I am looking for some advice for the barely competent on how to diagnose an Air Conditioner issue.

Wife borrow car yesterday, says its blowing hot air only. I hear nothing but what I think to be a relay under the hood when the Auto button on the auto climate control is hit. The fan winds up.. it reads auto on the screen, so I know it knows I hit the button.

But, there is no clunk under the hood of the compressor coming on. I checked the obvious 7.5 A fuses both under the dash and under the hood.. swapped the relay for the fog lights vs the AC (front passenger set of relays). and fog lights still work.. no A/C.

If it were merely out of refrigerant, would it still kick in ? I ran it a week or so ago without issue.

Where should I start to look for what is THE issue.

Thanks

Hot black maxima baking in sun

 

if there is not enough refrigerant in the system, it will keep the compressor from turning on to protect it from damage.

after having mine recharged, it all leaked out in two weeks due to a crack in the condenser that i still need to fix

 

Tried to recharge today... at least the compressor kicks in now.. but... can hear (heard) refrigerant hissing out of a leak in a corner of the evaporator in the front.. to tomorrow I take it to a place to check out what they say...Looks like it could be a fitting in the lower corner on the driver side....hoping its something simple.

 

Put some dye in the R134a and recharge the AC again then you will know exactly where it leaks.

 

Repair shop says I need a new condensor.. which was my guess (I called it evaporator).. and charged me $50 , 1 hour to tell me that.. insane.. anyway.. Is this a do it yourself job if done with some competent help ? Priced part at $280 ( only place I found a part for more than that was at the dealer for $340).. $99 for the ac service (more than a couple cans of 134a ? ) and 1.5 hours labor...

Is this rocket science ? Hard to get to without taking other stuff apart that I will be woefully unqualified to do ?

Appreciate advice (oh and after they charged me their 1 hour of labor and I drive off, my engine check light is on.. coincidence ? )

Steve

 

Read out the check engine codes.. to be 0705 - EVAP Control System and 0401, intake air temp sensor..

What did these guys do to my car in the few hours they had it ? Is any of this related to them checking out my condensor or the fact that the AC system is currently depressurized due to the leak ? Could they have unplugged something (re the intake air temp sensor anyway)... ?

 

oddly enough mine came up with 0401 today too.

 

So.. does anyone have a clear set of instructions on how to replace the condensor (and probably the receiver/dryer ) ? I have to do mine.

 

Check out Haynes manual at your favorite auto parts store...it has most everything in there and great for the $20 you'll spend on it if you ever plan to do anything else on your car.

 

to replace your condenser you have to take out the radiator - pretty easy, drain it then unhook the coolant lines, and if your auto, unhook your auto cooler lines.
the ac condenser is in front of that, just have to unhook the two lines then there are a couple things holding the condenser in.

and yea the haynes manual covers it all pretty well.

 

guy i talked to said that he thought I could get it out by just unhitching the radiator from rubber mounts at the top and pushing it towards the engine.. to gain enough clearance to get the condensor out.

Is that wishfull thinking that just won't work in this case ?

Haynes vs Chilton..Preference ?