94 850 NA Ac weirdness and window problems

pmonk · Post by **pmonk** » 28 Feb 2007, 19:35

First, let me say this, I love my car. But when things get strange they do it at the same time. This time, I am having some strange problems with the AC. I have an Automatic system, and it doesn't cool more frequently than it does. Some times it is not working at all and other times it is cold as ice. I know I have some issues with the temp sensors in the grab handles, and am working on them, but was wondering what else might be wrong. I may just be low on coolant. Last year at this time I put in $1k for a compressor because the dealer told me (along with some other mechanics) that my compressor was out. It was, I know that, but now it is not working again. Really sick of it honestly. Next, I got my window busted out by a street sweeper (f'ing city wouldn't pay either) and the replacement has slipped out of the guides or whatever, and if it goes down all the way it will basically go down sideways and be all screwed up. I was wondering how hard a DIY would be on that to set it straight. Finally, my radiator is leaking a tiny bit, only enough to set off the light every 3 months or so. How cheap can this be. I am a high school teacher with 3 mouths to feed and am looking for any cheap way to make things work and if I do have to pay someone to do it I want to make sure I don't over pay. Any advice is appreciated.

CarVolvo · Post by **CarVolvo** » 28 Feb 2007, 19:47

you have a obd for this a/c system so why not use it to find the problem codes.

As far as the window.. can you take a pic of it .. im really not sure if your saying that the regulator.. mechanicals are busted or the connection to the window is broken?

This should be an easy fix once you diagnose it.. either one of the clips have come off or the regulator is broken. If you can take a pic.

Where is your radiator leaking? They usually go on the plastic sides.. if its gone on the rods...you might be able to get that welded without removign the unit.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 28 Feb 2007, 19:56

A few issues going on but let

pmonk · Post by **pmonk** » 28 Feb 2007, 20:59

I know the temp sensors will come up with a code, but I don't have flashing lights on the unit. I will have to wait till tomorrow to get them all from B1 but I got the ones that indicate the temp sensors a little earlier.

The radiator seems to be very slowly leaking (no liquid visible, just white leftovers) on the front passenger side of the radiator, possibly the plastic part you are talking about. So I guess that means it is on its way out. That is what someone told me, but they were no specialist so I was hoping to hear some sort of alternative answer.

As far as I can tell, the window is fine, just comes out of alignment or something. It may be these clips you speak of. It goes up and down fine, but about half way the front part keeps going and the back part starts to tilt forward and screw up. I figure it is something left over from the smashing by the sweeper, but it worked fine up till a week ago. It is up at the moment though so I know it is a different issue than the AC

I am just hoping for the best I guess, since my wife totaled the only other vehicle we had this past weekend, a borrowed truck from her family. Nobody was hurt, but that is the kind of phone call you don't like to make. Trouble never comes alone I guess.

pmonk · Post by **pmonk** » 07 Mar 2007, 18:58

Well, I finally had time to get the codes from b1, which are 414 and 417 which are the respective cabin temp sensors seized / shorted or something if I am reading it right. I still don't get dash lights. My AC pretty much quit working, except when I am moving, and it may just be ambient cool air at that. I hear the compressor cycling, rather quickly, like 3 second intervals or something.but no real cool air comes out. Maybe it needs coolant or something, I don't know. I just hate the ECC on these cars. I hope the temp sensors have that much to do with the problem and it isn't another $1000 project. The window I think is out of the clip or something or it snags on something when you try to roll it down. I hear something rattle a bit when I close the door hard.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 07 Mar 2007, 19:37

On your 4-1-4 and 4-1-7 codes. The fans are often repairable. They are located above the grab bars, just above the doors, on the drivers side and passengers side of the car. Pull the grab bars and then the blowers and clean all of the dust and crud that has accumulated and give the bearings a shot of oil. They will often come back to life. Be sure to mop up the oil so as to not stain the headliner.

The dash lights I'm betting dollars to donuts that the problem lies in the rheostat dimmer if everything went all at once. Does the radio light up? It could be that the lamps on the dash are all burned out if the radio and the climate control do light up. If you have no lights on the dash lights, and the radio, and the climate control, pull the dimmer and see if you have any resistance between the leads.

Also check fuse number 35. Does your sunroof work? The instrument panel and the sunroof are on the same fuse. If the sunroof does not work, start there.

