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Today I did some extensive driving in the heat and discovered a new characteristic of my ailing air-conditioning system. Right out of the garage it started out working great as usual. Then within 10 minutes I began smelling the humid odor that signals the compressor was turned off. It cycled on and off for a short times but not enough to keep the cabin anywhere near comfortable. From my aerospace days I recalled that sometimes we would cycle the power to a system and it would come back into operation when it was turned back on. So I shut down the AC for about 15 seconds and turned it back on. The AC came back up and started cooling again. I don't think it was operating at 100%, but it was livable and even cool (the outside temperature was running in the mid 90's.) It continued cooling until I reached my destination about 20 minutes later. On the way home it shut-down again about 8 minutes into the trip and a 15 second shutdown cleared it up again.
When I got home I ran the self-test and it returned codes 13 and 14 (Sun Load Sensor & Evaporator Sensor, both open-circuit.) Tonight while looking in SVXIpedia under the section "How to Check Climate Control Trouble Codes" (this link) there is a statement that I don't think I understand. It says, "Anytime codes 13, 33, 34 or 35 are displayed, the condition is one which is currently occurring." I don't know if I understand for sure what this means. Does it mean that if the Sun Load Sensor fails and then starts working again it won't show a code 13 in the memory? Since we are all reading code 13 I was wondering if this has any significance. - Jim
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- Jim '02 Outback - Wife's car '96 Legacy Wagon - Son's car '95 Legacy Sedan - #5 Daughter's car '93 Impreza Sedan - #4 Daughter's car '92 Claret LS-L - My car ____________ TOTAL = 595,000 Subi miles |
#17
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#19
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I'll report back what I find. |
#20
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What is the Trinary switch? Is that the switch inline with the condenser under the hood below the right hand headlamp? I'm looking it up on www.subaryparts.com but can't find it. Now, I said that I was going to be doing some tests and wouldnt stop until I found the problem. I got the under dash sensors Friday from a car in the salvage yard. Replaced them and still the same problem. That leads me to believe that my problem is with the sensor that is in the tube that comes from the condenser (High pressure switch?) It seems that the only way to get this sensor is to buy part#73431(I).which is (Pipe-Condenser-Liquid Tank). Anyone have this problem before?
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#21
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When I described the way our AC's are behaving, a couple of automotive HVAC guys I know both said it sounded like the high pres switch, so this sounds promising. |
#22
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I've noticed similar behavior. Infrequently after running the AC for an extended period of time on days when the ambient temperature is only moderately warm, the AC will shut down briefly. Cycling the system by turning it off and waiting does work, but only briefly. It's not particularly bothersome because it only happens when I don't really need the AC anyway.
Another situation I just noticed is that the AC shuts down when the engine gets a little too warm. I was pushing my motor really, really hard the other day with the AC blasting. When the temperature gauge began to climb, the AC shut down. (Followed by the transmission locking up the torque converter at all times in both third and fourth gear and holding gears as long as possible.) Anyway, once the engine cooled down, the AC came back on. What I noticed was that there's a gap between the AC turning off and the transmission going into "damn it's hot" mode. I think a thermostat that was about five or ten degrees too hot would prevent the AC from working without freaking out the TCU. The needle on my temperature gauge rests very stable at the nine-o'clock position. At about nine-thirty, the AC quits. |
#23
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Another cause for sporadic A/C is moisture in the system. If you haven't then now would be a good time to convert to R134. A replacement dryer is strongly recommended even if not converting.
Definately the system should be evacuated, vacuumed, checked for leaks and recharged.
