Air Conditioner not as cold anymore?
 

Been noticing (its getting really warm here in Raleigh now) that my A/C isn't as "cold" any more. It gets cool, but I never feel like my car can get cold like when it was new...

I've tried turning the temperature knob all the way to the blue and turning the fan speed all the way up...

Any clues? :confused:

My wife wants me to get it fix because we're expecting a baby in 3 weeks...


Thanks in advance!
Ming


PS: Oops, forgot to say its a 2000 TL Satin Silver - 64,000 miles and loving every one of them

bring it in to have the system checked. oh and you also may want to try replacing your cabin filters

I'd guess your air conditioner (cabin) filter has never been replaced. I'd try that first.

Hmm...I just had a 60K service done at the dealership....that should have been replaced then right?

depends on if the dealer is good and actually did it. and if its on the 60k service. i would have the system tested

Still working on it
 

Update to this thread:

They replaced condenser - didn't fix it

They are going to replace the evaporator today and see if that fixes it - and if not they think the entire A/C system needs replacing(2-3K?)

My car has never been in a wreck...so not sure what went wrong...

The dealer said they've never seen this problem before on a 2000TL ...

Just my luck and $800 dollar bill!!!

Any suggestions?

can you still get the extended warranty?

Car is out of warranty(But loving every 64K mile of it)

I mispoke earlier - its the expansion valve that they are replacing...

You saying you already paid them $800 and it didn't fix the problem?

Didn't pay them yet...but it came out to be $800 dollars.

I asked them to take out the condensor since that didn't fix it but they said they couldn't do that because it would introduce air/debries into the system they just flushed...

The just called and the expansion valve was the problem...

Sounds like they are just throwing parts at the problem, and at your
expense. If it's out of warranty I'd take to to an independent that
specializes in A/C and one that you can get a recommendation for.

What is the temperatire of the air exiting the vents (after several minutes)?
Any other sounds, etc? What is the pressure readings on both the low and
high pressure sides. These questions should have been answered by them.

FWIW I have found the A/C on my 2001 to be fairly inferior to most. Even
wit it cranked all the way up if gets only cool, not cold. I have a 94 Camry
that will frost your socks. The heat is not very good either. The system
performs marginally at best. I'd hate to live in a very cold climate with it.
Out here in San Jose it's not all that big of a deal.

/Steve

Hey Steve -

I had them run a diagnostic. The air was blowing 40 celcius and the pressures were find according to specs. initially they told me that I was using the climate control wrong and I took it back to try for another week but it was getting to be unbearable.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good mechanic in the Raleigh/Cary Area?

I had them do the work since I didn't know of any...but for future reference it would be great to save a little bit of money in the future

the expansion valve?!?!...wierd...it probably got clogged on the gas pulverizing going into the evap coil. This is wierd as hell, all this "valve" is where the discharge from the compressor+comp coil ends and separates into several smaller capillar-like pipes that deliver to the evap's coil.

How much are they charging for the replacement?

If the valve doesnt do the trick, you have a leak somewhere and will probably need to replace either the coil (evaporator's or condenser's) or pump a few pounds of the gas into the system, that will last for a couple months for $15/lb and when it runs out pump a few more, making it a lot cheaper, but eventually the leak will grow untill you have to replace the coil.

Good luck.

They claim it fixed it. I'll post more when I pick up the car tomarrow

Thanks everyone!

So far so cold
 

Picked up the car this morning and the A/C is noticably much colder, so much so that I turned it off after a few minutes because it was so cold!!

The total was 800 dollars but I pretty much got an new A/C system minus compressor (Replaced condenser, dryer/reciever, and expansion valve, plus recharge)

The work order said that the dryer/reciever broke apart, sending debris down the line which clogged and damaged the expansion valve. Thus, while the A/C was still getting a little cold, it never got as cold as it should be.

I'm happy for the moment (until credit card bill arrives) :thumbsup: