It’s a Different World We Live In
HVAC Control Systems Operation and Diagnostics
This may have been the first year at a MACS convention for Instructor Rick Burgard, but it’s not his first time as an Instructor. Rick has over 20 years of instructional background in the class room environment. There’s no doubt with his decades of experience as an instructor and his extensive background and experience with AC Delco and GM makes a lecture with Rick an entertaining as well as informative class. Mind you, standing in front of a crowd of knowledgeable professional technicians/shop owners and industry leaders while trying to present a class that everyone can walk away with something more than they came in with is no easy task. That’s where his professionalism as an informative, well versed, and entertaining instructor comes out. Class participation is a part of his instructional teaching method, be the first to answer the question correctly and you just might be lucky enough take home a door prize. (Once the class room got the idea of how to take home a door prize, everyone wanted to shout out an answer and be a contributing part of the session… it kept everyone interested and on the edge of their chairs waiting for a chance to be the first with an answer.)
So what was actually covered in this class?... … …Plenty! The heart and soul of the discussion was on HVAC control systems, Instructor Rick Burgard covered what was already in place in today’s vehicles and what to expect in the near future… and… so much more. Rick brought up a lot of interesting facts about today’s AC systems. One particular question that drew a lot of different answers; “Why can we not just run a signal from a switch to a relay then have the relay apply voltage to the AC clutch like we use to?” There were a lot of answers from the crowd but no one quite had the answer he was looking for. Rick held the door prize up high waiting for the correct answer but only one person had an answer that was even remotely close… (That lucky fella went home with the latest door prize).
Rick explained the answer this way: “The government is concerned about emissions, as with many belt driven compressors, as the clutch engages a surge can be picked up by the crank sensor which in turn can be interpreted by the PCM as a possible misfire. Also, the idle speed and fuel enrichment all are changed or are affected by the mere act of turning on the air conditioning. This misfire condition will have an effect on the emission status and therefore the reason for the government involvement. Now with the PCM controlling the “requested” signal for AC a more precisely control of the emissions can be calculated.”
With so much information to cover in just an hour and a half it was a non-stop information blitz. From electrical and mechanical fan clutches, clutchless compressors, windshield humidity sensors, in car filtration systems, rear air conditioning advancements, and even newer systems such as the “mode-film vent systems”. Rick made it a point to tell everyone that a lot of these new innovations aren’t actually all that new. A lot of these ideas have been around for years and years but only after extensive research and development or a practical application testing are some of these ideas brought out at a later date. They may appear to be new and innovated but the concept or idea for the application might actually be 10, 20 or even 30 years old.
I don’t think anyone left the class without some new found information, I know I did. Quoting AC Delco Instructor, Rick Burgard; “It’s a different world we live in today.” I couldn’t agree more. With the communication systems, data information, and emission control systems on today’s cars the once simple act of getting some cold air in the car has become a complex integrated part of the vehicle electronic system. No doubt more changes and more innovations are on the horizon. With Instructors like Rick Burgard you can count on staying on top of the changes and how to make the needed repairs.
There is one thing to add to all of this. When it comes to attending a lecture you want to be able to retain and understand what the speaker is trying to tell you. Rick Burgard is without a doubt a professional, a true instructor… he teaches you things you didn’t know, he explains things you didn’t understand, and at the same time, he makes it a whole lot of fun to be a part of the class. If you get a chance to attend the next MACS convention look for Rick’s classes you’ll be glad you did.