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David B. SVXipedia @ SVX-IW.COM -- SVX Information Warehouse 2.0 coming...eventually! Ebony 1992 SVX LS-L 5 spd Koni/GC Stebro 187k miles RIP (Rust In Pieces) 1993 SVX 5 spd Koni/GC Stebro Polyurethane bushings still available! |
#24
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Generally speaking two issues create a large number of error codes in any system - defective control units and circuit/power deficiencies/oddities. Now you have to take that statement with a grain of salt and a grin. An intermittent issue can cause a power/circuit issue that wasn't intentionally designed to occur. Difficult to write a tech manual around "What can happen if something weird occurs:..." And then obviously if a control unit begins going south all bets are off on what codes will be spit out. The point of the informational sentence is, "We don't have a friggin' clue, we didn't design the system to have this problem. Make your best guess by following what the actual problem is and don't chase wild geese trying to fix a code that doesn't represent the actual symptom(s)." Welcome to my world.
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ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician w/L1. ASE Certified Master Medium/Heavy Truck Technician. Certified EVT (Emergency Vehicle Technician) |
#25
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We had systems that would spit out 10 or 15 trouble codes at the same time. Experienced technicians could look at the group and see the pattern that told them where the single failure was. We tried to develop an Artificial Intelligence system that the "Customer's" Maintainers could use to fix these troublesome jets. It was never able to duplicate the logic that our technicians had in their brains. I'll go back to making my best guess without throwing a lot of money at it. Thanks for your help. - Jim
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- Jim '02 Outback - Wife's car '96 Legacy Wagon - Son's car '95 Legacy Sedan - #5 Daughter's car '93 Impreza Sedan - #4 Daughter's car '92 Claret LS-L - My car ____________ TOTAL = 595,000 Subi miles |
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Re: Climate Control Problem
I have exact same thing, did some search and really hate to dig up this old thread, but did anybody solve this problem???
Thanks Quote:
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94 Bordeaux Pearl SVX Lsi B&M cooler with Aux ATF filter. QC Kit Plus 06 Sti Gold Wheels. SOLD 92 Claret WRX 5 speed ECUTune 1AV1 Gold STI Wheels & more. SOLD 92 Teal SVX LSL lowered with Konig. SOLD 92 Black SVX LSL with B&M cooler & Aux filter. Small Car Shift Kit. Gone 94 Red SVX L FWDwith LSL Leather Interior. SOLD 92 Teal SVX LSL....with B&M cooler & Aux filter. Small Car Shift Kit. SOLD 95 Polo Green........With Trany Problem. GONE Almost complete Rear Wheel Bearings Job with Pictures in my locker My Locker http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/user.php?pearlm30 |
#27
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Re: Climate Control Problem
having the same problem, is our A/C an R-134 unit?
*I've answered my own question, ignore the post lol
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Jordan 1992 SVX LS-L 126,xxx Sold 1990 Non-Turbo 300zx 127,xxx 1991 Non-Turbo MR2 214,xxx, replaced engine at 190,xxx Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny... Last edited by BeneathNorthernSkys; 09-04-2008 at 04:11 PM. |
#28
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Re: Climate Control Problem
Just an update
Looks like I fixed the problem. I swaped out the evap unit (with a known good 92 )under the glove compartment, thinking it could be the partially clogged expansion valve. Vacuum the system and put in 2 can of R134 (24 oz) and it keep blowing cold and didnt cut out like before. Drove it for over 50 miles at about 94F hot and humid weather and not a problem. Hopefully this thread will help out someone in the future.
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94 Bordeaux Pearl SVX Lsi B&M cooler with Aux ATF filter. QC Kit Plus 06 Sti Gold Wheels. SOLD 92 Claret WRX 5 speed ECUTune 1AV1 Gold STI Wheels & more. SOLD 92 Teal SVX LSL lowered with Konig. SOLD 92 Black SVX LSL with B&M cooler & Aux filter. Small Car Shift Kit. Gone 94 Red SVX L FWDwith LSL Leather Interior. SOLD 92 Teal SVX LSL....with B&M cooler & Aux filter. Small Car Shift Kit. SOLD 95 Polo Green........With Trany Problem. GONE Almost complete Rear Wheel Bearings Job with Pictures in my locker My Locker http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/user.php?pearlm30 |
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