Toyota: Insufficient Cabin Cooling Some 2001-’04 Sequoia and 2000-’04 Tundra vehicles may exhibit a condition where the air conditioning system does not sufficiently cool the cabin. Adjustment of the water control valve is necessary to correct the condition. Repair Procedure: 1. Turn the temperature control knob to the full cold position. More

Tech Tip: Kia A/C Compressor Bracket Replacement Some 2002-'05 Sedona (GQ) vehicles may exhibit a humming noise and vibration when the A/C is turned on. To address this condition, replace the A/C compressor bracket with P/N 1K52Y 15810FFF. More

Tech Tip: Honda Pilot’s Compressor Clutch Has Taken Off No A/C compressor clutch. The scan tool says A/C off and A/C switch off. There is no air out of the front vents, but the blower motor operates and changes speeds with the front switch. More

Tech Tip: Erratic 4Runner Blower Motor Some Toyota 4Runner owners may complain of a condition where the blower motor speed does not match the HVAC display indication. More

A/C Update: The Future of Cool Editor Ed Sunkin returns from the Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide trade show and convention in February, 2009, with details on the possible future of the U.S. refrigerant segment of the industry — HFO-1234yf. This refrigerant provides a very low global warming potential and many new service and sales opportunities. More

BMW Climate Control Diagnostics: Resolving Any Cooling System Problems First Speeds Repairs First Speeds Repairs There was a time when the heating and ventilation system on most cars was simple. A three-position switch, a couple of levers and maybe some separate vents that would allow outside air to enter the passenger compartment. Times have changed and today’s car buying public wants to dial in a desired temperature and turn ov More

Tech Tip: Cabin Air Filters Keep Heater, Air Conditioner and Defroster Operating Properly Cabin air filters prevent leaves, dirt, bugs and other debris from entering the HVAC (Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system. This prevents the fan and control doors from becoming jammed with debris that could cause fan noise or affect the operation of the heater, air conditioner and defroster. Keeping the HVAC system clean also helps reduce the growth of odor-causing mold and other microbes... More

Tech Tip: Wintertime Heater Operation Guidelines Wintertime heater operation presents numerous questions and problems. Here are some guidelines for professional technicians to ensure the heating efficiency of their customers' vehicles when the weather turns cold. Verify coolant level and condition. If the system is low, the heater core is the first to lose coolant flow, causing a lack of heat in the passenger compartment. Old coolant can cause ... More

Servicing Solutions: 15 Tips on Servicing Ford F-150s A bold new look and some subtle changes probably best describe the 2004-and-up Ford F-150. To the technician, it is the subtle changes that he or she needs to be aware of. Beginning with the 2004 model year, Ford launched a new body style for the F-150. It is a new vehicle inside and out. However, not all of the 2004 F-150s that you see will be the new body style. The 2004 F-150 was also made available... More

Cabin Air Filter Q & A Question: How do you replace a cabin air filter? Answer: First you have to find it. The cabin air filter is usually located behind the glove box or at the base of the windshield in the cowl area over the HVAC inlet duct. The exact location can be found in the vehicle owner’s manual or a filter reference guide. On most Fords, the filter is located under the hood in the cowl area. On... More