Air Conditioning Archives - Heels & Horsepower Magazine

Safety Tip of the Week: How to cool your car down quickly

vuyi on March 14, 2022

By H&H Admin

The South African sun can be harsh, making it difficult to drive safely.

There are a few ways you can reduce the heat levels within your car either by using sun shades or window tinting.

Here are a couple of ways you can cool your car down quickly so that you and your passengers can enjoy a comfortable drive as soon as possible.

If you drive a car that enables you to open your windows remotely, do so as you approach your vehicle.
If not, simply open all the windows all the way down as soon as you get in it.
Turn the air conditioner on to the coldest setting and crank it all the way up.
Make sure you set the air con to fresh so that air from outside comes into the vehicle. Avoid recycling the air which is already inside the car.
Adjust the airflow so that blows through the footwells and not directly towards your face
Drive like this for a few minutes until all the hot air has been pushed out of the car.
Only put your windows up when the air inside is cooler than the air outside.
Change the air-con setting to recycle so that the cool air circulates within the car.
Adjust the aircon temperature to your desired setting
Enjoy a cool drive!

Remember that the interior of a car can reach dangerously high temperatures very quickly which is why it is never a good idea to leave small children, the elder, or pets unattended in a car.

5 Signs Your Car’s Air conditioner Needs some TLC

vuyi on December 2, 2021

By H&H Admin

Summer is upon us and with it comes hot sunny days. The last thing you need is a broken air conditioner.

Most components in your car give you a warning before they stop working, and you could save yourself a lot of money and frustration if you take action immediately you notice something is about to malfunction.

Here are five signs your air-con unit needs a bit of TLC.

1. The Cooling Level Has Decreased

You are probably quite familiar with how well your car’s air-con works under normal circumstances so you will most likely notice if the cold temperature setting no longer cools the air as it should. It may be gradual but you will eventually begin to notice a decrease in cool air, as the flow of air becomes faint or non-existent.

This could be caused by:

Low refrigerant
Obstructed or failed condensor

2. Balmy or No Air

Even though your temperature setting may be cold when your car’s air con is on its last legs, the air coming through it may be warm or balmy.

This could be caused by:

An accumulation of mould or mildew on the evaporator
A damaged or loose hose
A damaged ventilation fan
A blown fuse

3. You Hear Weird Sounds

The only noise you should hear from your car’s air con is the flow of air coming through the vents. Odd air con noises include banging, ticking, or humming. However, there are two common types of noises you may hear from an unhealthy air-con unit. To understand these sounds, we must paint a picture of how the unit works.

The air conditioner relies on the compressor, whose job is to help build up pressure within the air-con system as well as cause proper flow of refrigerant. The compressor uses a pulley bearing, which wears out over time. As it wears out, the air con begins to grind or squeak.

The compressor also uses a clutch which eventually wears out too. As the clutch wears out, it makes a rattling sound.

In either case, other causes of the strange noises could be:

An obstruction such as leaves in the system
Failed or malfunctioning blower motor

4. You Smell Strange Odours

There shouldn’t be any odours when you turn on your air-con. Strange smells coming from the air vents are another indication of a failing air conditioning system. The odours are generally caused by the presence of bacteria such as mould, mildew, fungus and other micro-organisms under the dashboard, hoses, or a dirty cabin filter.

Other causes of strange smells include:

The frequency of use of the air conditioner
Age of the vehicle
Moisture in the air conditioning system due to excess condensation

5. Damp Floor Or Puddles Of Water Inside The Car

In normal circumstances, the air conditioning system drains water away from the car, but sometimes the drain becomes blocked, causing water to back up and pool inside the car instead. When this happens, water can build up under the car’s floor mats and dashboard, creating the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Other causes of pools of water include:

A clogged drain line
Excess condensation

The air conditioning system in your car doesn’t work just to keep the interior of the car cool. It also acts as a dehumidifier, ensuring that you and your passengers inhale the best quality air possible.

It is important that you take care of your car’s air conditioner so that it can last as long as possible, giving you many happy kilometres of comfortable travel.

New Cars On The Tarmac

vuyi on June 25, 2020

Here are a few of the latest cars available on the market in South Africa.

DATSUN GO

Anilda van Heedern attended the launch of the new Automatic CVT (continuous variable transmission) versions of the Datsun GO and GO+ which now have improved power and fuel economy.

