Ac not working.

[Fummins]

I've got a car in the shop that came in with a complaint of the ac not blowing cold. I took a quick look, the compressor doesn't even turn on. Checked the voltage at the pressure sensor, .49 volts so it's low on pressure. I poked the schrader valves and nothing came out, bone dry. First thought is the condenser took a rock but I didn't see anything out of the ordinary but I'm sure there's a hole in it somewhere. I'm not set up to recharge ac, we usually farm that work out otherwise I'd pressure the system up and be able to find the leak quicker. For now I'll be pulling the bumper and I'll post what I find. Try to pressure up the condenser with air and see if there's a leak. Hope it's that simple! Surprisingly I haven't had to change a Condenser on these cars yet. Car is a 17' with 110k kms lots of country roads.

[Top_Fuel]

Well...let's hope it's the condenser and not the evaporator.

[Fummins]

Now to see how much it hurts for a new one. Might be stuck going to the stealership. Might have to pick up some mesh to put behind the opening in the bumpers?

[Fummins]

Yeah it's the condenser thankfully. Attachment 11786 Here's how I pressured it up: Attachment 11787cut up an ac line from a wreck, found a piece of coolant hose the right size and shaved down a valve stem to fit the hose, hose clamped it together. Then bent the other rubber hose over to clamp it shut. Spray with soapy water then pressure it up. It leaked a little at the valve stem but it help pressure better than I expected.

[Top_Fuel]

Here's how I pressured it up...

That's a great idea! I would have gone right for some dye or maybe bummed an expensive electronic leak detector. You just solved that problem with some spare parts.

Did those fins look like that when you removed the condenser? Some of them look bent up...or is it me? I still have 2/3 of my grill blocked from winter driving...but I like the idea of some sort of protective mesh to prevent a rock from hitting it. The condenser is about $350 in the US.

[Fummins]

That's a great idea! I would have gone right for some dye or maybe bummed an expensive electronic leak detector. You just solved that problem with some spare parts.

Did those fins look like that when you removed the condenser? Some of them look bent up...or is it me? I still have 2/3 of my grill blocked from winter driving...but I like the idea of some sort of protective mesh to prevent a rock from hitting it. The condenser is about $350 in the US.

I found one for $180cad on rockauto but we don't buy from there lol. Yeah the fronts of these cars take a beating! You should see the car with 360k.

[Cobrajet]

That's gonna be a pain in the a$$. Mirages are one of the first cars to use the new, hoity-toity, 'environmentally friendlier-er-er' r1234yf refrigerant. I have never seen it on parts store shelves.

Stuff is EXPENSIVE.

[Fummins]

That's gonna be a pain in the a$$. Mirages are one of the first cars to use the new, hoity-toity, 'environmentally friendlier-er-er' r1234yf refrigerant. I have never seen it on parts store shelves.

Stuff is EXPENSIVE.

I'm pretty sure the ac guy just filled the last one with r134. (car was in a wreck) I guess I lied this'll be the second I've had to change. But first from not being crashed into something. Attachment 11788

Edit: I think you're probably right, kinda.

[tomrad]

I'm pretty sure the ac guy just filled the last one with r134. (car was in a wreck) I guess I lied this'll be the second I've had to change. But first from not being crashed into something. Attachment 11788

Edit: I think you're probably right, kinda.

Yes, it's tetrafluoroethane hydrofluorocarbon, R134a, or Dupont Suva. I used to work for them, seems to me it was invented around 30 years ago.

[MetroMPG]

The most surprising thing in this thread is that it's finally warm enough in Alberta to want to turn on the AC.