AC Troubleshooting
 

Now that my car is back on the road with a new engine, I am eager to get the A/C working. It's fine for now, but top down in 90 degrees will be no fun soon enough!



Some info:

- I pulled apart the center dash and cut to get to the mix doors. I covered these in tape. Removed all the foam I could.
- I also got an AC recharge kit, and used about a can to get it back in "good." AC worked great that evening, but the following day, NOTHING.
- I hear a slight rattle at higher fan speeds. I assume the tape did not fully adhere to the doors, so will put it all back apart.
- Given the AC worked great one evening, I assumed I had a leak issue, decided to clean radiators, replace condensers. I just did this step. When i loosened the first condenser, there was some hiss (i.e. still slightly pressurized).
- The HVAC display is broken on the top row on the right side. Specifically, it no longer says "manuell", and fans over like 60% do not show the bars.



A shop will be doing a leak test, evacuate, and recharge this week. I've got a new drier for the shop to put on simultaneously. Could my HVAC controls also be an issue? It showed the snowflake symbol, and i heard the compressor engage (engine gets loaded).

I'll also tear apart the center dash again to solve the rattle, ensure the blend doors are adequately sealed. I see there is an STL for plugs somewhere (need to refind) to 3d print inserts.


Any other advice?

If it wasn't "good" before you added the can, and was working that night, but not the following morning, then I'm leaning towards a leak. I'm assuming you filled it with one of those hoses that have a little gauge, and not a manifold set, but you can confirm my theory by putting that hose back on it and checking the gauge.

Even if there's a leak, there will most likely still be pressure in the system even if not enough to kick on the compressor, so the fact that you heard a hiss when you were loosening the condenser doesn't mean there isn't a leak in the system.

awesome. That was my theory as well - still *some* pressure, but not an adequate amount.

It seems the condensers are the biggest source of leaks, hence my initial replacement. I'll see what a shop with equipment can dig up while testing. The gauge will read 0 on the low pressure now, because I just drained it while replacing the condensers.



If a leak not in the condenser...

1. There seems to be some denting of the AC by the front passenger lift point :| I've been pretty careful, so my bet is someone else lifted the car by it. I don't see any punctures, but it has clearly been dented there.

2. I let a family friend drive the vehicle, who drove it over a rough surface *crunch* I hope the lines are not damaged (the fact that the dent is directly next to the lifting point makes me think shop dent from years ago).

edit - replaced condensers, not the evaporator (which is in the heater core and i desperately do not want to replace).

Once you get the AC system sorted out, you can buy a new HVAC LCD screen from eBay or 914rubber.com. The repair is fairly simple.
https://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/86463-strange-delamination-hvac-control-screen.html

Thanks - my display doesn’t have any discoloration, which is what I see people fixing with these repairs. Will it fix dead elements as well?




Separately, fine to replace the ac drier myself before bringing it in to a shop?

Thanks I'll be hopefully swinging by a shop today with new drier installed.



On the screen front, the videos I've seen show discoloration/sun wear as the primary daamge. Mine looks fine, it is just the manuell, and top fan speeds don't light up. Does replacing this element correct that?

Separately, not looking to create a separate thread for each dumb question I have - anyone have a guide on where this line fitting goes? 986 347 777 00 - support for pressure line (Power steering). http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1750087216.jpg