air conditioning

[spirituk]

Can anyone help?

Recently my air conditioning has failed to kick in. The fan works when I
turn it on, but when I turn on the air con', the switch activates (goes red)
but the temperature never goes down. Can anyone tell me where to start
looking for a remidy for this fault?

 

[Jim Stewart]

Can anyone help?

Recently my air conditioning has failed to kick in. The fan works when I
turn it on, but when I turn on the air con', the switch activates (goes red)
but the temperature never goes down. Can anyone tell me where to start
looking for a remidy for this fault?

Funny you should ask. Same thing happened
to my daughter's Imprezza. Broken belt.

Hope your's is as easy a fix.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Can anyone help?

Recently my air conditioning has failed to kick in. The fan works when I
turn it on, but when I turn on the air con', the switch activates (goes red)
but the temperature never goes down. Can anyone tell me where to start
looking for a remidy for this fault?

My wife's '03 OBW had to have the suction and discharge hoses replaced
(under warranty) due to refrigerant leakage.


Carl

 

[mulder]

Can anyone help?

Recently my air conditioning has failed to kick in. The fan works when I
turn it on, but when I turn on the air con', the switch activates (goes red)
but the temperature never goes down. Can anyone tell me where to start
looking for a remidy for this fault?

Is the compressor engaging? If it isn't, and the belt isn't broken as
has been suggested, there is probably a refrigerant leak. If the
system pressure drops below a predetermined point, a safety cutout
switch operates and prevents the compressor from operating.
You'll need to take it to a shop that has the proper equipment to
charge the system and diagnose and repair any leaks.

 

[AS]

I had to replace the compressor discharge hose because it got a leak on
my wifes 03 outback.

 

[AS]

Look at the front of the compressor and verify that the complete pulley
is turning (the part where the belt goes and the center part too). I am
assuming you know what the compressor looks like)

If it is not, it could be that the system is low on refrigerant.

If it is, the thicker hose that comes to the compressor, should show
some sort of condensation, if the chargs is correct.

Look for oil/dirt accumulation in the hoses, tubes and condenser
radiator. That would indicate a refrigerant leak.

Is the recirculation button engaged?

Good luck

 

[spirituk]

OK, Ive replaced the belt , since it was missing (hey never had a A/c car
before)...
Still dont work.. I think that the gas has gone, since i've had an engine
overhaul...complete rebuild. I read that they had to drain the a/c gas to
remove the engine, and they never refilled it. Since the garage has pissed
me off because of the 3 month (yes 3 month) rebuild time and multiple times
that the car has been back, I feel I won't ever go there again... Any how...
can I buy the refil gas (r134a) by castrol (EZ fill) and charge the unit
with that? Where do I charge it.. is it the pipe with the (LOW) on it from
the compressor, and will it be a proper valve attachment... any ideas?

Cheers for any help....

Chris

 

[Dennis Smith]

OK, Ive replaced the belt , since it was missing (hey never had a A/c car
before)...
Still dont work.. I think that the gas has gone, since i've had an engine
overhaul...complete rebuild. I read that they had to drain the a/c gas to
remove the engine, and they never refilled it. Since the garage has pissed
me off because of the 3 month (yes 3 month) rebuild time and multiple
times that the car has been back, I feel I won't ever go there again...
Any how... can I buy the refil gas (r134a) by castrol (EZ fill) and
charge the unit with that? Where do I charge it.. is it the pipe with the
(LOW) on it from the compressor, and will it be a proper valve
attachment... any ideas?

If you don't mind me saying.......your in over your head on this one.
If the system has lost ALL of the freon there are things that need to be
done
to bring it back in service. If you don't do these steps, it may or may not
work well.
If you overcharge it you MIGHT GET INJURED!!!
1> purge the system of all oil.
2> replace the dryer unit with a new one.
3> pull the system down to -40 to get all the "air" out of it.
4> inject the correct amount of oil into the system.
5> add the correct amount of freon,monitor the pressure on the high/low
sides.
6> watch the sight glass for bubbles.
7> measure the temp differential (should be at least 40ºF)

I would make the "Garage" that did the overhaul pay for it.If need be sue
them for the service required to get it back where it
was before you took it there.

 

[spirituk]

Ouch... that bad?
I thought there were pressure valve to stop that kind of thing... hey ho...
soon be winter and at least the windows open and the heater is perfect...
cheers anyway

 

[AS]

Putting your A/C back to work, given that the only thing wrong with it
is the lack of refrigerant, is not that complicated, assuming you have a
system that uses R134:

1. You need to evacuate the system, i.e. create vacuum in it to remove
moisture and non compressible gases (air). For this you need a vacuum
pump capable of 29.92 in hg. You need to hold the vacuum for at least
1/2 hour, after which you should close all the valves and check for the
vacuum to stay, otherwise, you have a leak or moisture in the system.

