AC Troubleshooting

[maxbottomtime]

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?

[piper6909]

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.

[maxbottomtime]

Originally Posted by piper6909

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).

[78F350]

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

[maxbottomtime]

Originally Posted by 78F350

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?

[maxbottomtime]

Originally Posted by 78F350

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 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?

[maxbottomtime]

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).