Aircondition problems after a paintjob...
07-16-2010, 12:16 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Aircondition problems after a paintjob...
Hi,
I got some ugly scratches on the front (plastic) of my car a few weeks ago.
Not much but annoying to see and i want the car 100%
After a call to my insurancecompany i left the car to Porschecenter and while it was in their care i decided to respray the front fenders and get it free from all old stonechips.
I told them that i dont want any spraylines or any signs of repaint what so ever so they took the front totally apart and loosen the fenders for a easy paintjob. The even drove tha car without the front to the paitshop a few miles away.
I was very pleased with the paint but my problem is that my aircon was converted and cold as ice when i left it and where is no cold at all when i got the car back. When i push the aircon button absolutly nothing happends, the tachometer is not moving and no sound of the aircon...dead.
I dont want to blame Porschecenter for this without knowing more but i know that there are some aircon parts under the front and the fenders. It just feels lika a strange coincidence that the aircon is dead just as i got it back.
What do you think? Should i just realize that it was a coincidence and allow the Airconspecialists to charge me?
I am a very bad technician so i would be glad if someone could explane what to look for.
Thanx!
//John
I got some ugly scratches on the front (plastic) of my car a few weeks ago.
Not much but annoying to see and i want the car 100% After a call to my insurancecompany i left the car to Porschecenter and while it was in their care i decided to respray the front fenders and get it free from all old stonechips.
I told them that i dont want any spraylines or any signs of repaint what so ever so they took the front totally apart and loosen the fenders for a easy paintjob. The even drove tha car without the front to the paitshop a few miles away.
I was very pleased with the paint but my problem is that my aircon was converted and cold as ice when i left it and where is no cold at all when i got the car back. When i push the aircon button absolutly nothing happends, the tachometer is not moving and no sound of the aircon...dead.
I dont want to blame Porschecenter for this without knowing more but i know that there are some aircon parts under the front and the fenders. It just feels lika a strange coincidence that the aircon is dead just as i got it back.
What do you think? Should i just realize that it was a coincidence and allow the Airconspecialists to charge me?
I am a very bad technician so i would be glad if someone could explane what to look for.
Thanx!
//John
07-16-2010, 12:53 PM
#2
The condensor is in the left front wing (in front of the front wheel, below the left headlight).
The receiver / drier is also in the left front wing (immediately in front of the left wheel I think, but somebody will correct me if I'm wrong, it's a long time since my air con worked).
From your description, it sounds like the system has no gas and the compressor is not even engaging, rather than (e.g.) the condensor fan is not running.
Try switching your air con on with the engine running and the engine lid open - and see whether the compressor (on the right hand side of the engine) is engaging.
It might be worth checking the fuses - perhaps they managed to blow a fuse. Always worth checking the simple stuff first.
The receiver / drier is also in the left front wing (immediately in front of the left wheel I think, but somebody will correct me if I'm wrong, it's a long time since my air con worked).
From your description, it sounds like the system has no gas and the compressor is not even engaging, rather than (e.g.) the condensor fan is not running.
Try switching your air con on with the engine running and the engine lid open - and see whether the compressor (on the right hand side of the engine) is engaging.
It might be worth checking the fuses - perhaps they managed to blow a fuse. Always worth checking the simple stuff first.
07-16-2010, 03:09 PM
#3
Intermediate
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Orange County, CA
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Just had my condenser/condenser fan replaced. It is in the left front of the car as DaveK suggests. In my case, the fan itself seized up from age and the condenser was leaking refrigerant. Symptoms were that it didn't blow cold (even hot at times!), when filling with R134a would never pressure of more than 25 PSI, compressor would kick on, but then shut off again once the refrigerant was exhausted (almost immediately).
07-17-2010, 12:02 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
I had a similar situation with my a/c after getting it back from the body shop. The solution to my problem was that when the body shop re-installed the condenser, they reused the old o-rings and the system was puking refrigerant. New o-rings fixed the problem and now it holds the charge and is cold again. Just a thought....