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  #16  
Old 04-07-2010, 04:56 PM
Lookin4SVX Lookin4SVX is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

This morning, right after running diagnoses thing:
I start car, temp reads 75 (i guess it goes here as default after running diag)
I lower it to 65, the fans switch from low to high speed and it was blowing cool air.

Today at lunch time, get in car, start it, temp is at 65 where iIleft it this morning. Outside temp is 93. Fan speed on low, blowing warm air. I didn't touch it just to see what would happen and it never changed. 10 min ride home, windows and sunroof open, fans never went above low speed.

Its odd, the heat worked great, its its auto ajust thing no issue, now that I want it cool or cold it just stays on low fan unless i hit the fan speed manually.

So once again i have to wonder, does the system default to low fan speed if there is no refrigerant AC coolant in the system?

Last edited by Lookin4SVX; 04-07-2010 at 05:01 PM.
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  #17  
Old 04-07-2010, 05:01 PM
1986nate 1986nate is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

No, it does not default to only low speed just because there is no coolant.
You say that when you got in the car the first time today, the temp setting was at 75 even though you left it at 65 the day before? This could be a problem with the CC unit itself. Or there may be other issues at play.
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  #18  
Old 04-07-2010, 05:11 PM
Lookin4SVX Lookin4SVX is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

I'm saying, It was at set 65, then i ran the diaganosis mode.
When starting the car for the first time after diagnosos mode, its temp was set at 75.
So i lowered it to 65, and the fans went on high.

In the afternoon it was still at 65 where i left it.
It is always where I leave it.
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  #19  
Old 04-07-2010, 05:12 PM
NiftySVX NiftySVX is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

Check the pressures in the system. Check to see if the compressor is running. the clutch should be on at all times if the blower is on and the switch is in auto If the diag shows all clear then it probably is low on refrigerant. The 92s have R-12 so you'll have to take it to someone who is certifed to dispense the cfc refrigerant. Don't attempt to put 134a in it.
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  #20  
Old 04-07-2010, 05:25 PM
Lookin4SVX Lookin4SVX is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

Previous owner had some issues with this too...
The car came with a free rebuilt AC compressor.
His mechanic said problem is not with AC compressor, so I inherited an AC compressor.

I have bought a spare used climate control unit ("controller amplifier").
I was going to use it to mess around with changing the interior lighting color. I guess I will see which one works better. Got it on ebay yesterday.

AC needs to be recharged, ill have them do while they have it at the shop next Monday. Car goes into the shop for:
Valve cover and Oil separator gaskets, new bolts, nuts washers.
Rebuilding both front calipers.
Replacing outer tie rod ends.
Replacing ball joints.

Parts arrived today from subaruparts.com.
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  #21  
Old 04-07-2010, 05:28 PM
Lookin4SVX Lookin4SVX is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

My airfilter box has some blue tag on it saying that the ac system has been retrofitted to something else.
It matters what type it is? shouldnt the shop guy know what to do with it?
IGot no clue when it comes to AC charging, not something I would ever attempt to do myself, so never bothered to read on it.
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  #22  
Old 04-07-2010, 06:35 PM
NiftySVX NiftySVX is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

Most people aren't smart enough/don't have the knowledge to work on this system, it is much more complicated than a run of the mill air conditioner in 90 percent of vehicles on the road. It is a simple system but few have experience with auto temp controls like this, especially one that uses a wobble plate compressor. It is very odd that there are no fault codes and the thing doesn't run if there is refrigerant in it, that leaves a relay or electrical problem. You will likely need to have the person working on it do some research on the way the system operates. If the refrigerant temperature or evaporator temperature sensor are abnormal it will cause the system to not be able to vary the compressor displacement and it will not run or run really poorly. The first thing I would do is replace all the o rings, remove the cooler box and replace the evaporator sensor with the new part (updated in the 90s) and remove the resistor for it. Any failure of these sensors will cause the control unit to turn the fan down to low and shut the compressor off. The sensor must be relocated to the evaporator and not suspended in front of it as it will be now. This was done to improve cooling performance in certain in cabin temps. The 134a conversion will destroy the system in time and isn't the proper fix, however at this point the proper fix would likely approach the value of the car.

The resistance of the two sensors needs to be tested.

The pressures and volume need to be evaluated*

The evaporator sensor needs to be relocated and replaced.

*If you decide to continue to use 134a refrigerant then any charge amount is a guess and 134a is very dependent on the precise volume. This will have a negative effect on performance. Removal of the retrofit kit and replacement of the receiver/dryer and all o rings is reccomended.

Tell whoever works on it that if the compressor EVER i repeat EVER cycles off when in auto then it is not working correctly.
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  #23  
Old 04-07-2010, 07:00 PM
Lookin4SVX Lookin4SVX is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

It may have no refrigerant in it at all. I do not know.

As far as switching back to r-12 or what not, wasn't that phased out or something and that's why its switched over to 134a?

What do you mean by the conversion will destroy my system?

Its been converted, don't know how long, maybe its destroyed?
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  #24  
Old 04-07-2010, 07:08 PM
NiftySVX NiftySVX is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

No what happened is they taxed the cfc-12. It is still readily available. It is expensive to the average consumer though. the oil in 134a is not compatible with the oil in r-12. Also, the dessicant is not compatible with 134a and it will dissolve it. If it has already been converted the damage is probably done, i wouldn't worry. But make sure you tell whoever works on it that the evaporator temp sensor and refrigerant temperature, if out of range or reading incorrectly, will shut down the compressor.
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  #25  
Old 04-07-2010, 07:10 PM
Lookin4SVX Lookin4SVX is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

"make sure you tell whoever works on it that the evaporator temp sensor and refrigerant temperature, if out of range or reading incorrectly, will shut down the compressor."

Added to AC Info notepad.
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  #26  
Old 06-09-2010, 07:27 PM
Lookin4SVX Lookin4SVX is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

Update:

Mechanic hooked it to machine, it cannot detect leak.

Recharged AC system. It works now.

Added die so that we may find the leak if it leaks in the future.

will see how long it holds.
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  #27  
Old 06-14-2010, 04:26 PM
SoobCrazy SoobCrazy is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

I've checked for trouble codes in the HVAC system and got nothing. My A/C compressor engages without any scary noises and when the system was running, the low-pressure lines were cold to the touch.

I bought one of O'Rielly's recharge kits, but when I hooked it up, it said the system had roughly the appropriate charge for the ambient pressure.

When the A/C is on, the air blown into the cabin is hot, just like the guy who started this thread.

Why isn't cold air reaching the cabin?
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  #28  
Old 06-16-2010, 10:18 AM
SoobCrazy SoobCrazy is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

Bump for advice.
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  #29  
Old 06-16-2010, 11:05 AM
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bwb3 bwb3 is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

When that happened to me Soobcrazy, it was the air mix door/motor under the passenger's side dash, by the console. The nylon gears in the motor were worn and the door flap was stuck on the heater air.
Gene
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  #30  
Old 06-16-2010, 06:35 PM
SoobCrazy SoobCrazy is offline
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Re: Air Conditioning???

Quote:
Originally Posted by bwb3 View Post
The nylon gears in the motor were worn and the door flap was stuck on the heater air.
Gene
That didn't throw a code in your HVAC? How would I go about checking this?
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