Air conditioner comes and goes

Headutter · Post by **Headutter** » 23 Feb 2007, 10:25

I have a 2000 2.9 S80. the airconditioner works for a while, but especially in very hot weather it starts blowing hot air. I shut it down for about 5 minutes and it will cool again for a short period. I have almost 200K on it and I would like to hang on to it, but not if the repair is worth more than the car. Any ideas?

markm · Post by **markm** » 25 Feb 2007, 08:01

It sounds as if yoou have a low freon charge.

With low freon, the comressor will shut down due to low pressure in the system.

Headutter · Post by **Headutter** » 25 Feb 2007, 17:35

We have had that checked. The general consensus is it is leaking from the compressor and needs a new one. As I mentioned I don't want to spend good money after bad if this is a major expense for a car with 200,000 miles. Otherwise seems to run fine. Replaced the transmission a year ago.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 25 Feb 2007, 19:07

Headutter wrote:airconditioner works for a while, but especially in very hot weather it starts blowing hot air. I shut it down for about 5 minutes and it will cool again for a short period.

If it is leaking, the above would not happen. I would not get cool again. I also suspect a low amount of gas. It's easy to test- all tools are sold at your local autoparts store.

jakson200369 · Post by **jakson200369** » 04 Mar 2007, 09:25

Why not try a can of that oil - sealer - freon additive stuff, you can get it at any autozone.......... cost about $17. Stuff sure helped my truck.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 04 Mar 2007, 10:21

Problem with the sealer is that it does gunk up the system to a certain degree. If you ever have to evacuate the A/C system, many will not touch your car because it will gunk up their evacuation equipment. Best thing is to fix it right. However, over the years you do loose some gas anyway- I would just fill measure the PSI with the system running from the low port (the one visible near the radiator) with a gauge that they sell at any auto store (even Walmart) and see if it's low (the reason for your problem). If it is, add a can of gas (R-134A) and see if this brings your level up. Then see how long it take for it to get low again. On my S70 I suspect a leak at the evaporator- but it's small enough that I go a month before I have to add gas again. A $10 can of gas each month is much cheaper than $1200 evap replacement. I plan on continuing to do this until the leak is so bad that I have to replace major A/C components.

On a similar note- you could get the gas that has a dye in it...often these are sold in a kit with a black pen light and goggles so you can see the fluorescent dye where it leaks out. Run it for a day and then when it's dark, check all around in your engine bay and under your car to see if you see where the leak is. You might be lucky and it just be a fitting or 0-ring between hoses.

Good luck!