1997 ASTON MARTIN DB7 air conditioning

^^?
Air Conditioning
System Description
System Description
The in-car temperature and humidity are regulated by the electronically controlled air conditioning system. The
system comprises four subsystems:
• heater matrix, supplied with water from the engine cooling system
• refrigeration
• vacuum
• electronic control
Apart from the ambient temperature sensor and the aspirated in-car temperature sensor, most of the components
are housed in the air conditioning unit (Fig. 1) situated behind the dash board, or in the engine compartment.
Figure 1.
Key to Fig. 1 - Left Hand Air Conditioning Unit

1.
Upper feedback potentiometer

2.
Water temperature switch
3. Lower feedback potentiometer

4.
Vacuum valve block
5. Vacuum restrictor
6. Condensate drain tube
Figure 2.
Key to Fig. 2 - Right Hand Air Conditioning Unit

1.
Upper servo motor

2.
Electronic control module
3. Lower servo motor

4.
Evaporator sensor
5. Condensate drain tube
Special Servicing Tools and Equipment
1 PDU system
1 Charging station
1 Leak detector
1 Temperature test box
1 Sanden compressor service tool kit
1 CM Type compressor service tool kit
1 Digital voltmeter
1 Multimeter
May 1996 8-7

Air Conditioning
Working Practices O" 15-^?
Working Practices
General
Be aware of, and comply
with,
all health and safety
requirements.
Before beginning any repair or service procedure,
disconnect the vehicle battery ground connection
and protect the vehicle from dirt or damage.
Work in a well ventilated, clean and tidy area.
Recovery and chargeequipment must comply
with,

or exceed the standard detailed in the General
Description.
Handling Refrigerant
Wear eye protection at all times.
Use gloves, keep skin that may come into contact
with refrigerant covered. If the refrigerant comes
into contactwith youreyesorskin wash the affected
area immediatelyw'ith cool water and seek medical
advice, do not attempt to treat yourself.
Avoid inhaling refrigerant vapour, it wil
your respiratory system.
irritate
Never use high pressure compressed air to flush out
a system. Under certain circumstances a
combination of HFC 134A and compressed air in
the presenceofa source ofcombustion (for instance,
welding or brazing equipment), results in an
explosion that releases toxic compounds into the
atmosphere.
The refrigerant and CFC 12 must never come into
contact with each other
as
they form an inseparable
mixture that can only be disposed of by incineration.
Do not vent refrigerant directly into the atmosphere,
always use approved recovery equipment.
Refrigerant is costly but it can be recycled. Clean
the refrigerant, using the recovery equipment and
reuse it.
Carry out LeakTestsonly with an electronic analyser
dedicated to Refrigerant El 34A.
Do not attemptto guess the amount of refrigerant in
a system, always recover it and recharge with the
correct charge weight. Do not depress the charge or
discharge port valves to check for the presence of
refrigerant.
Handling Lubricating Oil
Avoid breathinglubricantmist,itwillcauseirritation
to your respiratory system.
Always decant fresh oil from a sealed container. Do
not leave oil exposed to the atmosphere for any
reason other than to fill or empty a system; PAG oil
is hygroscopic (it absorbs water) and iscontaminated
rapidly by atmospheric moisture.
Following the recovery cycle do not reuse the oil
when it has been separated from the refrigerant;
dispose of the oil safely.
System Maintenance
Do not leave the system open to the atmosphere. If
a unit or part of the system is left open for more than
five minutes, it is advisable to renew the receiver-
dryer. There is not a safe period in which work is to
be carried out. Always plug pipes and units
immediately after disconnection and only remove
plugs when re-connecting.
If replacement parts are supplied without transit
plugs and seals do not use the parts. Return them to
your supplier.
Diagnostic equipment for pressure, mass and
volumeshouidbecalibrated regularly and certified
by a third party organisation.
Use extreme care when handling and securing
aluminium fittings, always use a backing spanner
and take special care when handlingtheevaporator.
Use only the correct or recommended tools for the
job and apply the manufacturer's torque
specifications.
Keep the working area, all components and tools

clean.

8-8 May 1996

^7
Air Conditioning
Temperature Distribution System
Temperature Distribution System
The heating and ventilation unit case consists of three sections:
• the front, which contains the air conditioning system evaporator
• the rear section, which consists of two parts and contains the heater matrix and rotary flaps
• the lower outlets which direct air to footwell and rear passenger compartment and are removable.
Temperature variation within the car
is
achieved by all incoming air passing through the evaporator and then being
directed through or around the heater matrix by rotary flaps:
• Full heating (Fig.1)
• Defrost (Fig. 2)
• Full cooling (Fig. 3)
Blend (Fig. 4)
Figure 1.
Figure
2.

