246 Auto Heating & Air Conditioning
Special Tools
Special tools are often needed to adjust or disassemble
a complex assembly, such as a compressor. Often, the cost
of the tool may exceed the price of a complete replace-
ment assembly. However, special tools can be used again
for the same type of repairs in the future, and may be a
good investment. You should also fi gure in the initial cost
of the tool versus the number of jobs that will be possible
using that tool. If you expect to do a lot of the same type of
repairs in the future, and the special tools are reasonably
priced, they should be purchased.
Contacting the Owner about Needed Work
After determining the parts and labor necessary to correct
the problem and before proceeding to actually make repairs,
contact the vehicle owner and get authorization to perform
the repairs. The best way is to show the owner the completed
inspection form. Never assume the owner will want the work
done. The owner may not have suffi cient money for the repairs,
may prefer to invest the money in another vehicle, or prefer
to have someone else perform the repair work. The defective
part or problem may be covered by the vehicle manufacturer’s
warranty or a guarantee given by another repair shop or chain
of ser vice centers. In these cases, the vehicle must be returned
to an approved service facility for repairs. If your shop is not
one of these approved facilities, you cannot expect to be reim-
bursed for any more than diagnosing the problem.
If the vehicle is leased, the leaseholder is the actual
owner. Depending on the terms of the lease, the lease-
holder may be the only one who can approve any ex penses
in connection with the vehicle. Be especially careful if the
vehicle is covered by an extended warranty or service con-
tract. Extended warranties and service contracts are a form
of insurance, and like all types of insurance, it is necessary
to fi le a claim for any expenses. In some cases, the owner
can fi le a claim after repairs are completed, while in other
cases, approval must be granted from the insurer before the
repair work can begin. Sometimes, the insurer will send an
adjuster to inspect the vehicle before approval is granted.
Before talking to the vehicle owner, leaseholder, or
extended warranty company concerning authorization to
perform needed repairs, you should make sure you can
answer three questions that will be asked. First, be prepared
to tell exactly what work needs to be done, and why. Next,
have available a careful breakdown of both part and labor
costs. Third, be ready to give an approximate time when the
vehicle will be ready. If you suspect a problem that requires
further disassembly, be sure the customer understands that
further diagnosis (and costs) may be needed before an exact
price is reached.
Step 6—Correct the Defect
In Step 6, you correct the defect by making system
repairs as needed. This repair can be as simple as tightening
a loose fi tting or may require replacement of almost every
part in the refrigeration system. For repairs, refer to the pro-
cedures in the following chapters.
Be sure to completely fi x the problem. Do not, for
instance, correct leaks and let the vehicle go with a worn
compressor. Keep in mind that disassembling the HVAC
and refrigeration systems often uncovers other problems.
Be sure to inform the owner about additional charges and
get an ok before starting repairs.
Step 7—Recheck System Operation
Recheck system operation by conducting another
performance test, checking refrigeration pressures and
output temperatures. Do not skip this step, since it allows
you to determine whether the previous steps corrected
the problem. If necessary, repeat Steps 1 through 6 until
Step 7 indicates the problem has been fi xed. If you
are satisfi ed the problem has been corrected, road test
the vehicle to ensure there are no other problems and
the repair you made actually corrected the customer’s
problem.
Follow-up
Once the seven-step checking process has isolated
and cured the immediate problem, your fi rst impulse is
park the vehicle and get on to the next job. However, it is
worth your time to think for a minute and decide whether
the defect you found is really the ultimate cause of the
problem. This process is known as follow-up.
For example a customer brings a vehicle into the shop
complaining of poor cooling and rapid compressor clutch
cycling. The refrigerant is a little low, so you add about 1/2
pound and the clutch cycling returns to normal. Do not
assume the vehicle is fi xed until you ask yourself where
that 1/2 pound of refrigerant went. In this case, there is
most likely an undiscovered leak that may soon empty the
refrigeration system. If you do not locate the real problem,
the vehicle will be back soon, along with a dissatisfi ed
customer.