Cool tool for aircon

How to service aircon on hybrid vehicles

HYBRID VEHICLES PRESENT A FEW NEW CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO SERVICING THEIR AC SYSTEMS

Hybrid vehicles use electric compressors which require special handling of servicing equipment so that there is no contamination of oils. The Mastercool Commander 3000-E air-conditioning recovery/recycle/recharge (RRR) machine is specifically designed for these vehicles. The 3000-E has options for both standard vehicles and hybrids, and incorporates a flush circuit using an add-on accessory that ensures there is no cross contamination when switching between types.

The rising cost of refrigerant means RRR machines can now pay for themselves in one or two seasons, and their ability to perform almost an entire service unattended is a clear cost saving in a busy workshop.

The Mastercool Commander 3000-E was designed in the US to be a reliable method of servicing vehicle aircon units. It is also continually improved through remote firmware updates, and the Commander has been updated to version 9.0.

This update includes the addition of email printing via an option on the completed job screen. The vehicle’s registration number, refrigerant recovered, oil recovered, and refrigerant usage can be included. This information can be sent to the customer’s email, the workshop email, or printed using the on-board thermal printer.

Other features include data logs that can be extracted via USB, uploaded to a PC, and viewed in Excel. Remote diagnostics have also been improved with a drop-down service menu.

Mastercool Commander is designed to meet the SAE J2788 standard, which means it must achieve a 95 percent refrigerant recovery rate with 95 percent purity within 30 minutes. For trucks or other large vehicles, the Commander has been tested to perform charges at 2.5kg or more. The charge hoses can be extended up to 10m without the need for recalibration. Other features include: • Manual and automatic functions. • 8-inch Windows tablet PC command centre. • Two programmable bottles for oil and/or dye injection with individual load cells (standard vehicles only). • Automatic and manual purging of noncondensable gases (NCGs). • Large Class 1.0 analogue gauges. • Multi-coloured visual system-status LED. • 142L/min vacuum pump.

The machine includes on-board instructions with user prompts for each step. Remote set-up and training are also possible.

The only machine maintenance required is a filter change and vacuum-pump oil change, prompted by alerts.

Mastercool Inc is a US-based, family-owned company that has been in the air conditioning business for more than 35 years. Local service and technical back-up are available here through equipment specialists at Repco.

For more information, contact a Repco equipment specialist on 0800 237-726.

Mitsubishi Motors claims top spot

MITSUBISHI IS THE NUMBER-ONESELLING PASSENGER CAR AND LCV BRAND FOR JANUARY 2022 WITH 22 PERCENT MARKET SHARE

Records do not last very long these days at Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand. The company has registered 2810 vehicle sales for January, nearly doubling its January 2021 result of 1436 units.

It also eclipsed even its previous all-time monthly high of 2312 units achieved in November last year.

The results have led to Mitsubishi being crowned the number one passenger car and light commercial vehicle (LCV) brand for January, with a 22 percent market share.

The new record was set with a twin-pronged approach featuring the Outlander and Triton ranges, contributing 1186 and 1118 sales respectively — both record results in their own right.

Supply of the Triton ute was secured with a confident order for 5000 units in September — largely in support of a large customer base of trade, infrastructure, and agricultural workers — ahead of the introduction of the government’s feebate scheme.

Mitsubishi New Zealand’s head of marketing and corporate affairs Reece Congdon said the result was encouraging, especially when it doesn’t yet include the next generation Outlander PHEV which launches later this month.

“The whole MMNZ family will rightly be celebrating what is another outstanding achievement for our business,” says Reece. “Outlander has long been a Kiwi family favourite and Triton just keeps winning more fans every year. Knowing that the number of happy Mitsubishi owners is also increasing across our full range of vehicles is something that keeps driving us to do better.

“On that front, we are extremely excited to be introducing the Next Generation Outlander PHEV in the coming weeks, which will provide a compelling and practical solution for customers looking to reduce their carbon footprint. With 500 pre-orders waiting to be filled, that car is going to light up the segment.”

Reece says the company is naturally keen to keep breaking records, so its focus on exceptional customer service is undiminished. “This, along with the talent and dedication throughout our business and dealer network, is what fuels our success. We are starting the year as we mean to go on.”