All,
Finally got my car out of garage hibernation yesterday and did a nice spirited drive around town and got home late. The roads are really crappy here. Horrible bumpy/pothole surfaces.
I had the A/C on but not blowing cold. I'd usually call my Indy close to my house but closed after 5.

Just wondering if this could be a simple Freon Recharge needed? I didn't find may A/C posts so thought I'd ask the RL experts.

Thanks in advance.

 

groovzilla,

There is no simple Freon Recharge. If the Freon is low you have a leak somewhere in the system that needs to be fixed. Just adding Freon to the system and not fixing the leak is asking for a lot more problems . Your compressor has oil in it so as the Freon leaks out so does some of the oil in time no oil compressor locks up . Plus a leak can introduce air into the system air has moisture and can cause compressor failure. Taking care of a small leak instead of just adding Freon can save you Thousands of $$$$.

 

Thx for ther advice - Will be contacting my Indy Monday morning.

 

I'd advise going to an AC specialist. Indy's usually are not, at least not around here. I agree with the others. A leak indicates a problem. It might be a tiny problem, like a small seal, that is easy to fix. A refill might last you another year or more as in my Macan which I topped up 18 months ago and is still blowing cold. But I know it will stop working properly at some point, probably in the desert like last time.

 

2009 C2S 189K miles

Read the codes... they may tell you exactly what the problem is. Unless and indy has a code reader... they should... you may go down the path I did and waste a bunch on a reputable shop that did nothing but take my money. Not that they were unethical, but these cars are complex and the A/C on a .2 car is very complex with many computer-driven issues hence many codes that describe failure and operation.

Or... just go to an autoparts store and buy a pressure meter... if you are low on fluid, you can just top it off with one of the cans they sell. Sure, there is a leak in there somewhere, but a full charge may last a year or two before needing topped off again.

Peace
Bruce in Philly (now Atlanta)

 

^^Thank you for your input Bruce!

 

Bruce my car is a .1. I like the idea of buying the meter & some Freon Refridgerant and filling it and going with the flow. Is it a difficult task filling it up?
What type of Freon/Refridgerant is used in a 997.1??

 

There will be a tag (sticker) somewhere, probably in the engine compartment. Should say type and weight of the charge. Probably R134a.

 

So after some research, the R134a is the proper Refridgerant however not sold in the state of Washington. Autozone explained they stopped selling in Washington 2 years ago and only able to get it at licensed repair shops
So they allow Heroin to be shot up/sold/carried but no Freon??.

On Autozone's and O'Rielly's auto parts websites I noticed State of Oregon sells it and has it in stock and most stores. Good friend happens to be visiting this Wednesday-Thirsday so I will have some brought here.
I'm also going to 1st stop by my Indy's shop (Aker's Porsche) and just see if he can quickly charge the system. They're always so damn busy but will try.
Thanks again for the feedback.

 

You have some strange customs in your neck of the woods.

 

Just adding refrigerant (it's not Freon anymore nad hasn't been since the 80s or so - that was R12) is a bad idea. Take it to Akers and let them out the proper high and low pressure gauges on the system. What those gauges show will point them to the potential issue like whether the expansion valve is clogged up, if the system pressure is low so the low pressure switch isn't engaging the compressor, etc. There's a specific differential pressure that needs to exist in the system between the high and low pressure ports for the system to work correctly and efficiently and not cause your compressor to lock up. Too high a pressure is just as bad as too low a one. At 70F for R134, High Pressure should be no higher than 225 and low pressure 12.5-20.

You also won't be able to get any refrigerant into the system unless the compressor is engaging so unless you know where the low pressure switch is and how to temporarily jumper it while to engage the compressor, having that recharge can will be useless.

In this case, take the car to someone who knows what they're doing.

 

^^^Thx Petza that's my plan.

 

Update: When I posted on 5/13-5/14my go-to 37 year Indy shop Aker's Porsche was not been able to get me for at least a week to recharge my A/C. They are swamped so called around on 5/17 and made an appointment for 5/25 (yesterday) at another Porsche shop which has great reviews Dobson Porsche about 10 miles from my home. Hated to go somewhere else but want to get the A/C charged before hot weather.
I'm ready to drive to shop yesterday morning and get call when leaving my driveway - the shop recharged the A/C in another Porsche on 5/24 and the Recharger started smoking and Recharge motor is toast.
I made the drive over to introduce myself and check out the shop. Nice place.
Shop service tech said he has no idea when they can find a replacement Recharge motoer because they have an older system.
Not my lucky week.
I dropped by Aker's on my drive home and they can probably get me in next week.
Here in Seattle May and June are impossible months to get work done. Every Porsche owner getting cars serviced/ready for summer.

 

Car hibernation in Seattle?!?

 

Crappy wet weather 3-4 months during the winter
Mercedes SUV weather