All You Need To Know About Your Car’s Aircon Sensor

How Your Car’s Air Conditioning Unit Works

Firstly, let us look at how your car’s air conditioning unit actually works. The AC system works by circulating refrigerant from the air entering your car and dispersing it into the air outside. The refrigerant is measured by the expansion valve so the set amount of cooling can take place without the evaporator freezing up. As air passes through the evaporator core, the refrigerant in the evaporator removes heat and moisture and takes it out of the car.

All Important Aircon Sensor

Your car’s air conditioning (AC) system contains a really important component, the evaporator temperature sensor (switch) which detects and monitors the temperature of the AC evaporator.  This temperature sensor has two simple but vital roles for the proper performance of your AC system:

• It detects and regulates the evaporator temperature to stay within reasonable operating temperatures. 

• It prevents the air conditioning refrigerant from becoming too cold and the evaporator from freezing

If the sensor detects a high temperature, it will increase air flow through the system to increase cooling and conversely, if it detects that the evaporator is cold, it will reduce flow and prevent frost from forming on the evaporator core and freezing over.

Where is the AC Sensor located?

The thermostat sensor is usually mounted directly on, or near the evaporator coils which are found inside your air conditioner unit.  The air passes by these sensors and coils which read the temperature and compares it to the setting on your thermostat as it is sucked through the return vents.

Signs The Sensor Is Faulty Or Failing

When the sensor fails or is faulty, it can cause your entire AC system to malfunction. The followings symptoms will indicate that there is a problem with your sensor:

• No cold air or insufficient cooling

If the sensor or switch fails it can send an incorrect signal to the AC system which will affect the ability to produce cold air. It could cause a lack of refrigerant flow or frost formation which will affect the ability to cool down the air. If there is frost formation of the evaporator it could cause no air flow when the AC is on.

• The AC temperature fluctuates when the Air Conditioning is on

Erratic or fluctuating temperatures is another symptom of a problem with the evaporator temperature sensor.  Too much or too little refrigerant could be introduced into the evaporator if the switch is fault, blowing hot and then cool air

• The AC compressor doesn’t  activate

The sensor is responsible for activating and regulating the workings of the AC compressor and if it is faulty the compressor could be disabled completely.

When the switch fails or has any issues, it can affect the performance of the entire AC system and could even cause it to malfunction. If you are having a problem with your AC and you suspect that your evaporator temperature sensor is the cause, it may be time for a replacement.

Where You Can Buy A Replacement AC Sensor

Africaboyz Online is an online supplier of all car parts and accessories and we offer really great prices. You can simply visit our Website and place an order for a new sensor online and it will be delivered via courier to your doorstep. 

Africaboyz Online has an extensive range of products divided into categories and you will be able to purchase sensors for all makes and models of cars. Follow this link to the air conditioner sensor category on the website 

Reference: https://www.autoblog.com/2016/01/06/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-ac-pressure-switch/