AC on a Carrera

[cmcfaul]

I searched. Please school me on Porsche AC

89 Carrera with factory AC. AC conversion was done 2 years ago. AC does not get cold (fans, etc seem to be working).

I suspect the place to start is with the freon (what ever it's called now). Where / how to check and add if needed. If that's not the problem i am prob SOL.

Thanks,

Chris
89 Carrera

[tratza]

I just replaced just about the entire system in my 1987 911 with parts from Griffiths. Everything except the rear condenser which is expensive and I couldn't find one with any improvement in design. I'm getting cool area but only one day so far near 90. I'd start with the pressures but my experience with the stock system is first it's aged like anything else, second there are a few improvements that have been made, and third the system was cobbled together and has some design/space flaws.

When I began taking the old stuff off I found the rear condenser full of crap but no leaks. All the lines were full of crap also.

Good luck getting your system working. Keep searching for answers on this board.

BTW the old stuff was R12 which was replaced or not with R22. Current is R134A or even newer versions.

[RedCoupe]

R22 was mainly used in house systems, only briefly in a few cars. Most companies changed in the mid 90's directly from R12 to R134a

[DonNewton]

Not additive, but I was once told that my SC's AC was like having an asthmatic sitting on your dashboard, blowing air on you through a straw. I just leave it off. . .

[tirwin]

Good read here:

newbie question - air conditioning

[cmcfaul]

Car came from FL. Had regular AC work to keep it going. Was working last year. Hoping just a recharge. Someone please tell me how to do it or check it.

Thanks

[RedCoupe]

Originally Posted by cmcfaul

Car came from FL. Had regular AC work to keep it going. Was working last year. Hoping just a recharge. Someone please tell me how to do it or check it.

Thanks

You really need someone with some good AC knowledge and a set of gauges to diagnose your system. Although I have done my own AC work in the past, including installing two 911 systems, for charging and diagnosis work I use a local general auto repair shop that has good knowledge and top quality equipment.

[tirwin]

You need to know whether you have R12 or R134a.

Here’s a basic article:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.**********/articles/how-to-use-an-air-conditioning-manifold-gauge-set.html%3famp=1

Edit: Ok, apparently Pelican won’t let me post this link. Google is your friend. There is nothing Porsche-specific about checking your refrigerant.

Almost any shop should be able to top off refrigerant. If your problem is more complex than that, you need someone who knows thesee cars.

[Mr. Merk]

My '88 is still on R12 and I still have access to it. We charged it a couple years ago and it lasted the whole summer.

We charged it again a month ago or so and drove it 5,200 miles across the deserts between here and California. We never had any seriously hot days and it kept us quite comfortable. Rarely had it on full blast. Usually blew 40-50* according to the vent thermometer.

ZERO A/C modifications other than removing the floor diverter.

I'm going to keep it as is until I can't keep R12 in it anymore. Seriously planning on the Electro-cooler at some point in the future.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by tirwin

Almost any shop should be able to top off refrigerant. If your problem is more complex than that, you need someone who knows thesee cars.

cmcfaul, thing is to check the AC aside from a pro evac/charge takes some equipment and some reading time.

Are you up for dropping a couple of hundred on "ok" quality equipment and digging in?

I don't want to type or link if you are not.

Also. Where do you live? Minnesota or Phonix if you get my drift. Two 100 degree days in a year or 72?

You cannot buy a 30 lb tank of R134 anymore without an EPA 609 certification. Recent change. You need a big tank. However, it is pretty cheap.

Oh, it's pretty easy to get but I have been talking about this for years and not one person has said they performed the due diligence to acquire. It's an on-line, open book test. Maybe $50. It's medium hard but it will give you a good indoctrination to how AC systems work.

You up for that?

[KelogGes]

Originally Posted by cmcfaul

I searched. Please school me on Porsche AC

89 Carrera with factory AC. AC conversion was done 2 years ago. AC does not get cold (fans, etc seem to be working).

I suspect the place to start is with the freon (what ever it's called now). Where / how to check and add if needed. If that's not the problem i am prob SOL.

