Development of a VBA-Based Automation Tool for Performance Analysis and Diagnostic Monitoring of Automotive HVAC Systems

This work presents the development of a Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)-based automation tool for performance analysis, condition monitoring, and diagnostic evaluation of automotive Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. The tool utilizes Microsoft Excel and VBA programming to automate data processing, visualization, and analysis of key HVAC parameters, including external temperature, cabin temperature, target temperature, and related operational variables. By automating repetitive calculations and consolidating large datasets within an interactive platform, the tool reduces manual effort while improving the consistency and accuracy of performance evaluations. Conventional HVAC validation and calibration activities often rely on proprietary software platforms that require specialized licenses, limiting accessibility and flexibility during development and testing activities. To address these challenges, the proposed solution provides a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative for automated calculations, trend analysis, and diagnostic assessment within a familiar engineering environment. The tool supports the analysis of logged or periodically updated vehicle test data and provides near real-time visualization of HVAC performance indicators, enabling engineers to efficiently identify operational deviations and potential software-related issues. Historical data comparison and rule-based evaluation techniques facilitate early detection of abnormal system behavior and support informed engineering decision-making. Implementation results demonstrate improvements in productivity, reduced human error, and decreased dependence on proprietary analysis tools. Overall, the proposed VBA-based framework offers a scalable and economical approach for HVAC performance evaluation, condition monitoring, and diagnostic support, thereby enhancing engineering efficiency and promoting data-driven development of automotive HVAC systems