TMc993

Over the past two weeks my AC has been gradually going south. When I turn it on everything; fans, compressor, etc. work and early in the day there is still some cool air being produced...After noon, forget it...

I'm assuming a freon leak.

Can anyone direct me to a skilled, reliable, non-ripoff artist shop in the Atlanta area that services the AC on these cars?

North of the perimeter if at all possible, please.

Thanks,
Terry

cabrio993

Hey Terry,

Have you recharged the system yet?

Ed Burdell

Terry,

I'm taking my car in tomorrow to my guy in Marietta - I'll ask him if he can do an A/C recharge.

cabrio993

The recharge is a DIY. No need to take it to the shop. All you need is some R134 refrigerant from your firendly local Autozone. I have the hoses and welcome to come over to do it.

TMc993

Sergio - No, I haven't recharged the system. I could probably have that done up here, but I've found that most of the time when it is cooling well (As mine was) then gradually fades away (In this case in about 2 weeks), simply recharging without being able to check for leaks results wasting time and money. There's no one up here I'd trust to do more than a simple re-charge so I'm thinking I need to get it to a shop down your way and let them take a good look at the system. It's an all day affair to get a car down there and I don't want to have to do it twice.

Ed - Thanks...Just let me know.

Terry

ventoGT

Terry--not OTP, but Auto Europe off I-85 and Cheshire Bridge in Atlanta just serviced the A/C on my 1991 M5 and did a good job...

SFreeman

+1 for Auto Europe, just worked on my 993 AC last week. I've always used Martin' (owner) over the years for my 911s. Definitely not a rip off - he didn't even charge me!

North of town maybe J3, Kinetics or Kerry Singley (Napa Premiere Service Center f/k/a International Performance). Here's the link to the Peachstate PCA sponsors, some of the other shops listed are north of town: http://www.peachstatepca.org/links.asp

TMc993

Cole and Stacy...Thanks!

Terry

Jon 'Bama

+1 on Kerry Singley's shop, Premier Service. I just used them for an oil change a few weeks ago and am very happy with the extra care they took on my 993. Not sure if they do AC service though, but I am very happy with them and will return for more.

Jon

M. Schneider

Hey Terry, My 993s A/C operation is similar. Early in the day when often the ambient temperature is 70F something the A/Cs output is plenty cool. Come +90F ambient in the days afternoon sun and the A/Cs output will turn from plenty cool to actually warm. When the warm air happens turning off the A/C system for 15 minutes or so, then starting again will allow the system to operate just fine until the warm air syndrome takes over once again. It's a strange operational cycle emerging only with/when +90F ambient temps. Go figure.
(the last freon recharge was 6 years ago, or so)

TMc993

After doing a little research, I spoke to German Car Repair yesterday. They're going to take a look at it Friday.

Thanks for the suggestions.

P.S. Hey Mike...It sounds as if your AC condenser is icing up...When you turn the AC off, it thaws out...Then, when you turn the AC back on it will cool until it freezes again...If it's going to happen, it tends to happen during hotter, more humid weather when the AC is working its hardest...Mine's different...Only marginal cooling in the morning hours and nothing once the ambient temp gets above 80 degrees.

Terry

M. Schneider

Hey Terry - would the "condenser icing" up be brought about from a low Freon condition? Or is the cause something more sinister ~

I'll have to read through the Porsche Service Manual (6-binder set) that Santa left in the garage so many years ago-

TMc993

Mike...

I'm calling on very long-term memory here so I may be wrong...As I remember the explanation I got, icing of the condenser is caused when the compressor has to work so hard that it doesn't cycle on and off and keeps pumping frigid air through the condenser until the condenser gets so cold that it freezes the moisture it is pulling out of the conditioned air before it enters the passenger compartment.

I suppose that low freon could cause it as low freon would make the compressor work harder...But this is all conjecture on my part.

Any experts out there want to comment?

Terry

M. Schneider

Hey Terry ~ thanks for the recollection. I too once had a clear A/C system understanding. Gotta hit the service manual on this one. I'll be sure to advise.

stace

there are other possible causes but low freon will absolutely result in icing. no freon won't ice it up but below required amounts of freon will cause icing. good luck - atlanta this time of year is A/C country!!!