2. At any autoparts, you can buy the charging hose with gauge for
around $25. The charging hose will come with instructions on how to
charge the system. Each 12oz can of refrigerant is about $8 in FL. The
best way to charge the system is to add the refrigerant weight indicated
in the label located somewhere in the engine compartment. Another good
indicator will be the suction line, close to the compressor. It will
become sweaty when the system is fully charged and the a/c is run at max
fan speed, max cooling with the drivers window down (all others closed).

In modern cars it is almost impossible to cause injuries by over
charging. There is a pressure switch that stops the compressor due to
too low or too high pressure in the system.

Good luck

 

[Michael Pardee]

Putting your A/C back to work, given that the only thing wrong with it is
the lack of refrigerant, is not that complicated, assuming you have a
system that uses R134:

1. You need to evacuate the system, i.e. create vacuum in it to remove
moisture and non compressible gases (air). For this you need a vacuum
pump capable of 29.92 in hg. You need to hold the vacuum for at least 1/2
hour, after which you should close all the valves and check for the vacuum
to stay, otherwise, you have a leak or moisture in the system.

2. At any autoparts, you can buy the charging hose with gauge for around
$25. The charging hose will come with instructions on how to charge the
system. Each 12oz can of refrigerant is about $8 in FL. The best way to
charge the system is to add the refrigerant weight indicated in the label
located somewhere in the engine compartment. Another good indicator will
be the suction line, close to the compressor. It will become sweaty when
the system is fully charged and the a/c is run at max fan speed, max
cooling with the drivers window down (all others closed).

In modern cars it is almost impossible to cause injuries by over charging.
There is a pressure switch that stops the compressor due to too low or too
high pressure in the system.

Good luck

A couple warnings - you don't have to worry much about personal injury from
overcharging, but compressor damage is a real concern. When overcharged, the
refrigerant enters the compressor as a liquid and the compressor tries to
compress it, a problem called "slugging." Compressors may survive hours of
light slugging or be ruined in an instant by one solid slug.

In dry climates the sweating will not occur - here in Arizona I have never
seen it. It will also occur at various temperatures depending on the local
dew point, which can result in unpredictable results. A refrigeration
thermometer taped to the suction pipe is a better bet.

I used to do all my own A/C with a borrowed vacuum pump back in the days of
R-12. R-134a gives none of the indications of charge that R-12 did, and I
have decided to take our cars to professionals for A/C work. It's cheaper
than gambling with the compressor.

Mike

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Ouch... that bad?
I thought there were pressure valve to stop that kind of thing... hey ho...
soon be winter and at least the windows open and the heater is perfect...
cheers anyway

Defogging the inside of the winshield will be MUCH better with a working
compressor.

Carl

 

[Sheldon]

Ouch... that bad?
I thought there were pressure valve to stop that kind of thing... hey
ho... soon be winter and at least the windows open and the heater is
perfect...
cheers anyway

Only one problem. You get better gas mileage with the windows closed and
the AC on than with the AC off and the windows open. Has to do with wind
resistance vs. the extra gas needed to turn the compressor.

 

[hippo]

I used to do all my own A/C with a borrowed vacuum pump back in the days
of
R-12. R-134a gives none of the indications of charge that R-12 did, and I

have decided to take our cars to professionals for A/C work. It's cheaper

than gambling with the compressor.

Plus if it's been evacuated for over 3 months, there's a good possibility
of leaking O-rings. Get it charged and checked & like a few others said,
see what your rights are regards getting the original repaier to restore
it to its original - i.e. working - condition. Cheers

 

[mulder]

Plus if it's been evacuated for over 3 months, there's a good possibility
of leaking O-rings. Get it charged and checked & like a few others said,
see what your rights are regards getting the original repaier to restore
it to its original - i.e. working - condition. Cheers

Not only that, but if it's been empty that long the receiver-dryer
will probably have to be replaced. Definitely not a DIY if you want
the system to work properly and for a long time.

 

[Orienteer]

Ouch... that bad?
I thought there were pressure valve to stop that kind of thing... hey
ho... soon be winter and at least the windows open and the heater is
perfect...
cheers anyway

If you're in the UK, I saw an ad by Kwik Fit that offers air con servicing
now.

 

[spirituk]

Thanks for all the advice... my law suit is on for other things with this
garage
cheers