well, I am taking my Porsche in to have the A/C worked on at the dealer next week. I have a leak in the system somewhere. I wonder what that's gonna cost me to get fixed!!! I'll keep you all posted on the diagnosis, solution and cost.

 

Allow me to make an educated guess as to where the leak is...worse case scenario...evaporator - you know, the part that you have to take the fuel tank, fuse box, etc. out to get to??

Let's hope that's not it and you just have a loose fitting, etc.

Lately, I've seen three 964s have the evaporator coils spring a leak due to excess moisture gathering in the "insulation" down there below the fuel tank and all - where moisture seems to gather.

Certainly, let us know what they find. Hope they have a "sniffer" to look for the freon leak.

 

Yours is the old style ac type, rc12, right? What prompts you to chase down a leak -- is it a slow trickle issue, or freon goes in, freon goes out? The point I'm making is your system, (and mine as well -- 89 C4) is an inherently leaky thing, as far as I can tell. The hoses and fittings especially are bad. Add that the old hoses are too "porous" for the new coolant, and you're sort of doomed, AFAIK, to either keep feeding RC-12 (spendy like crack) or upgrade the whole system, hoses and all.

Now you and I seem to live in the same, Wash. DC area, so I won't waste our time advocating using no AC, but I'm really starting to get hung on what to do next with this problem, and wonder what an actual quote for upgrading to new hose/lines and coolant would run. Any idea?

 

The freon leaks out quite rapidly. I would really like to have it when I need it, though. I have no idea what a total replacement would cost, but I betcha its lots of porsche-dollars, and I hope I don't have to find out!!!! I am going to schedule an appointment w/ my local Porsche dealer tomorrow (Valley Motors)....unless anyone has other suggestions....which, maybe I will post about!!

 

My money is on the condenser in the front - under the fuel tank, lots of lovely labour time for the garage.

I had this problem last summer and it cost me about 1000 Euros to get it fixed. (Euros are about the same as Dollars but nicer !!)

this is the price of your pleasure

 

Which part are we talking about that's under the gas tank (item no.) ?

go to <a href="http://www.motorportal.com/964_a_c.htm" target="_blank">http://www.motorportal.com/964_a_c.htm</a>

 

The part the I originally referred to, as well as Irish Driver is the condensor coils, kind of looks like a large aluminum transmission cooler, pretty much the same design...a radiator, of sort.

This is NOT pictured in your diagram. As Irish Driver stated, it's quite a bit of labor to change out this item, mine is bad and I am currently choosing to forego the procedure for now...I may, however, change my mind in the midst of Summer!

Get it checked out, there is a drain pipe where they can stick a "Freon Sniffer" up to see if it is leaking out of the coils...if you shop knows what they're doing, and I would assume they do...they will check in that area, below the fuel tank.

First, they will have to put a pound or two of freon in to check for the leak...so it gets costly. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

 

Actually what my Werkstatt did was to fill the system and add some "day-glow" coloured fluid.
They then looked under the car with special glasses and Ultra-violet light for the fluid to glow.

In fact they didn't need this as the fuid was pouring out of the bottom of the condenser. The problem was that it was only doing this when the pump was operational on the road so I didn't get fluid on the floor of my garage. Therefore I didn't immediatly think there was a bad leak.

It's a known problem.

 

Please tell me its not the "Evaporator Core" which fits your description...accoring to AllData, this is a $634.00 unit w/ 5.9 hours to replace....please tell me its not....please

 

My apologies, in my first post, I referred to the correct part, the evaporator coils...in my last post I made an error and referred to it as the condensor coils...my bag! <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

So yes, the $634 part you refer to is the one we speak of (Irish Driver and I)...and six hours labor sounds low, but I'll go with that.

Sorry we don't have much good news for you, but this is just an educated guess to what may be wrong with your system right now...get it checked out and let us know!

 

I have an appointment w/ the mechanic next Monday, so I'll let you know! <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />

 

I think we need a German - American - Irish-English dictionary here.

The part I had replaced was the "klimaverdampfer" which cost 900 DM and then another 700 DM for fitting. When you add the fluids and the "dayglo" check - there went my 1000 Euro.

If we argue if it's an evaporator or a condensor are we just getting into details as to if it's half full or half empty???

Either way the poor guy is going to feel a sharp pain in his wallet. The problem is they still have to do the labour even if it is only a leaking joint on the "klimaverdampfer"

P.S. verdampfer does translate as evaporator

<img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" />

 

<img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" /> I think I will have a good irish beer and think about my PAIN

 

Ok, the car is at the dealer's shop, and so far I have authorized a $200 charge to install freon and dye. I am waiting to hear the next news!

 

Actually, now that you've started a line on the joys of being cool, I have one key question....

Do you know if anyone reconditions the air conditioning pump. I've been told that it is impossible to recondition them.

Any ideas?