987.1 how good is your air con?
Discussion
I have owned my 07 cayman s for 2 years and in that time the air con has always been very disappointing. I have had it regassed many times and it improves marginally (also checked for leaks) but it never seems to be able to blow really cold. I was in a Citroen van the other day and in contrast it was easily able to replicate fridge like temps. So is the cayman system just generally crap like various other bits of the car or should I consider looking at putting it in for some diagnosis?
PR36 said:
I have owned my 07 cayman s for 2 years and in that time the air con has always been very disappointing. I have had it regassed many times and it improves marginally (also checked for leaks) but it never seems to be able to blow really cold. I was in a Citroen van the other day and in contrast it was easily able to replicate fridge like temps. So is the cayman system just generally crap like various other bits of the car or should I consider looking at putting it in for some diagnosis?
For earlier models my experience is the A/C system is very good. I didn't have my 2008 Cayman S very long -- just 4 weeks -- but the short time I had with it the A/C system was just fine is my recollection.There is a test -- it is in the factory manual -- that given an ambient air temp what the center vent air temp should be.
I have the test (graphs/charts) for the older models, for instance my 2002 Boxster, and the 996 NA and 996 Turbo models, but not the newer cars. I suspect the test is dare I say it? the same.
If the system is really underperforming then you need to have the system checked out. It is probably not a refrigerant problem. If you have the auto climate system -- both of my cars have this -- the A/C controller may have some codes that will help the tech pinpoint what is wrong. The manual system might even have a controller that can supply codes, too. I'm less familiar with that system, though.
A quick test you can do: Start the engine and let it idle. Turn on the A/C. Check that both radiator fans come on and both blow the same amount of air out. Now I have to tell you that even though a radiator fan in my 996 Turbo failed -- the shaft broke -- the auto climate A/C system worked just fine -- this in 90F+ heat in the central valley of CA. It was not the A/C's performance or even the coolant temperature that clued me in the fan was not working but the fan noise was different and different enough I got out and found the passenger side fan was not blowing any air at all.
Another test would be to with the A/C off drive the car around until the engine is fully up to temperature. You know this by the fact the radiator fans (at least one) come on.
Back home in your driveway raise the RPMs to say 1K and hold until you or a helper note the fans come on.
With the engine at idle then check both fans are blowing the same amount of *hot* air. In the case of my 996 Turbo -- a different time -- the driver side fan was running but barely blowing any air out. The motor (or something) was drawing a lot more current than the other side but not blowing anywhere near the same amount of air. I had the fan motor replaced.
The fans should run until the coolant temperature drops and then shut off together.
Rockster said:
For earlier models my experience is the A/C system is very good. I didn't have my 2008 Cayman S very long -- just 4 weeks -- but the short time I had with it the A/C system was just fine is my recollection.
There is a test -- it is in the factory manual -- that given an ambient air temp what the center vent air temp should be.
I have the test (graphs/charts) for the older models, for instance my 2002 Boxster, and the 996 NA and 996 Turbo models, but not the newer cars. I suspect the test is dare I say it? the same.
If the system is really underperforming then you need to have the system checked out. It is probably not a refrigerant problem. If you have the auto climate system -- both of my cars have this -- the A/C controller may have some codes that will help the tech pinpoint what is wrong. The manual system might even have a controller that can supply codes, too. I'm less familiar with that system, though.
A quick test you can do: Start the engine and let it idle. Turn on the A/C. Check that both radiator fans come on and both blow the same amount of air out. Now I have to tell you that even though a radiator fan in my 996 Turbo failed -- the shaft broke -- the auto climate A/C system worked just fine -- this in 90F+ heat in the central valley of CA. It was not the A/C's performance or even the coolant temperature that clued me in the fan was not working but the fan noise was different and different enough I got out and found the passenger side fan was not blowing any air at all.
Another test would be to with the A/C off drive the car around until the engine is fully up to temperature. You know this by the fact the radiator fans (at least one) come on.
Back home in your driveway raise the RPMs to say 1K and hold until you or a helper note the fans come on.
With the engine at idle then check both fans are blowing the same amount of *hot* air. In the case of my 996 Turbo -- a different time -- the driver side fan was running but barely blowing any air out. The motor (or something) was drawing a lot more current than the other side but not blowing anywhere near the same amount of air. I had the fan motor replaced.
The fans should run until the coolant temperature drops and then shut off together.
Thanks for taking the time to respond, will have a look tomorrow and see.There is a test -- it is in the factory manual -- that given an ambient air temp what the center vent air temp should be.
I have the test (graphs/charts) for the older models, for instance my 2002 Boxster, and the 996 NA and 996 Turbo models, but not the newer cars. I suspect the test is dare I say it? the same.
If the system is really underperforming then you need to have the system checked out. It is probably not a refrigerant problem. If you have the auto climate system -- both of my cars have this -- the A/C controller may have some codes that will help the tech pinpoint what is wrong. The manual system might even have a controller that can supply codes, too. I'm less familiar with that system, though.
A quick test you can do: Start the engine and let it idle. Turn on the A/C. Check that both radiator fans come on and both blow the same amount of air out. Now I have to tell you that even though a radiator fan in my 996 Turbo failed -- the shaft broke -- the auto climate A/C system worked just fine -- this in 90F+ heat in the central valley of CA. It was not the A/C's performance or even the coolant temperature that clued me in the fan was not working but the fan noise was different and different enough I got out and found the passenger side fan was not blowing any air at all.
Another test would be to with the A/C off drive the car around until the engine is fully up to temperature. You know this by the fact the radiator fans (at least one) come on.
Back home in your driveway raise the RPMs to say 1K and hold until you or a helper note the fans come on.
With the engine at idle then check both fans are blowing the same amount of *hot* air. In the case of my 996 Turbo -- a different time -- the driver side fan was running but barely blowing any air out. The motor (or something) was drawing a lot more current than the other side but not blowing anywhere near the same amount of air. I had the fan motor replaced.
The fans should run until the coolant temperature drops and then shut off together.
There's a leak somewhere as it should be very cold and not need re-gassing all the time. Mine let go on one of the two flexi-pipes that go to the pump in the engine (a proper s
t to replace and expensive...). It's also common for the condensers to rot and need swapping. Sadly, one way or another it'll cost to get it sorted properly.
t to replace and expensive...). It's also common for the condensers to rot and need swapping. Sadly, one way or another it'll cost to get it sorted properly.I had the need to use the a/c last week (987.1 Cayman S) and kept putting the tempo down more and more as I realised that it probably needed re-gassing. Some time later I realised that the AC button was pushed which, in fact, turns the AC off! I felt like a bit of a numptie so luckily I was by myself in the car. I know! It may be worth checking that it is actually on (if you are anything like me!).
Gassing Station | Boxster/Cayman | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff