air conditioning failure

[Sly74]

Hi All

I have had my 996 A/C checked over, appears theres a leak from under the front bumper. The garage

are talking about removing the front bumper to establish the exact cause of the leek, then ordering the

replacement parts. Anyone had the front bumper removed to check the A/C? Is this a common problem with

A/C on the 996?

Regards

[Loren]

Yes, you will find an AC condenser in front of each radiator behind the bumper.

[lixmas]

Checked fuses again this morning (including E7), all ok, also the compressor, that clicks into spinning as it should. A week on Thursday an air conditioning specialist will have a look at the system and hopefully fix it, most likely by filling it up with gas. Weird however that the gas could have disappeared within 8 hours, so maybe it's not that...I promise I will feed back anyway...

Keep in mind the compressor could start up and the system could be full of gas and still no a/c. This would indicate an internal problem with the compressor. Although it is unlikely, it is a possibility and something handy to know in case they give you an expensive repair quote.

[claudiu]

Hi All

I have had my 996 A/C checked over, appears theres a leak from under the front bumper. The garage

are talking about removing the front bumper to establish the exact cause of the leek, then ordering the

replacement parts. Anyone had the front bumper removed to check the A/C? Is this a common problem with

A/C on the 996?

Regards

I've been lucky enough (for now) to escape with just regassing the system...

[Sly74]

Yes, you will find an AC condenser in front of each radiator behind the bumper.

Wow Loren

Thanks for the excellent pictures. That is a big help to me. Lets hope when the garage remove

the bumper its only a pipe that needs replacing??

Thanks again will keep you posted.

Phil

Checked fuses again this morning (including E7), all ok, also the compressor, that clicks into spinning as it should. A week on Thursday an air conditioning specialist will have a look at the system and hopefully fix it, most likely by filling it up with gas. Weird however that the gas could have disappeared within 8 hours, so maybe it's not that...I promise I will feed back anyway...

Keep in mind the compressor could start up and the system could be full of gas and still no a/c. This would indicate an internal problem with the compressor. Although it is unlikely, it is a possibility and something handy to know in case they give you an expensive repair quote.

Lixmas

Thanks for the info, according to the garage, they filled up the system and the gas was leaking from the

under the front bumper. They plan to remove the bumper, fill the system and find the leak. (fingers crossed).

Then order the part(s) required to fix the problem. You might find me on the forum hunting for the parts.

Thanks again.

[0586slb]

You will find elswhere on the Forum that leaves and other debris collect in the far corner of the AC condensers close to where the condensers and bumper material meet. This creates a moist claggy mess that promotes corrosion of the condenser - requiring a replacement.

[Paul Fraser]

As 0586slb says almost certainly the condenser(s): if you shine a torch in you will probably see a triangle of dark discolouration from one of the corners (probably lower left or right hand) where the coolant has leaked.

[Sly74]

You will find elswhere on the Forum that leaves and other debris collect in the far corner of the AC condensers close to where the condensers and bumper material meet. This creates a moist claggy mess that promotes corrosion of the condenser - requiring a replacement.

Thanks for the info, any idea how much replacements cost?

[claudiu]

You will find elswhere on the Forum that leaves and other debris collect in the far corner of the AC condensers close to where the condensers and bumper material meet. This creates a moist claggy mess that promotes corrosion of the condenser - requiring a replacement.

Thanks for the info, any idea how much replacements cost?

Prices are detailed in a previous entry on page one...

[buzzman28]

I am having a simular problem...

The battery on my 98 Boxster was dead had to release the cables for the hoods manually. After boosting the car off i noticed the air conditioner would not turn on and the lights on the instrument panel would not show up, however the radio lights up, can anyone help. I really dont want to hit the dealership

[zdr2k]

I have a 99 C2.

Mine did the same thing last summer, turn on the A/C no cool air.

I bought a $24 AC Oil/Coolant kit and it showed my coolant being low.

I added more coolant to the correct level and it has been cold ever since.

Just something to check before you spend all that money.

Brian

Brian

Can you give more details on where the ports located and how much pressure should be read??

thanks

jorge

[perryinva]

I have a 99 C2.

Mine did the same thing last summer, turn on the A/C no cool air.

I bought a $24 AC Oil/Coolant kit and it showed my coolant being low.

I added more coolant to the correct level and it has been cold ever since.

Just something to check before you spend all that money.

Brian

Brian

Can you give more details on where the ports located and how much pressure should be read??

thanks

jorge

Ports are located to the left of the battery, under the plastic cover. The refill kits (Autozone, NAPA, etc) have a built in gauge that shows correct pressure. If you have a lot of mileage on yours, get the "High Mileage" refill, it has a different oil booster. BTW, you DID realize this post was from 2006, right???!!!!

Edited June 10, 2008 by perryinva

[zdr2k]

I have a 99 C2.

Mine did the same thing last summer, turn on the A/C no cool air.

I bought a $24 AC Oil/Coolant kit and it showed my coolant being low.

I added more coolant to the correct level and it has been cold ever since.

Just something to check before you spend all that money.

Brian

Brian

Can you give more details on where the ports located and how much pressure should be read??

thanks

jorge

Ports are located to the left of the battery, under the plastic cover. The refill kits (Autozone, NAPA, etc) have a built in gauge that shows correct pressure. If you have a lot of mileage on yours, get the "High Mileage" refill, it has a different oil booster. BTW, you DID realize this post was from 2006, right???!!!!

yep sure did. mine started acting up recently and did a search.

thanks for the help

jorge

[DFW996]

I was driving today 00 996 C2 and my A/C went warm. I got home and inspected around the motor area just in case I ran over something, but then I found this on the A/C compressor like something burned around the whole pulley area...like burnt rubber what can it be?

[DFW996]

A/C turns on and off, I hear the clicking of the compressor and air is blowing and hear compressor in the front. I might just recharge the A/C before anything else is done. Which port is it though left or lower right one.

[perryinva]

A/C turns on and off, I hear the clicking of the compressor and air is blowing and hear compressor in the front. I might just recharge the A/C before anything else is done. Which port is it though left or lower right one.

don't waste the money on a recharge...your compressor clutch is shot.

[DFW996]

thanks for the reply...so what next?

[ofpiste]

Read with interest the previous messages as my A/C stopped working. Just before it stopped i had and intermitent warm then cold output from the vents. Checked the pressure and it is on the line from the green to red zone (fill guage has zones that goe from yellow to green then to red in this order). Does this mean i am low on refrigerant, or that it is where it should be? If so, then what else could it be? compressor is working, pulleys are ok, etc.

Any info would be much appreciated as we are having record days of heat here in Seattle and having the top down doesn't do it!!!

Thanks!

:renntech:

[RFM]

I'm not confident with gauges you mentioned in your post but i assume the red line is the max. admitted pressure, in this case it looks OK. Let check the fault codes, i suppose an issue with a temp. sensor rather than R134a or compressor troubles.

[wwest]

thanks for the reply...so what next?

ofpiste;

With the A/C system under maximum "stress", max COLD, HIGH blower, open doors/windows, fresh mode, incoming HOT, >80F, airflow the low side should read about 30-40 PSI.

Common recharge method is to add refrigerant until low side pressure reaches 40 PSI or compressor starts cycling off and on, mostly ON.

Edited August 16, 2008 by wwest