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Your car's engine is
the power source for
both heating and air
conditioning
systems. The systems
also share other
components, as the
following diagram
shows. Here's what
happens when you
flip on the heat or
the air conditioner:
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1. |
Heating
System
Heat is a
byproduct of
the engine's
combustion
process. The
heat is
absorbed by
the coolant
in your
car's
radiator.
The coolant
is then
circulated
through the
heater core
before
returning to
the
radiator.
The heating
system also
includes a
series of
air ducts, a
blower motor
and fan, and
temperature
and duct
controls,
which selct
the desired
temperature
and direct
the flow of
warm air. |
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Air
Conditioning
System
This system
shares air
ducts,
controls and
a blower
with the
heater, but
has its own
refrigerant
system. The
air
conditioning
system is
comprised of
the
following
components: |
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2. |
Compressor
This is
a pump that
pressurizes
and
circulates
the
refrigerant
through the
system. |
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3. |
Condensor
As the
refrigerant
flows
through the
condensor,
it gives up
heat and
converts
from gas to
liquid. |
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4. |
Receiver/Dryer
or
Accumulator
This is
where clean,
dry
refrigerant
is stored as
it
circulates
through the
system. |
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5. |
Orifice
Tube or
Expansion
Valve
This is a
metering
device that
controls the
flow of
refrigerant
through the
system. |
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6. |
Evaporator
Core
Refrigerant
enters the
evaporator
core as a
liquid. Heat
from the air
converts the
liquid
refrigerant
back into a
gas, which
cools the
air before
it enters
you car. |
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