My AC went out
 

I only have 12k on the odo and the AC stopped blowing cold. I'm gonna take it in tomorrow and see what happens.

stopped blowing cold or stopped blowing at all? checked your fuses?

It still blows just only warm air now

Just throwing this in, but could it be a leak in the AC system? Did you check around your engine bay around the AC compressor? If you see a bunch of dried residue, you may have your culprit.

Second check would be your fuses.

Good luck, hope its a simple fix.

awhile back my dads honda element did the say thing, but it couldn't blow hot either. it took some time but i eventually figured out that it was the blower motor resistor that went bad. once that was replaced it then it was blowing nice hot air(winter time) no problem. not sure where the blower motor stuff is located on our car, but if it's similar to the honda then it'll be where the glovebox is. but even still this is probably something that is easily fixed at the dealership under warranty.

Yea just let the warranty take care of it, no point doing it yourself and risk something wrong might happen when you have warranty left

Warranty typically won't cover a leak in the ac condenser. Rock chips can do more than just chip paint, they can put holes in the condenser and leak all your r134a out.

AC doesn't work because racecar.

Just came back from the dealership and they told me my condenser is damaged.

The weird thing is that the damage is behind the crash bar and you can't see it unless the car is up on a lift. Also there is no damage to my front bumper or grille. They told me to call Subaru corporate to see if I can get some relief.

The damage isn't covered by the warranty and the cost of the part + labor is $678.

Last Monday I had to pay $500 to put my dog to sleep and now this. Mondays aren't my day.

that is rough. sorry to hear man. :(

if they really aren't willing to help then i'd suggest checking for the forum marketplace for part outs. maybe someone has a condenser you can get for a decent price and you could do the install yourself hopefully maybe?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30425

Yeah I've been PMing as many members as I could find. For now I guess I'm just gonna have to drive with my windows down.

Why doesn't the warranty cover the ac condenser? I thought bumper to bumper warranty means it'll cover everything between the front bumper and the rear bumper for anything that's not a wear and tear part.

If it's damaged it's very likely it's due to road debris (unless the OP gives details to indicate otherwise).

Would suspect that is what happened. I don't like how its so open at the lower front grill. Anyone make a black mesh for the lower grill that can be installed to protect from stones etc??

@BRZnut

ask and u shall receive.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22459 :thumbsup:

The dent on the condenser is right behind the crash bar. There's no scratches or punctures to my front bumper and no rocks or debris visible. In order for a rock to hit at that angle it would have had to bounce off the undertray before striking the lower condenser. However there doesn't seem to be any marks indicating anything bounced up.

Whatever did hit it sure left a mark though. When it's bright out I'll take pics with my Canon.

That sounds pretty wild. Also, sucky. Good luck.

I just spoke with a representative from Subaru and she told me she would look into it for me and get back to me by Friday. She was very professional and helpful.

Honestly I hope this goes well since I come from a family of people who think I'm a fool for not buying a Toyota or Honda.

Your other option, if Subaru can't do anything and as long as there is no more refrigerant in the system, is to just replace the condenser on your own and then take it in to be refilled. That would save you some labor charges. If there is still refrigerant in the system, then you're going to have to take it in as it's illegal to vent that stuff to atmosphere.

Thanks!

You could have replaced the condenser yourself for less than $300, and then recharge the system with R134a refrigerant. The system usually take about 18 oz of R134a refrigerant. Use the cheap gauge that goes with the R134a can when you buy them at your local hardware stores. Measure the low side to 33-38 psi (Out side temperature when you do this is 85-105 F degree). If it's hot outside 35-38 psi. If it's warm outside 29-33 psi.
Suck the air, and moisture out of your system before you charge it with new R134a refrigerant. If you don't want to do this, it's fine, but the air coming out of the vents is less cold (Can be 2-3 F hotter).

Be sure to install a guard net at the front grill of your car to protect the condenser from flying small rocks.

@cheapez are there devices that you can use to suck the air out before charging or do you still have to take it to a shop?

would it be illegal to have a leak on the system? :bonk:

I knew someone that the bolts came loose on the ac compressor and his whole unit leaked!!!!

:laughabove:

hmmm, how do a lot of people do swaps in their backyards? Hmm, oh i get it, they have some of those weird unexplainable leaks....:confused0068:

Obviously if it's a defect or from damage that's outside your control. But to knowingly release it to atmosphere is something else. Bring it in, have a tech evac the system, bring it home and replace the condenser, and then go back and have them fill the system.

By no means am I a poster boy for tree huggers, but at least have the common sense and decency to prevent a known hazardous chemical from being released into the atmosphere when you can. If anything, I wouldn't want to risk inhaling any of it or having my family inhale it.

Please don't say it was your Corgi! :cry:

I'm sorry to hear that...

The shop uses a pump to suck air out of the system before they charge it with new R134a. The pump will not just suck air out of the system, it create low vacuum in the system (-5 to -15 psi I think).

There maybe another way, less expensive way to suck air out of the system. Harbor Freight might sell these tools. Be sure to use coupons when you buy anything at Harbor Freight.

I replaced my condenser last year, and then charged the system without sucked the air out. It worked great for the whole summer.

If you are going to charge the system, charge at the low pressure side (There is a valve on it). Your engine must be running, and your AC is on when you are charging the system.

R134a is much more friendlier to the environment than the old Freon they used in air conditioning. The old Freon makes cold better, but they don't sell that stuff anymore. The governments have banned it.

You can buy R134a at any local hardware store. They will sell it to any adult person without the need of a license. Which mean, you can use it.

It is not good if you keep venting your refrigerant to the atmosphere, but hey your condenser is leaked.

http://i.imgur.com/Jy7lL.jpg

It was my female Betsy that passed. My family is still pretty tore up about it. She's the one on the right.

I'm pretty sure all my freon is gone. How much would it cost to take it in for an evac? I'm really grateful for your posts. I hope I can get some help from Subaru corporate before I have to do this myself.

I'm really, truly sorry to hear that. Our corgi is like our child...I hope you have some good news headed your way soon...

The old stuff is called Freon. The new stuff (R134a) is called refrigerant.
The condenser on my other car costed me ~$150, plus ~$35 for 18 oz of R134a.
If you let the shop do everything, they will charge you $450 at least for parts, and labor. My friend's dad had to replaced his car condenser last summer, and it costed him about that much. Frs just came out so, parts are harder to find, and they usually cost more.
You can replace the condenser yourself, and then have the shop charge the system for you. Tell them to check for leak, and then suck air out of the system before they charge it.
A 18oz can of R134a will cost you ~$34. The shop will charge you $40 for that, plus how many hours of labor it take them to complete the job.
I say 1 hour is enough, or ~$80. If not, check with other shops.

If your system still have refrigerant in it, some shops will suck refrigerant out into a tank, and then they recharge your system with that.

Anyway, sorry for your lost dog.
They look really cute.

The condenser on most cars is in front of the radiator so, you have to drain your engine coolant, and then take them all out at once (The fans, radiator, and condenser).

If you can slide the condenser out of there without removed the radiator first, do it, but not to damage the radiator, or your car get hot.

It will save you times, if you removed the radiator, and fans first.
Don't take the risk of damaging your radiator.

Subaru called me today and told me they would pick up half the cost as a gesture of goodwill. It feels good to be in good hands.

this happened to me as well.. everyone should take measures to protect their ac condensers..

You could always file an insurance claim with your automobile insurance depending on your deductibles you might be able to get some of the cost back.

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