Your description of the AC compressor cycling at short intervals is indicative of low Freon pressure. Go to the local Autozone/Oreilly's/Advance/Whatever Auto parts store and pick up a can of R-134A and a Freon filler adapter hose. I actually bought a can of the stuff that costs an extra dollar with "stop leak" and it worked on my Jeep.

Dump in Freon until the compressor stays on and then add some more until it just stays on while revving the motor. If you are not comfortable doing that, the Jiffy Lube types will evacuate your system and recharge it to factory specs for well under $100.00.

I have not had any window problems so I'm as worthless as tits on a boar in that regard. I've seen a lot of posts where the bottom rail comes loose or breaks but it seems that it is fairly easy to fix from what I read.

Best of luck,

...Lee

pmonk · Post by **pmonk** » 07 Mar 2007, 20:28

Hey, thats pretty helpful stuff! I will try the can of recharge stuff before I blow more money I don't have. It doesn't sound too hard. When I said lights, I guess I meant to say error code lights on the AC head unit, but now that you mention it, I do have several lights out on the radio and one near the fuel gauge, I will try to check them. I have seen a how to on that subject on here. That window is a real pain. I think it must be something hooked to the bottom, the rail or whatever, it just keeps pulling the front and yanks it out of alignment if you don't grab it and stop it, and it still won't go all the way down. I got screwed by Houston / Harris County on that one (nobody could tell me anything about a sweeper on the feeder road and I couldn't read their grimy plate through my freshly busted window) and I had to go with the only people in town who had the right glass and feel like the job could have been done a little better. It lasted good about 9 months but now is screwing up and I am near flat broke.

pmonk · Post by **pmonk** » 10 Mar 2007, 14:55

*update*

I filled up the ac with 134a and it seems colder right now. I hope it lasts. We are fixin' to go on a little trip to visit family and we will find out I guess. It wasn't too hard, just hard to get the compressor to stay on in order to get it to fill up. I basically had to turn the sucker on and jump up there and start squirting it in right away to keep it running. It is 92 or so in the sun right now, and I have black leather so I am sure hoping this works. I have the week off and am going to see about those temp sensors and that window. Thanks for all the help!

-p

pmonk · Post by **pmonk** » 12 Mar 2007, 10:15

*another update*

Sorry to post so much in this thread, I just want to document everything in case somebody else has the same issue somewhere down the line.

Anyway, The ac works great and cold for a while, and then it gets kind of humid and feels like just the fan is blowing. Sure enough, I pull over the car, and the hose that is usually cold and covered with condensation is dry and not cold. I think this means that the compressor has stopped cycling and is just off. I have been testing this for a few days. When I first turn on the car and run the ac for a while it is definately cooling, and the line is cold, but somewhere along the way it must be stopping.

If it stopps raining I will get in there and work on the temp sensors and jumper the compressor to see how long it will run, to check if it is locking up (probably not or why would it unlock after a while right? plus the thing is only a year old)

Any Ideas what is causing this?

Some things I am considering:

1. Bad ECC head unit?
2. Mysterious collapsing hose (read about that on here somewhere, don't even know where to start on that, but I will be crawling around looking)
3. Temp sensors have that big an impact? (hope to resolve this myself later today)
4. More coolant (how much can I stuff in there? I am afraid that sucker will blow up or something)
5. Who knows what (probably something I have to throw over $1k at)

Sorry for the long post.

pmonk · Post by **pmonk** » 12 Mar 2007, 11:14

*results from today's testing*

Ok, now:

1. The temp sensors all work (supposedly) and are throwing no codes.
2. I put in as much coolant as it will take.
3. I jumpered the compressor and could hear it click and engage, and my wife could feel ice cold air come out.

Here is where the problem arises. No matter what, jumpered or not, the compressor seems to cut out.

When I jumpered it, testing it, after a few times, I would no longer here the "click". I would see a spark, and hear the engine drag from my jumpering action, but no click and no cold air. I take it to mean that the problem is in the compressor. The reason this angers me so, is that it is the exact same thing that happened last year and the dealer and others said the compressor was gone. It was replaced with new dealer parts.

What are the odds of a compressor failing like this less than a year after the other. Is it the clutch? Is this a symptom of something else? I feel like I am missing something. Why does it "loosen up" and start working again after not running the ac for a while or turning the car off. Of all the cars I have ever had, this is the most troublesome ac I have ever had, and that is saying alot, because I once had an 84 caddy fleetwood with ECC, and it wasn't this bad. It makes me miss my old Geo, with hot or ice cold.

I must be missing something...