The new Datsun Go models are equipped with a three-cylinder engine which delivers 57kW of power (7kW more than in the manual) and 104Nm of torque. They also come with dual airbags, ABS with EBD and BA, reverse parking sensors, follow-me-home headlamps, front and rear power windows, battery saving features, remote key, power steering and 14” machined Alloy wheels. The vehicles are available in a range of exciting colours including Red, Silver, Grey, White, Orange and the new colour Vivid Blue (additionally we have Sandstone Brown for GO+).

Anilda’s most memorable impressions are:

LIKES

USB port
LCD touch screen
Apple/Android interface
2 cup holders in front of handbrake area
Very fuel efficient (around 5L per 100km)

DISLIKES

Lack of quick acceleration e.g. to overtake a truck.
Petrol gauge is small and not that visible.
Seat belts don’t adjust up or down.
The boot only opens with a key, and there is no door handle on the boot door either
Using the handbrake is a must even when the car is in Park as it does not hold a dead stop but continues to run either back/forward for a few centimetres.

Starting price: R

PEUGEOT 5008

The all-new PEUGEOT 5008 breaks new ground as a large seven-seater SUV. Featuring a raised ride height, it’s striking front includes a prominent chrome grille with decorative chrome inserts, signature headlamps with LED daytime running lights, slanted rear windows and a three-claw LED lights, integrated into the rear black panel.

Offering an exceptional on-board experience for occupants and a myriad of smart features for additional driving ease, the Peugeot 5008 boasts a compact steering wheel, an 8” touchscreen, and a 12.3” high-resolution digital head-up instrument. Seven central satin chrome dashboard switches offer quick access to functionssuch as: Radio, Air Conditioning, Satellite Navigation, vehicle settings, telephone, apps, and hazard warning lights.

Ideal for families, the 5008’s has aninnovative seating configuration- three matching, separate, folding and tilting seats in the second rowand two removable, separate, folding seats in the third row; as well as a practical hands-free smart electric tailgate.

The Peugeot 5008 is available in two petrol engines – 1.6L THP 121kW six speed automaticand 2.0L HDI 110kW six-speed automatic.

Starting Price: R534 900-00 incl. VAT

TOYOTA QUANTUM VX

Signalling new territory for the Toyota Quantum range, the Quantum VX enters the luxury-people-carrier arena with an impressive array of luxury and comfort features. It features17” alloy wheels, a large chrome-finished radiator grille, chrome exterior door handles and power adjustable, auto-retracting mirrors, with blind spot monitoring functionality.

The 9-seater Quantum VX provides a limousine-like degree of cabin comfort for up to eight passengers, including a large captain’s chair, independent rear climate control and multiple USB ports, quilted leather upholstery, power-adjustment for the backrest and a fold out “ottoman” leg-rest. Other features consist of an array of driver assistance features as part of the Toyota Safety Sense suite. These include Pre-Collision Safety system (PCS) with pedestrian detection (day and night) and cyclist detection (day only); high-speed active cruise control; lane departure alert; road sign assist; as well as a 4.2” multi-information display, rain-sensing wipers, LED room lamps, tilt and telescopic steering adjustment, power windows and rear sunshade, to mention a few.

Powering the Quantum VX is a 6-speed automatic transmission linked to Toyota’s proven four-cylinder 2.8 GD-6 turbodiesel engine, with outputs of 115kW and 420Nm.

Priced at: R 843 600

MAZDA2 FACELIFT

Featuring a new, more sophisticated design, new Skyactiv-Technologies and enhanced i-Activsense safety features, an upgraded version of the popular hatchback, the Mazda2, is now available.

With a very capable 1.5L petrol engine in both manual and automatic transmissions, the G-Generation Mazda2 range consists of six derivatives made up of the Active (Entry spec), Dynamic (Mid spec) and Individual and Hazumi (High spec) grade levels.

Comfort and convenience on board have been improved through the availability of the Bluetooth hands-free system across the range, from the Dynamic model; an auto- dimming rear view mirror, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), for smoother vehicle movements and handling.

An expanded range of advanced safety features now includes LED headlamps fitted as standard across the model range. Side and curtain airbags, auto dimming rear-view mirror from the Dynamic model. Auto fold mirrors, reverse camera, rear parking sensors from the Individual model and Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Hazumi.

Starting price: R254 300