Help! Grumbling A/C on 997.1

[Gixer968CS]

Hi All,

This is the second ask on this subject as I now have more info. I have a 2006 911 (997) C2S and the A/C has an issue, I just don't know what and before I splash some cash I wondered if anyone might know the answer:

The a/c is chilling a little (e.g. does get the vented air cooler than the car's ambient temperature), but does not get "cold". It used to be like a meat locker in there with the air on full chat, but not now. When I run the a/c (i.e. turn the fan on in the car) after a few minutes I get a kind of whining or groaning noise from the back of the dashboard/bulkhead area of the car. As if something is labouring under there. It's quite noticeable. As far as I'm aware there isn't anything mechanical to do with the a/c in that area of the car. Also, you can definitely hear a kind of whoosing/slooshing sound through the vents with the a/c on. I've checked in the back and the compressor engages and disengages as it should and is not noisy.

Any ideas before I go and splash £60+ on a recharge/leak test?

Thanks

[Discombobulate]

Low gas. Probably a hole in your condenser(s). You can ask for a fill with dye to confirm, but a simple look for oil stains on the condensers at the front should spot the problem. Replace both (with new O rings), fit a new receiver/ drier and then get it charged. Don't waste £60 if the leak is obvious.

[ArchiesDad]

Yep basically what he said, I wasted £90 having my leak diagnosed and as far as they were concerned it held gas ! For 2 days then stopped working, my condensers had black stains on them.

I changed Mine myself as it’s not a difficult job, Fitted the drier and also new grilles on the front to stop leaves and tab ends and a bird skeleton entering the front again .

All parts can be had on line and the Behr Hella condensers come with O rings,

[jonno_]

As above. Low gas.
Leaking somewhere - condensers or perhaps refrigerant pipes would be my educated guess.

If you've not already done so, and need to fit new condensers, stick some mesh on the front PU.

[churchie2856]

Once you’ve had the condensers replaced (the likely fix), make up some grills, like these: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... ... scroll through that topic for pics of my 997 ones.

Edited by churchie2856 on Wednesday 8th July 17:52

[brownspeed]

Theres plenty of how-to videos on you tube for replacing the condensers; i've recently done mine. The hardest part is disconnecting the electrical connectors in order to fully remove the front. Its not difficult- (I reckon I could get the front off in about 30 minutes now i know how)
I sourced replacement pair for mine from https://www.tamesideradiators.co.uk for <£100 for the pair with o -rings. Change out the drier (next to the battery) while you have the system open.

[Gixer968CS]

Thanks everyone. I'm pretty confident I can change out the condensers myself. Design911 will sell me the pair (made by Hella), with o-rings and a drier for c£200. My issue is being sure that the condensers are the problem. Obviously I need a leak test done so I can be sure where the leak is. Halfords and Kwik-Fit do free leak tests, but people here and other places are saying they're not very good - i.e. people being told there is no leak, having the gas topped up, only for it to leak out again a few days later. Who do I trust to do the leak test properly? I live in Kent (Sevenoaks)

[ArchiesDad]

I used a Mobile Tech to re fill mine, He does private jets, Combine harvesters cars Yachts and everything inbetween, i asked if he could find my leak and basically insuted him.

I could see my condensers had damp patches so that was was the dead give away for me, even if they werent leaking before when they were pressurised they soon would be. I took the front bumper off and i'm not mechanically minded. The hardest bit for me was getting the metal spring off the back behind the headlamp bit, I threaded Paracord thro tied it in a knot and yanked it towards me, the bent coat hook thig was difficult. once of everything is there to see.

Hoover the fronts of the rads, i had dead birds, tab ends and a lollipop stick and a ton of dry leaves stuck up at the top,You ill need some PAG Oil to wet the O rings that go in the new condensers, i fitted new M8X30 stainless bolts as they felt a bit soft when extracted, these bolt the brackets to the rads. The drier requires X2 little O rings from the Dealer, dont use the old ones they were likely there from new and when i looked at mine thro a magnifying glass they were cracked and perished.

The hard bit is yet to come, the bumper goes back on really easy, the metal clips went on easy with a quick squirt of GT85, the screws that go in the side indicator appeture have a head that is twice the size of the hole, you will have noticed this when unscrewing it as it will have dropped inside the bumper, easily retrieved once the bumper is off.

Thats about it, enjoyed doing mine and had that sense of achivement once i'd done it, mainly thro saving money on labour.

I bought the Condensers and the drier from Car Parts4Less with a bank holiday weekend sale the % off was worth the wait, i bought the Behr Hella ones as they come with O rings, The drier didn't.

I rang the bloke to come out and do a leak test after, he said.... OH NO Leaks, do you want it filling ?
£60.....

It's working now !