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Shop Pep Boys for all of your auto heating and cooling needs.When summer’s here, or really any time you want cool, dry air while driving, your car’s air conditioner (AC) is critical to your comfort and safety. Unfortunately, frozen AC lines can put a major kink in your road trip. Why are your car AC lines freezing up, and what you can do about it? Usually, AC is one of those forgotten systems that you never really think about until it stops working. Sometimes there can be worn or unmodified AC systems that function for years without a problem. On the other hand, if your car has been in an accident, has ever had any AC components removed or had any service done, the situation is ripe for frozen AC lines. What Causes Car AC Lines to Freeze Up? Really, the only thing that should be in your car’s AC system is refrigerant and oil. To keep these things inside and others — such as air, moisture and dirt — out, the pipes, hoses and seals are specially designed to maintain a tight seal.

The problem of car AC lines freezing up is caused by moisture that has been introduced into the system. At the expansion valve or fixed orifice tube, depending on the system, liquid refrigerant instantly expands into a gas, forcing the temperature to drop. portable air conditioning rental atlantaMoisture in the system can freeze at that point, blocking refrigerant flow through the valve, and you’ll notice you have warm air coming out of the vents. how to charge a ac unit with r22As the valve warms up again, the ice melts and refrigerant flows, so you’ll get cool air again, but the cycle will continue.15000 btu window air conditioner with heat Generally, the only way that moisture can get into the AC is if the system is opened up or if you have a leak.

If there is a leak, air and moisture can be pulled in by vacuum on the low side of the system. Also, any time that the AC system is opened, moisture can get in. For example, if you use an R-134a top-off bottle to fill it up, a little moisture can get in when you open the valve cap and install the can. Similarly, if an accident breaks the system, such as the condenser or one of the lines, the open system can freely absorb water from the air. Normally, the receiver-dryer absorbs some of this moisture, but it only has so much capacity before it is saturated, leaving the rest to float about in the refrigerant stream. What Can You Do About Moisture in the System? If you notice your car AC lines freezing up, you have to get rid of the moisture that’s causing it, starting with a full leak check. Recover the refrigerant from the system and make any necessary repairs to parts such as O-rings, hoses, lines or evaporators. If the system has been opened for more than a few hours from an accident, damage or corrosion, the receiver-dryer absolutely must be replaced.

It can become saturated when left exposed to the air. Alternatively, if the system has only been open a few minutes, during recovery and evacuation for engine repair, for example, you probably won’t have to replace it. Evacuate the AC system for about 30 minutes to boil off any moisture in the lines. Finally, recharge the system with the proper quantities of refrigerant, oil and a little ultraviolet dye for future leak detection. For more information on car AC systems, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store. Photo courtesy of Pic Basement. So You Left Your Convertible Top Down In The Rain: Don't Panic! How to Apply Touch Up Paint Like a ProAmong the many features you can spend money on in the family car, one is perhaps most sought-after by passengers in the rear seat. In-car DVD rear entertainment systems, though often a bit costly, can make a big difference between back-seat peace and quiet and sibling rivalry gone awry. We took a look at what’s available in the current crop of family vehicles and have come up with the following list of those with some of the best DVD entertainment systems.

Not surprising, two of the best systems are in minivans. It seems that the more passengers you carry, the more you may want this kind of technology entertainment feature. 2011 Toyota SiennaEnlarge Photo With its 16.4-inch screen, the Dual-View Entertainment Center (available as part of three Limited Premium packages with additional options, from $4,025 to $6,715) can be used either single screen or split screen. This allows rear-seat passengers to play a DVD movie on one screen while on the other, play a different movie or a video game using the compatible game console plugged in to one of two nearby 120-volt AC outlets. Parents can also control the entertainment center from the instrument panel. An external audio and video input jack allows for movies and video games to be supplied from the center console. Listen to audio using the Sienna’s built-in speakers or wireless headphones. Available as part of an option package, the Dual-View entertainment center in the Toyota Sienna Limited and XLS models includes two 120-volt AC outlets.

A single-disc DVD player is standard, but a separate DVD player or compatible game system utilizing the center console’s video/audio inputs is required to use the split-screen function. Another choice is the dual headrest rear seat entertainment system. This is a $1,999 accessories option featuring two seven-inch LCD touch-screen display monitors with integrated DVD players. Each monitor can operate independently to allow for separate video or video game use and includes a pair of infrared wireless headphones with two user selectable channels (A and B). Both monitors also feature RCA A/V jacks for connecting external inputs, such as digital cameras or video game systems. With just two inches less in screen size, the 16.2-inch Honda DVD Ultrawide Rear Entertainment System with HDMI technology is standard on 2012 Honda Odyssey Touring and Touring Elite models and available on EX-L ($1,600 more than EX-L model without the system). Honda says it “keeps the peace” with split-screen viewing capability.

As with the Toyota Sienna rear-seat entertainment system, a separate source device is required to use the split-screen function. Keep in mind that with seating for up to eight passengers, you might just need something in the way of rear-seat entertainment technology to make long family drives more tolerable. 2011 Chevrolet TraverseEnlarge Photo Two rear entertainment systems are available on the seven- or eight-passenger Chevrolet Traverse LT and seven-passenger LTZ crossover models, in either front-wheel or all-wheel drive configuration. A rear-seat DVD player with overhead display, two wireless headphones with auxiliary input jacks and USB port in front console for connecting and charging a portable music device or playing music from a thumb drive is a $1,445 option. There’s also the dealer-installed $2,010 rear entertainment system with dual DVD players featuring two seven-inch diagonal headrest LCD screens built into the headrests for independent viewing, plus two wireless headphones and wireless remote.