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A/C not working and a myriad of CELs

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Old 05-01-2009, 11:09 PM
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A/C not working and a myriad of CELs

my a/c stopped working so i hit the button a bunch of times and then i realized the red radiator light on my dash. so i turned the a/c off and it went away. now i'll turn the button on, but i cant feel the a/c kick in and the air isnt cold. i used my accessport to check what might be wrong and found a bunch of CELs.

P0441
evaporative emssion control system incorrect purge flow
P0171
too lean
P0455
evaporative emission control system detected (gross leak)
P0037
H02S heater control circuit, bench 1 sensor 2

the too lean CEL comes from my not quite working throttle body, if i dont catch it at a light it'll die. but that doesnt happen too often as i've become quite deft at doing so.

but, any advice on what to with my a/c system? hot weather is right around the corner and i'd rather not be in a car in 90+ degree weather without a/c. i tried to reset the ecu but it did not clear the codes whatsoever. and a "gross leak" in the a/c system sounds like a pretty legit problem. sooo awesome that im at 53k miles, outside of warranty.
Old 05-01-2009, 11:29 PM
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check your AC clutch.
Old 05-02-2009, 12:16 AM
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Do the Easy Diagnosis section of this DIY to verify your heat control **** is working correctly. Otherwise, if it's not, follow that DIY to fix it.
Old 05-02-2009, 12:29 AM
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i'm feeling bad for your car lately.
Old 05-02-2009, 08:54 AM
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yeah check clutch and check that the belt onthe A/C is there and didnt' break or something....does that fan blow when on ac and just warm air or just doesn't blow?
Old 05-02-2009, 09:03 AM
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P0455 (gross leak) is the evaporative system, not the AC. It's one of the codes you can get from a bad gas cap. Probably something more than that because you've got that other evap system code, but it's not an AC leak.

Ken
Old 05-02-2009, 12:17 PM
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the fan blows, the a/c just does not kick on.

im sure all of you can feel when you turn your a/c on. that little hit in the acceleration pedal. i cant feel that, it just does not turn on. it blows ambient air temp.
Old 05-02-2009, 12:32 PM
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As nycgps said, check the AC clutch. Turn the AC on and see if the clutch on the compressor has engaged. If it has, then the problem is likely to be low refrigerant or a bad compressor.

If it has not engaged, then the problem might be electrical or it might be low refrigerant.

Did your AC seem wimpier than usual toward the end of last summer? A typical pattern with a leak is that AC will work one season, but on the weak side, then over the winter it will leak down enough that the low pressure switch will keep the compressor clutch from engaging.

Ken
Old 05-02-2009, 02:14 PM
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yeah sounds like a clutch(A/C) or a completely burned out compressor
Old 05-02-2009, 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by 04RX8man
yeah sounds like a clutch(A/C) or a completely burned out compressor
There's more that can cause this than the clutch or compressor. Don't forget the old rock-through-the-condenser issue with these cars. Or that there are other components in the AC system. If the problem is not something simple like a bad belt or a bad fuse, the next step would be to go to a decent AC shop.

Ken
Old 05-02-2009, 05:03 PM
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damn that sux bro, summer is around the corner
Old 05-03-2009, 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by ken-x8
if the problem is not something simple like a bad belt or a bad fuse, the next step would be to go to a decent ac shop.

Ken
^ +1
Old 05-04-2009, 02:31 PM
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i am indeed a dumbass. my idle problems were due to an uncapped vacuum hose. its the short one that sits on top of the intake manifold. part #20-345B. it was hanging loosely. i cant believe i've missed it for so long. wtf. i've searched high and low and never saw this. i searched the service manual but i cant seem to find any link between this hose and the hvac system. or what this hose is used for at all. is it related? anyone know?

temp buttons work normally.

i would say the a/c clutch is not kicking in. the belt goes over it, and that part spins. but the entire unit does not spin. the front part does not spin in any regard.
Old 05-05-2009, 08:44 PM
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the clutch won't kick in if the freon pressure is too low, you'll need to check the system pressure but make sure you don't have a blown fuse first
Old 05-07-2009, 01:07 PM
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Just curious have you ever checked the Freon pressure ?

You can get one of those recharge kit for like 30 bux, it has build in gauges and stuff and u can check and see if its working.
Old 05-10-2009, 04:37 PM
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so, i found out today why my a/c isnt working. its great news. everything works!

bad news.

hole in the a/c condenser. i was recharging the system and afterward i hear pssshhhhhhhhhhh. yeah. sucks. i remember when it happened too. i was stuck behind some self righteous ******* who wouldnt let me pass. blocking me in behind this damn truck. it peppered the entire front end of my car. including my freshly polished headlights that my body shop did.... i finally got away and 500 feet later my red radiator light pops up and i dont have a/c anymore. so **** me.

how much is this going to cost and how hard is it to replace?
Old 05-10-2009, 04:43 PM
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the condenser is not very expensive.

i would google it. or mazmart.

beers
Old 05-10-2009, 04:53 PM
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im looking at $200+

that is expensive.
Old 05-10-2009, 09:04 PM
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wish i had one for you ... i have an ac compressor but no condensor.
Old 05-10-2009, 09:11 PM
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Mazmart should have it

dont u have RB screen or something installed ?
Old 05-10-2009, 09:48 PM
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Originally Posted by kersh4w
.... i finally got away and 500 feet later my red radiator light pops up and i dont have a/c anymore....
I love those self-appointed speed enforcers types who what act like clotting factor in blood.

I'm confused by the relationship between the red radiator light and the hole in the condensor .... Did both your radiator and A/C condensor got damaged resulting in both lost coolant and freon?

I highly recommend the Racing Beat oil cooler and radiator screens.

Ouch on the OEM discounted A/C condensor price which I doubt you can beat by any significant amount for a brand new part.

Last edited by rx8cited; 05-10-2009 at 09:53 PM.
Old 05-11-2009, 12:08 AM
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Originally Posted by kersh4w
im looking at $200+

that is expensive.
fortunately I know someone who's about to send you $200 ...
Old 05-12-2009, 11:18 AM
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you'd think mazmart would respond to a PM....
Old 05-12-2009, 12:35 PM
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He responded to mine. fast
Old 05-27-2009, 12:36 AM
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i got p0037 too. whats your deal with that.
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