THIS month’s MACS Service Report includes a feature about those parts that are either no longer available or are available only as part of a larger and more expensive package, such as orifice tubes built into condensers or evaporators wrapped up in a sealed HVAC case. It is one of those dilemmas regularly faced in … Continue reading Unsupported or bundled parts?
FOLLOWING on from last month’s MACS Service Report about OBD II diagnostics of engine coolant temperature sensors and thermostats from VASA’s North American counterparts, the latest edition comprises a seriously in-depth look at the issues surrounding electric thermostats . In modern vehicles, problems in the engine cooling department can have a knock-on effect with numerous … Continue reading All about electric thermostats
THE New Zealand government will phase out its ‘one for two’ Carbon Tax subsidy by 2019, resulting in a steady increase to the price of refrigerants and boosting the levy on refrigerants inside the air-conditioning systems of imported vehicles. From January 1 2017, the current 50 per cent levy liability will increase to 63 per … Continue reading NZ to ramp up Carbon Tax on refrigerants
NEW ZEALAND is in the final stages of approving imports of R1234yf for servicing, at least two years after the first vehicles arrived into the country with air-conditioning systems using the new refrigerant. Because R1234yf has a flammable rating, the NZ Environmental Protection Authority is seeking industry submissions about managing the risks (please see below … Continue reading Submissions invited as NZ moves closer to approving R1234yf
THE latest MACS Service Report from VASA’s North American counterparts is all about OBD II diagnostics of engine coolant temperature sensors and thermostats. In modern vehicles, problems in the engine cooling department can have a knock-on effect with numerous other systems, including locking out the air-conditioning system. Being proficient in diagnosing problems here can save … Continue reading Engine coolant and fault diagnosis
THE first future:gas refrigerant seminars have been delivered, with great attendance, positive feedback and some fantastic audience interaction. Now the seminars are underway, the initiative has built its own momentum and the future:gas website is taking increasing numbers of online bookings and fielding numerous email questions from those who missed out asking when the roadshow … Continue reading Great start for future:gas
A UNIVERSITY in the United States has developed a sensor that can predict when hose, o-ring or belt is likely to fail, up to two weeks in advance. This breakthrough, if applied to automotive air-conditioning systems, could dramatically reduce refrigerant emissions and prolong the life of components that might fail as a knock-on effect of … Continue reading Sensor can predict hose failure
THE American Chemical Society (ACS) has awarded a team from Honeywell who were involved in the development of R1234yf its prestigious “Heroes of Chemistry” accolade. Team members Nacer Achaichia, Amy Jones, Hang Pham, Robert Richard, Rajiv Singh, Harry Tung and Ron Vogl will receive their awards at an ACS-sponsored banquet on August 21 in Philadelphia. … Continue reading Minds behind R1234yf pick up more awards
THE Australian federal government has just announced it will introduce a statutory phase-down to imports of HFCs (such as R134a) from January 2018. The government has singled out automotive and domestic air conditioners that use HFC refrigerants as equipment that could be subject to import bans. Now this legislation has been announced, the steady flow … Continue reading Aussie HFC phase-down announced
THE latest MACS Service Report provides useful insights into the process of choosing and purchasing equipment for working with R1234yf, including an interesting revelation that ‘unlocked’ R1234yf machines exist that comply with an old version of the SAE J2843 standard enabling them to work without a refrigerant identifier. Unlocked machines are apparently being bandied about … Continue reading Unlocked R1234yf machines?