Figure
3.
Figure
4.
The rotary flaps are opened or closed by servo motors, as directed by the control system, and flap position
information is relayed to the ECM by feedback potentiometers.
(Solid arrow = Hot, Line arrow = Cold)
May 1996 8-9

Air Conditioning
Temperature Distribution System
The Control Panel (Fig. 4) contains:
• Fan speed-defrost rotary switch (Mode-Switch),
• Air Conditioning Function Switch
• Temperature differential rotary control
• Temperature rotary control,
The control panel relays information to the ECM.
Figure 4.
Fan Speed Control (Mode Switch)
The rotary switch controls airflow from the blower motors. The switch has five positions: 3C, 1, 2,3 and DEFROST.
«» The system is not operational; a residual signal is sent to the Electronic Control Module (ECM)
to ensure that the blower flaps are closed to prevent outside air from entering the system.

1,
2,3 Selection information is relayed to the ECM. Signals are also relayed to the ECM from the
temperature selector feedback circuits and various sensors. Fan speed is steplessly controlled
by the ECM, within the ranges 1, 2 and 3.
DEFROST the fans operate at maximum speed, front screen vents open fully, lower flaps close fully and
maximum output is directed to the windscreen (there may be a delay of up to 30 seconds from
selection to execution of this function).
Face Level Temperature Differential
This control is used to vary the temperature difference between the air coming through the face vents and that coming
through the lower vents into the footwell.
Temperature Rotary Control
This is used to preset the in car heat level in either automatic or manual mode. There are three temperature sensors
located in the system:
• Exterior ambient
• In-car
• Evaporator.
An input voltage is supplied to the sensors from AC4-13 of the control module. The temperature sensing signal from
the sensors is transmitted to the control module via AC4-4 and AC2-4 respectively. The sensors are semiconductor
devices which provide a voltage output proportional to the sensed temperature.
8-10 May 1996

^7
Air Conditioning
Temperature Distribution System
Air Conditioning Function Switch
When AC, DEM or Re-circulation ^v is selected the system engages the Air conditioning compressor using the
electromagnetic clutch. The in-car temperature is automatically corrected to the pre selected level by the system
sensors.
When MAN (manual mode) is selected it provides the operator selection of fan speed and in-car temperature
selection facilities. The in-car temperature is not thermostatically corrected to a predetermined level by the system
sensors.
When ECO is selected the system is in economy mode which allows the fan speed and heating levels to be selected
but gives no cooling. The air conditioning compressor is not engaged putting a minimum load on the engine.
When manual re-circulation is selected the blower flaps are closed and only that air which is in the vehicle is re­

circulated.
When the ignition is turned off the blower flaps revert to the fresh air position.
Refrigeration Cycle
The Compressor draws low pressure refrigerant from the evaporator and by compression, raises refrigerant
temperature and pressure. High pressure, hot vaporised refrigerant enters the Condenser where it is cooled by the
flow of ambient air. A change of state occurs as the refrigerant cools in the condenser and it becomes a reduced
temperature high pressure liquid.
Figure 5.

1.

2.

3.
Compressor
Condenser
Receiver-Drier

4.
Expansion Valve
5. Evaporator
6. Triple Pressure Switch (Trinary switch)
May 1996 8-11

Air Conditioning //~-->> ^/zz:^^ • ^ ^
General Svstem Procedures ' —"^ ^ '^ General System Procedures
From the condenser the liquid passes into the Receiver-Drier which has three functions:
• Storage vessel for varying system refrigerant demands.
• Filter to remove system contaminants.
• Moisture removal via the desiccant.
With the passage through the receiver-drier completed the, still high pressure liquid refrigerant, enters the Expansion
Valve where it is metered through a controlled orifice which has the effect of reducing the pressure and temperature.
The refrigerant, now in a cold atomised state, flows into the Evaporator and cools the air which is passing through
the matrix.
As heat is absorbed by the refrigerant it once again changes state, into a vapour, and returns to the compressor for
the cycle to be repeated (Fig. 5).
There is an automatic safety valve incorporated in the compressor which operates should the system pressure be
in excess of
41
bar. The valve re-seats when the pressure drops below 35 bar.
Note: The division of HIGH and LOW side is simply the
system pressure
differential created by the
compressor
discharge

(pressure),
suction
(inlet)
ports and
the
relative inlet and outlet
ports
of the
expansion
valve.
This
differential is critical to
system

fault
diagnosis
and efficiency checks.
System Protection
The trinary pressure switch, located in the liquid line, cuts electrical power to the compressor clutch if the system
pressure is outside of the range of 2 Bar
(1
st Function) to 27 Bar (2nd Function). The third function is to switch on
the cooling fans when pressure exceeds 20 bar.
General System Procedures
Leak Test
Faults associated with low refrigerant charge weight and low pressure may be caused by leakage. Leaks traced to
mechanical connections may be caused by torque relaxation or joint face contamination. Evidence of oil around
such areas is an indicator of leakage. When checking for non visible leaks use only a dedicated Refrigerant El 34A
electronic analyser and apply the probe all round the joint connection. Should a leak be traced to a joint, check that
the fixing is secured to the correct tightening torque before any other action is taken.
Do not forget to check the compressor shaft seal and evaporator.
Note: Never
use
a dedicated
CFC 12
or
naiced
flame type
analyser.

