Please help me fix the air conditioning in my car

[Matthew]

1995 9000 CSE 2.0 NA.

Background: when car with previous owner, the compressor seized. PO fitted short belt and ran it like that for at least 1 year, probably longer. Air con thus not used in that time and system was empty of refrigerant.

I fitted a known working second-hand compressor, fitted new long belt, had the system professionally pressure tested (no leaks) and gassed. Worked fine for a few weeks and then over one weekend it stopped working.

• The system has gas, I checked by pressing the Schrader valve on the compressor and gas came out
• The compressor's clutch is engaging normally
• The receiver's sight glass is clear with no bubbles
• When the ACC is set to Auto and 17° the short metal pipe from compressor to condensor is very hot
• Ambient temperature air comes out of the vents

Important point: the air con ceased to work after the car's battery had been disconnected for one weekend. I was changing the steering wheel and left the SRS system to discharge.

That's as much information as I can give you. I hope it's enough to get some help with this. I really need air con this time of year. Please help!

[klarking1075]

Originally Posted by Matthew

1995 9000 CSE 2.0 NA.

Background: when car with previous owner, the compressor seized. PO fitted short belt and ran it like that for at least 1 year, probably longer. Air con thus not used in that time.

I fitted a known working second-hand compressor, fitted new long belt, had the system professionally pressure tested (no leaks) and gassed. Worked fine for a few weeks and then over one weekend it stopped working.

• The system has gas, I checked by pressing the Schrader valve on the compressor and gas came out
• The compressor's clutch is engaging normally
• The receiver's sight glass is clear with no bubbles
• When the ACC is set to Auto and 17° the short metal pipe from compressor to condensor is very hot
• Ambient temperature air comes out of the vents

Important point: the air con ceased to work after the car's battery had been disconnected for one weekend. I was changing the steering wheel and left the SRS system to discharge.

That's as much information as I can give you. I hope it's enough to get some help with this. I really need air con this time of year. Please help!

Obvious, I know, but you have calibrated the ACC system haven't you?

Auto and <---> until it shows the code.

Kenneth

[Matthew]

Good point... yes I did calibrate the ACC.

Just been out to try the calibration again (several times!). Calibration process executed fully with zero faults. Air con still pumps in ambient air.

Just found this on good old Quasimotorsp for systems where there is no cold air yet the compressor's engaging:

Originally Posted by Quasimotors

• temperature mix flap problem
• Broken temp mix flap arm/disconnected control wire
• Binding/worn/misaligned temp mix flaps
• Bad temp mix flap control motor

Thoughts?

[microcat36]

have you had a look in the aquarium to see if the arm moves when you go up and down the temp range.

[Matthew]

LOL you're gonna have to explain that one Aquarium?!

EDIT: That's hilarious Whoever coined the name "aquarium" for the area between the bulkhead and the false-bulkhead? A search for "aquarium" showed 56 results!!

[microcat36]

Do a search, i thought everyone knew what the aquarium was , its the space under the cover where the wiper motor, heater motor,ECU etc is, have a look and see if the spring washer has come of the temp flap rod or the flap arm has broken, it's the one in the picture.

[microcat36]

I must learn to type quicker .

[Matthew]

Originally Posted by microcat36

I must learn to type quicker .

Apparently, I never sleep

[microcat36]

, your cheating, you have more fingers to type with than i have

[Matthew]

Well I do type for a living (programmer) so I probably have an advantage anyway! Still, for typing I only use one finger plus thumb on left-hand, and two fingers plus thumb on right-hand! You must have more left than that!!

[ragtopcav]

Originally Posted by microcat36

, your cheating, you have more fingers to type with than i have

Time for voice activated software?

A nieghbour's child with the worst dyslexia I've ever known, he has the software on his PC; he can do some school homework with it.

[Matthew]

The Opera web browser now supports voice commands

Originally Posted by ragtopcav

A nieghbour's child with the worst dyslexia

Please tell me that was irony

[microcat36]

I only have the thumb on the left hand, no feeling in the right, i just keep on loosing them, as my wife says, i am not going to divorce her, i am just leaving her bit by bit.

[Matthew]

Hunt and peck typing then!

[ragtopcav]

Originally Posted by Matthew

Please tell me that was irony

No, that was me being as dense as usually is.

Aircon; [I suppose we must go back to topic ] I recently lost a refilled system that pressure tested OK. It turned out [using the WIS for the 900 as my diagnostic guide] that my pressure switch appears to have failed ; so, the aircon company have got to remove the freon they sold me so i can swap the part and then they can sell it back.

[Matthew]

I really should have done the job properly and replaced all seals (since the system had not been used for ages), receiver/dryer and the expansion valve. But, I was in a rush to get the thing working for a weekend away.

It does seem though that the system's retained the gas, judging by the Schrader valve poke test. Which was nice.

[ragtopcav]

2 components can fail to cause your symptoms; there's a temp switch in the compressor and the pressure switch, both can be overridden on the new900 for diagnostic purposes, I'm not sure if or how to on the 9000.

[Matthew]

Some further information today after removing the aquarium cover.

The flap rod extends and retracts fine, with around 2.5 inches of extension. It's fully out when ACC is set to LO and fully retracted when set to HI. Temperature settings in between move the rod as you'd expect.

One thing i have noticed is that the radiator fan doesn't seem to come on when the air con's switched on. The fan does switch on though for extra radiator cooling when the engine temperature rises. Not for AC though.

The rad fan used to switch on for the AC.

Could there be a connection?

Anyone got 9000-specific pointer on Raggy's suggestion of pressure and temp switches?

The AC system's certainly doing something as the compressor engages and the refrigerant's hot.

[Matthew]

More information:

• The compressor engages but doesn't cycle
• Rad fan doesn't cycle when AC is on
• Short hose from compressor --> condensor is hot
• Long thick hose from compressor --> bulkhead is at ambient
• Long thin hose from drier --> bulkhead is cool but not cold
• Mix flap rod in aquarium works fine
• Sight glass clear but not coloured green from refrigerant dye

Whilst searching for answers I found this:
http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/sh...99&postcount=4

Which, ironically, was an answer in response to a question from me.

I think Mr. Taylor's right - the refrigerant level's low due to a leak, but there's enough for the compressor to activate.

A few questions remain though:

• Why doesn't the rad fan cycle. Could that be part of the problem?
• Where do the hoses go after they enter the false bulkhead?
• I can't see any leaks, where should I go looking first?
• Is there a way, other than refrigerant recovery, of finding out hw much gas is in the system?

[djtaylor]

Originally Posted by Matthew

More information:
A few questions remain though:

• Why doesn't the rad fan cycle. Could that be part of the problem?
• Where do the hoses go after they enter the false bulkhead?
• I can't see any leaks, where should I go looking first?
• Is there a way, other than refrigerant recovery, of finding out hw much gas is in the system?

My guess is that the rad fan isn't cycling because there's no need, i.e. it's not being activated by high pressure. After the hoses enter the bulkhead,they go to the evapourator.
You probably won't see leaks it's a gas You could get the fluorescent dye added and then you'd see with the aid of a UV light.
Nope to the last point. It needs to be vacuumed and weighed as it is done if you want any idea.

David.