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Blue Seal Spotlight
September 2003

Stan's Automotive 1950 West South- Boulder Road Lafayette, CO 80026 (303) 666-8914

Note: The following tips are provided by the featured shop and are not to be considered as technical information from ASE. ASE makes no warranty as to the applicability, accuracy, or reliability of this information. Always consult the owner's manual published by your car's manufacturer for specific information on service and intervals.

FAQs ABOUT VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONING

1. What is the best way to get maximum efficiency from my air conditioner?

First, let's clarify the terminology of your A/C controls. The fan speed is controlled by the fan, or blower switch. The different modes of air output are usually controlled either by a sliding lever, a rotary switch, or a series of push buttons. These control whether the air comes out on the floor, through the dash vents, through the defroster vents, or any combination of the above. The controls on some cars automatically turn on the A/C compressor, while others use a separate button to turn on the compressor. Also, some cars have "MAX" or "NORMAL" positions of the mode switch, while other cars use a separate button or lever to change between "RECIRCULATE" and "OUTSIDE AIR", positions. The systems on some cars automatically go to "MAX" or "RECIRCULATE" when the temperature control is placed in its coldest setting.

To get the most efficiency from your A/C system, it's best to cool off a hot car by lowering the windows slightly, turning the A/C to "NORMAL" or "OUTSIDE AIR" and putting the blower on a medium speed. This takes outside air, cools it, and forces the hotter air inside the car out through the open windows. Once the air in the car has cooled down to a more comfortable temperature, switch to "RECIRCULATE" or "MAX" so the system can take the already cooled inside air and recirculate it through the A/C evaporator so it will gradually get colder and colder. You can then make yourself comfortable by adjusting the blower speed. This procedure will cool your car quicker, keep it cooler, and even save you some gas by not causing the system to run continuously.

2. What about that musty odor from the A/C vents?

Fungus, bacteria, and microbes growing inside the evaporator core case cause the odor. This moisture-laden environment caused by condensation is quite conducive to the growth of these organisms. The automakers have downsized the evaporator cases, added more fins, and packed them closer together on the evaporators, which made them more prone to trap moisture and contribute to the growth of fungus.

There are several methods to combat this growth. Some newer vehicles come with a device to run the a/c blower for a period of time after the vehicle is shut off. This dries out the evaporator case.

There are also chemical fixes. These can range from simply spraying Lysol® into the A/C air intake, to a more complex process including drilling a hole in the evaporator case, spraying in an expanding foam fungicide, then letting it convert to a hardened shell. One of the least expensive, although not the most practical methods would be to turn off the A/C compressor a mile or so before you get where you're going, but leave the blower running to allow the evaporator to dry out.

3. Not much air coming through the vents?

Many late-model vehicles now come equipped with "cabin air filters." These actually work just like a furnace filter at home to reduce dust and allergens in your vehicle. Many people are unaware that their vehicle even has one of these filters. When the filter gets dirty, the volume of air through the vents drops and reduces system efficiency. Replacing this filter should be a part of your scheduled maintenance and is usually done at 30,000 miles or sooner.

(Stan Elmore, Owner)

Shop Profile

Stan's Automotive, recognized by the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Program since its inception in 1996, is committed to quality service and customer satisfaction. The staff's high standard of integrity, honesty, and quality, along with state-of-the-art equipment, has earned Stan's Automotive numerous local and national accolades.

Owner and operator, Stan Elmore, had an early vision back in the 70s'. He saw a need for a retail tire store in the Lafayette area. Along with a business partner, he founded Stan's Tire Shoppe, Inc. By 1980, the business had outgrown its original location in Lafayette and another small location in Louisville. Stan then decided to construct a new building (current location) on South Boulder Road, in between Layfayette and Louisville, so that both communities could be served. As the community grew, the shop gradually expanded its focus from tire sales and light service work to a complete automotive service center.

With over 30 years servicing the Boulder area, Stan firmly believes that his real success is due to his customers. Stan states, "Along with community involvement and relationships built with local businesses, charities, schools, and other organizations, it has helped us to establish Stan's Automotive as THE experts in Automotive Repair in the Boulder Country area."

Stan is actively involved in the automotive repair industry, spending large amounts of time away from the shop, working with other business owners to further the growth of the automotive repair industry as a whole. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for ASE.

For more information, visit the Stan's Automotive website at www.stansautomotive.com.