Charge Recovery (System Depressurisation)
The process of refrigerant recovery depends on the basic characteristics of your chosen recovery-recycle-recharge
equipment, therefore, follow the manufacturers instructions carefully. Remember that compressor oil may be drawn
out of the system by this process, take note of the quantity recovered so that it may be replaced.
CAUTION: Observe all relevant safety requirements.
• Do not vent refrigerant directly to atmosphere and always use approved recovery-recycle-recharge
equipment.
• Wear suitable eye and skin protection.
• Do not mix the refrigerant with CFC 12.
• Take note of the amount of recovered refrigerant, it indica
tes the
state of the
system
and
thus the
magnitude
of any problem.
8-12 May 1996

^2?
Air Conditioning
General System Procedures
Evacuating the System
This process, the removal of unwanted air and moisture, is critical to the correct operation of the air conditioning

system.
The procedures depends on the characteristics of the recovery-recycle-recharge equipment and must be
carried out exactly in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.
Moisture can be highly destructive and may cause internal blockages due to freezing, but more importantly, water
suspended in the PAG oil will damage the compressor. Once the system has been opened for repairs, or the
refrigerant charge recovered, all traces oi moisture must be removed before recharging with new or recycled
refrigerant.
Adding Compressor Lubricating Oil
Oil can be added by three methods, two of which are direct into the system
• via the recovery-recycle-recharge station
• by proprietary oil injector.
Equipment manufacturer's instructions must be adhered to when using direct oil introduction.
The third method may be required because of rectification work to the existing compressor, or the need to fit a new
compressor. From an existing compressor, drain the oil into a measuring cylinder and record the amount. Flush the
unit out with fresh PAG oil and drain thoroughly. Refill the compressor with the same amount of PAG oil that was
drained out originally and plug all orifices immediately ready for refitting to the vehicle. The transit lubricating oil
must be drained and discarded from a new compressor before it may be fitted. An adjustment should be made to
the system oil level by taking into account:
• the quantity found in the original compressor
• the quantity deposited in the recovery equipment oil separator from the charge recovery operation.
Typically, 80 ml can be drained from the original compressor and 30 ml found in the oil separator; the sum of these
volumes (80 + 30 = 110 ml) is the amount of fresh PAG oil that must be put into the new compressor prior to fitting.
Hote:
The
discrepancy
between
this
figure
and
the
nominal capacity of
135
ml is
caused
by normally not
recoverable
oil being
trapped in
components
such
as
the receiver-drier or
evaporator.

The above statements are only true if there is no evidence of a leak. Where a leak has been detected and rectified,
the compressor must be refilled with the specified quantity.
Caution: Always decant
fresh
oil from a sealed container and do not leave oil exposed to the
atmosphere.
PAG oil is very
hygroscopic
(absorbs
water) and rapidly
attracts
atmospheric moisture.
PAG oil must
NEVER
be mixed with mineral
based
oils.
Do not
reuse
oil following a recovery cycle,
dispose
of it
safely.

Depending on the state of the air conditioning system immediately prior to charge recovery and the rate of recovery,
an amount of oil is drawn out with the refrigerant. The quantity is approximately 30 to 40 mi; this may vary, and
the figure is given only for guidance. It is most important that the oil separator vessel in the recovery equipment is
clean and empty at the start of the process so that the amount drawn out may be accurately measured.
May 1996 8-13

Air Conditioning //—->> "^^Izz^^ • ^ ^
General System Procedures L ^—/ ' —^ ^./^
Adding Refrigerant
In order that the air conditioning system may operate efficiently it must contain a full refrigerant charge. The
indications of some system defects, and the results of certain tests, shows that
a
low charge
is
the most probable cause
of the fault. In such cases the charge shou
Id
be recovered from the
system,
the weight noted, and the correct amount

installed.

Note: Never attempt to
guess the
amount of refrigerant in
a
system.
Always recover and
recharge
with
the
correct
charge
weight,
this is the only
accurate
method.
Caution: If oil is drawn out during the recovery
process,
the correct amount can be added directly from your
recovery-recycle-

recharge station
(if so
equipped)
prior to the charging
process.
It must be
stressed
that the need to protect
compressor
oil from
moisture is vital, observe
the procedures
in Handling Lubricating Oil.
Warning: Liquid refrigerant boils at -29°C (-20°F) at atmospheric pressure. Serious injury, even blindness, can occur if
the refrigerant comes into contact with the eyes.
Goggles and gloves must be warn while working with refrigerant.
First Aid
If refrigerant should contact the eyes or
skin,
bathe the eyes or affected area with cold water for several minutes. Do
not rub. As soon as possible thereafter, obtain treatment from a doctor or eye specialist.
8-14 May 1996