SVX AC help please

[eastof111]

Need AC expert to help me with this one.

 

06-21-05 - Brought 92 SVX to dealer for diagnosis (blows hot air) was working OK in AM. Total bill $97.90.

 

Diagnosed as needing new high pressure hose.

 

06-28-05 - Brought SVX to have hose replaced.

Total bill $374.94.

 

Drove car for one mile and brought it back to dealer due to AC blowing hot air.

 

Dealer said I needed O-ring on low side of system. Would order and overnight O-ring.

 

07-01-05 - Brought SVX to dealer to have O-ring on low side replaced. Total bill $181.29.

 

Car sat in garage over 4th of July weekend.

 

07-05-05 - Brought SVX back to dealer due to hot air.

 

07-06-05 - Dealer diagnosed compressor needing new seals. Dealer wants 600.00 for compressor plus labor, freon and the usual shop supplies.

 

Am I being hosed or is this normal for this vehicle?

 

I ve never had this type of AC problem on other cars I ve owned.

 

Please I need advice. Thank you.

[john in KY]

Everything under the hood may be working just fine. Problem could be in the dash. Thinking doors or baffles or whatever they are called aren't opening. Just to get a feel, check the hoses in a friend's car. One compressor hose will be very hot to your touch and the other very cold. If your hoses feel about the same, then the problem is not under the hood.

 

It sounds to me like the dealer is throwing parts, very expensive parts, at the problem. I don't work on AC but anyone that does should be able to quickly pinpoint the problem.

[Brumby Boy]

Go to an A/C specialist not the dealer.

[ballitch]

ya man youre getting hosed, go to someone that does just a/c or like meineke, or shcucks or someplace somewhat reputable. if at all possible, dont got to the dealer ever, unless you just cant get the part, they love your money.

 

 

 

~Josh~

[Midwst]

Yes, you are getting hosed...probably not on purpose, but by incompetent mechanics. I am an ASE certified AC technician. The first thing I would recommend is that you find you do the very simple check someone mentioned here to be sure the problem is not with the air vents in the dash. i have seen them stick before on Subarus. The second thing I would recommend is that you ask for AC leak dye to be added to the system....at a recommended repair facility....someplace your friends/family are familiar with and like....or actually Jiffy Lube...but they are expensive. An AC leak is pretty easy to find, even without special equipment. Look at the front of the compressor, and all the junction points on the AC lines. You are looking for light oil residue. Looks like cooking oil which picks up dirt. You won't be able to check the junctions at the eveperator core, under the dash, but you can check everything else. If that doesn't work, there are many high dollar (aka professional grade) ac leak detectors that sense leaking refridgerant..also an ac light for spotting ac dye which the repair facility can use. Don't drive the car longer than recommended with the dye, because otherwise it will get all over and make diagnosis more difficult. One guess is that the internal vanes in the ac compressor might be sticking. Turn the ac on/off 8 times in a row. Ocassionally that works. Otherwise, yes, you might need a compressor. If this is true, pressure tests will show adequate refridgerant but incorrect pressures. Other possibilities would be excessive moisture in the system because the morons who worked on it before didnt put it on a 30 minuite vacuum after replacing the hose. Anyone who has a clue should know better. I would insist that only an ASE certified A/C professional work on your car. Legally, I think they are required to be certified, but who knows if shops follow this law.

Hope that helps.