Air conditioning

Safety

The air conditioning is an essential factor for safety and ride comfort. ?It makes an active contribution to accident avoidance. This is because the physical stress and strain caused by rising temperatures inside the vehicle causes levels of concentration and impairs capacity of reaction.

A study commissioned by carried out by the German Federal Highway Research Institute and carried out by the Gesamthochschule Wuppertal found that at a temperature of 27°C inside the vehicle, the number of accidents in towns and cities increases by 11%; at an inside temperature of 32°C this figure is approx. 22%. The air conditioning ensures that drivers keep a "cool head", therefore driving more prudently and with higher levels of concentration. The ability to concentrate is crucial to accident avoidance. Furthermore: A well-maintained air conditioning system will prevent condensation on windows in autumn and winter, maintain good visibility and thus increase safety.

Function

The air conditioning in a vehicle must cool the passenger compartment and draw moisture out of the fresh air supply. As such it provides an assurance of pleasant passenger compartment temperatures even in strong sunlight and condensation-free windows when humidity levels are high.

Environmental protection

Regular inspection of the air conditioning system in a garage is an important contributing factor for the protection of the environment. Every year, up to 10% of refrigerant escapes from air conditioning systems as a result of natural evaporation. In the absence of regular service and maintenance, this figure can continue to increase due to leaks and porous hoses, placing further strain on the environment. An AC service restores the air conditioning system to perfect working condition

Depreciation

To ensure that the air conditioning system remains in perfect working condition in the long term, it should undergo an annual AC check.

As the air conditioning system operates under constant pressure, its components are subject to a process of natural wear. Hoses and seals also age, dry out, coming loose and leaking as a result. This causes the refrigerant to evaporate and impairs cooling performance. The situation can be rectified by having the system checked and if necessary topped up with refrigerant. It is also advisable to have an AC service carried out every two years. An AC service includes for example:

• Replacing the refrigerant
• checking for leaks and if necessary 
• replacing the dryer. 

An air conditioning system that undergoes regular maintenance will last the lifetime of the vehicle and provide an assurance of pleasant temperatures inside the passenger compartment throughout the vehicle's service life.