusual dimming of the headlights. Alternator issues may also cause an automobile to struggle with cranking. In severe cases the vehicle may fail to start up altogether.

Diagnose

There are several things that could cause an alternator to fail, such as bad wiring connections. These bad connections could be at the battery or somewhere else within the charging system. A drive belt breaking is another incident that could bring about alternator charging failures.

Time Frame

When an alternator fails to charge, a vehicles battery will no longer have a source available to keep it powered up. Your vehicle will not run for much longer than an hour before the battery dies, and all the electrical components in the automobile stop functioning.