997, aircon suddenly not blowing cold

[RiccardoG]

So, I last used my 997 a couple of weeks ago, warm day, aircon on, blowing cold air, all normal.

Drove it again and cold air is not coming out anymore... I've had the car around 18 months, always worked fine.

Logically, the normal path to go down in these instances is to have it regassed, put the dye in, check for leaks, normally ends up being one of the front condensors, end up getting both replaced... etc. £800 later and all is well again.

So, before I go down the 'usual' route, anything else I should or could check? I am thinking fuses, servo motors, etc.

Thanks!

[Output Flange]

Start the car, turn the A/C off, then back on. Can you hear the compressor click on? Do the revs drop? If so, chances are it is a leak.

For the sake of £40, I'd start at Kwik-Fit having it drained, leak tested and refilled. If that sorts it (for a week, not just a day) then job jobbed, otherwise more investigation required.

[edc]

£800 is extortionate. I sourced 2 quality aircon condensors and o rings for a shade over £100 and then paid the labour to have them fitted and the system regassed. 986 though rather than 997 but the work is largely the same.

[RiccardoG]

Thanks, I'll do the checks on the compressor, apparently one can tell also by looking at the engine compartment and seeing if both compressor wheels are turning (inner & outer).

I called Kwikfit, its £49, but they don't put a dye in or anything, its all automated and the machine will only spot any major leaks, not small & slow ones.

Where did you get the parts so cheap??

[edc]

http://www.boxa.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=5771...

Somebody kindly bumped my old thread today so could find it quite easily.

[Zingari]

Here you go @ £91 (inclu VAT) very easy to fit

http://www.mister-auto.co.uk/en/condenser/porsche-...

Bought for my 964 from here - no issues. Job jobbed

[RiccardoG]

Thanks guys, those are great prices! Started off with £300 each and now am getting down to £60 each! I'm normally one for 'only OEM parts please' but on these I am tempted to go for non OEM.

Found this old thread which seems to suggest that anyways these are mass produced items and not Porsche specific:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=109...

[996TT02]

Yep forget the OEM.

If you are up to it, to removing the bumper that is, you could replace them yourself, no biggie. Just get new o-rings too. Obviously a re-gas would then be needed, and the addition of some oil that would have been lost due to the condensers having been replaced (you can find qtys online, just to advise the re-gasser, no biggie)

I have not done this myself - but a leak I am told should be visible under UV light, a UV torch, maybe an Ebay cheapie is the first port of call. On the pics I saw online the leak will show as a glowing patch, because the lubricating oil is fluorescent, no doubt deliberately coloured.

So if you were up to it and wanted to, would cost just the cost of the condensers and o-rings, and the re-gas and oil topup (latter will be a couple of tablespoons worth!)

But definitely check and confirm. And also, be prepared to discover that you may also need to replace your main (coolant) rads!

[alexisn]

I had my system re charged by Quick fit, they can put in a dye that will show under UV light. Mine worked for a couple of days and failed again, leaking condensor, Quick fit checked the pressure and finding it low re paid me the £49. Excellent service. Condensor changes are pretty simple to those use to them and can be obtained cheaply if you shop around.

[RiccardoG]

Output Flange said:

Start the car, turn the A/C off, then back on. Can you hear the compressor click on? Do the revs drop? If so, chances are it is a leak.

Actually, just went back to the car, there is no click from the compressor or drop in revs when switching the a/c.

Also checked the condensers and they seem ok and quite new, no signs of leaks on the bottom.

[996TT02]

RiccardoG said:

Actually, just went back to the car, there is no click from the compressor or drop in revs when switching the a/c.

Also checked the condensers and they seem ok and quite new, no signs of leaks on the bottom.

1) if there is no pressure, the compressor won't come on, to stop it self destructing (the gas contains/flows the lubricating oil)

2) My condensers looked quite nice. Even out of the car, in my hands, they looked perfectly serviceable. Only under certain light can one note the faint patch where the leak is. And only eventually after oil has seeped out and crept, the gas itself will not leave a trace. The leak won't be "at the bottom" this is not coolant we are talking about, it's mostly gas...

Fitted in the car, no way can you tell just by taking a look, naked eye, moreso when the leak is generally on the back side due to corrosion due to crud trapped between the radiators and the condensers.

[RatBoy M3CSL]

.. Be sure you get the right amount put in at these budget places, I had mine done and only got half a regas, the A/C started gurgling and not clicking on, and I had to go somewhere else to get it redone, extract what was left, measure it and only 550 grams came out.

On a 996 it's 900 grams of gas, 5cc's of oil, and some dye, and cost me less than £100 at a very reputable indie.

[RiccardoG]

996TT02 said:

1) if there is no pressure, the compressor won't come on, to stop it self destructing (the gas contains/flows the lubricating oil)

2) My condensers looked quite nice. Even out of the car, in my hands, they looked perfectly serviceable. Only under certain light can one note the faint patch where the leak is. And only eventually after oil has seeped out and crept, the gas itself will not leave a trace. The leak won't be "at the bottom" this is not coolant we are talking about, it's mostly gas...

Fitted in the car, no way can you tell just by taking a look, naked eye, moreso when the leak is generally on the back side due to corrosion due to crud trapped between the radiators and the condensers.

Ok, so you'd say its perfectly possible that it really is the condensers as opposed to the compressor.

The main question I have not been able to respond to though is how come it was so sudden and when the car was parked up for a couple of weeks? Ok one time, nothing the next. I've used the car sparingly, so it often sits unused for a couple of weeks.

[alexisn]

A pinhole on a condensor is all that is required

[996TT02]

alexisn said:

A pinhole on a condensor is all that is required

Exactly, in response to RiccardoG. Again, this is gas, not coolant.

I am not saying that it HAS to be the condensers. Just do not exclude them. A common failure.

Aircon guys should have handheld sensors that are highly sensitive and very useful in locating a leak.