Thanks,

Chris
89 Carrera

You probably have old R-12 oem A/C hoses

THEY LEAK SLOWLY OUT R-134A because the Molecules of R134A will leak out of the hoses because they are so SMALL the refrigerant go right through the hose rubber, BECAUSE YOUR HOSES HAVE NOT BEEN UPGRADED TO BARRIER HOSES, or you have a leak.

You need to evacuate your A/C System pulling a long vacuum, and recharge it with A/C gauges, TURN you A/C system on with engine running at @ 2000 RPM Note the ambient temp and read the high and low side pressures and write it down

charge your A/C SYSTEM AND SEE IF IT WORKS, then test it by reading the proper gauges give/tell these numbers to any A/C TECH and they should be able to diagnose your problem; add about 1.8 lbs R134A with stock OEM condensers
Sorry, you don't give enough information to help you more

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by KelogGes

Sorry, you don't give enough information to help you more

Talk talk talk, OP. The more you say the more we can help.

We don't care if you know nothing.

[Arne2]

Carrera A/C can work reasonably well, but it will need some refreshing to do so. I haven't had to service mine in 3 years now, running R134a. Used it a couple weeks ago on a warn spring drive, still works well. Drove home from Werks in Monterrey last August, 115°F in Red Bluff and Redding, cabin was still tolerable. Not cool, but not burning hot either.

Here's the thread I did on it.

['84 Carrera] A/C re-work for mild climate

[Nick Triesch]

Old 911 cars AC leaks anyway. Says so right in my 85 owner’s Manual . Like blowing hot air over an ice cube! Check the AC section of the Manual.

[KelogGes]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Talk talk talk, OP. The more you say the more we can help.

We don't care if you know nothing.

What DOES YOUR BS have to do with cmcfaul's problem?

I KNOW a a hell of a lot more about 911 A/C then you and your BS Posts: 3,156

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by KelogGes

What DOES YOUR BS have to do with cmcfaul's problem?

I KNOW a a hell of a lot more about 911 A/C then you and your BS Posts: 3,156

OP is the original poster. I was telling the OP to talk as much as he can about his AC system. I was supporting that you said his data was a little lean.

I did re-read my post and if you read it fast I could see where you were thinking I was giving you crap. I was not.

You can punch me out on a different thread where I will probably deserve it, but this talk talk talk post had no ill-intent.

[KelogGes]

cmcfaul go to your local autoparts store or Big Lots etc. buy a 12 oz can of R134A or buy it on ebay and a R-12 can top valve with hose and gauge that will fit your can, start engine with A/C on 2000 rpm very slowly put/add refrigerant in to your A/C system in small steps of an ounce or 2 steps and then stop wait to see effect of vent temps lowering getting cold or not


OR go pay a shop to add refrigerant and test for you

Do Not overfill compressor!!! Have patience between fill steps. Just open valve just little count to 10 in seconds at a time and then wait to measure cold effect.


If your problem is just low refrigerant and not something else small 1 or 2 ounces at a time injected will give you lower vent temps, did they get cooler or not

To much refrigerant gas added can/will probably damage compressor

having proper A/C low and high side pressure gauges and knowing how to use them tells you right away what the problems are and how well the A/C SYSTEM IS working or not working

[Jack Stands]

If you’re really interested, Rob Siegel (the Hack Mechanic in BMW circles) has just come out with a book on AC systems you might find useful. I converted my ‘84 Targa to R134a (without changing the hoses) and it lasted the season, but that was all. You really do need to diagnose your problem before throwing too much money at it.

[cmcfaul]

Thanks Keloges, I see cans of R134a in the auto parts store(with gages). My AC appears to have new hoses and know a few grand had been spent on it it over the last few years.

There is the compressor in the rear and some components in the left front wheel well. Totally ignorant and the Haynes Manual has no info on AC. Where to hook up to add coolant?

Chris