DSMguywantsFD

my a/c hasnt been working for a while, now that its getting pretty damn hot in davis i think i might as well try to fix it instead of going around smelling like sweat and rotary exhaust everywhere. i searched around a little, but didnt find anything useful.

so the a/c button lights up, but i dont get any cold air (heat works though). is there any commonly failing part that i should check before i take it to be looked at by a mechanic? if my a/c turns out to be dead how much am i looking at spending to get it fixed? would i be better off just taking it out?

RochX7

ever think about Freon?.. specially if its just blowing hot air..

web777

Check if your AC compressor engages when you turn it on. If does, than you might just need to recharge the freon. If no, check the fuse.

DSMguywantsFD

pardon for sounding like a noob, but how do i check if the compressor engages and how do i check if i need a recharge? do i need to convert to r134 if it needs to be recharged?

web777

Start your car and look at your ac compressor. You should notice the middle part of the pulley is motionlessl while outer part spins with the belt. There is cluth in there that should engage the middle part with the pulley and spin together when you turn on the AC. hope that made sense.

DSMguywantsFD

thanks, ill check it out tomorrow

BlueRex

You can still get a recharge with the discontinued R12 but it will be expensive. I think the last quote I got on it was $65 per lb. There are other alternative refrigerants, there's some good info in this thread:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...&highlight=r12

quicksilver_rx7

You can also look at the A/C drier. If it looks cloudy (i.e. you can see freon moving), that's also a sign that A/C is low on freon. I

quicksilver_rx7

[EDIT]

A/C should be turned on to perform test

[/EDIT]

DaveW

In most AC systems, there is a low-pressure switch in the return freon line to the compressor that won't let the compressor clutch engage if there is not enough pressure (freon) in the system.

Therefore, just because the clutch doesn't engage, doesn't necessarily mean a bad clutch. It may mean the refrigerant has leaked out.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

Yeah, refrigerant leaks are the #1 cause of AC problems on an RX-7.

Find a good local AC shop - try and find a shop that JUST does auto AC, not a jack-of-all-trades mechanic. Have them find the leak and charge it back up with R12. I don't recommend going to 134a - it's cheaper, but it will NEVER be as cold.

I had a leak in my system when I bought my car - one of the AC lines rubbed against a bracket and leaked. I replaced the line myself with a good used part and 2 new O-rings, and had a local shop charge it with R12. They pulled the system to a vacuum to get all the air out, and filled it with R12 for about $130. That's a STEAL. My AC will freeze you out of the car now.

You can also save some money if you do what I did - have the shop find the problem, then you can do the fix yourself. If it's a leaky line or O-rings, get in there and change the parts out yourself.

Dale

kuning

from your experiences, do you turn your a/c on during hotdays?
I tried to switched mine on a hot sunny day during peak hours once. Went through 1/2 an hour traffic congestion then i went to fill up the petrol. After i started the engine, i switched the a/c on , then about 5 sec later my engine just shaked and idle constantly spiking up and down.Pressed the gas but it didnt rev. Scared the hell off me. So i switched the a/c off and the car's idle went back to normal.

In another time, i washed the car with my friends and one of them opened the bonnet then noticed hot air blown into the engine compartment when the aircon fan was on.

Never turned aircon back on eversince...Just roll the window a bit.

cletus

On mine I can easily hear the A/C compressor coming on. You should be able to hear a click if it is working.

Your profile says yours is a 94. I can't remember when they switched over to the R134a from the factory. Are your sure you have the R12? Should be on a sticker on the inside of the hood. R134a is cheap.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

Only the 95's have R134a from the factory.

Kuning, that is the weirdest post I've ever read.

If you had a lumpy idle, it's usually a sticky IAC or something. Also, it's GOOD that you felt hot air with the fans on with the hood up - that's the fans sucking air through the radiator and AC condenser from the front of the car.

Dale

SomeGuy_sg

That is a really weird thing to have happened to you . I would think the hot air blowing in the engine compartment would be the radiator fans coming on to cool the evaporator and radiator . I would have it checked out ..

FDeez

If you've gone as far as checking refridgerant pressure/levels/leaks, checking the relay, checking all electrical connections, and even checking your heater core thermal switch....and you find that the A/C compressor still DOES NOT come on....it may be the ECU. Swapped it with a friend's FD, and it finally worked. That was what happened with me.

Another worse case scenario would be that the A/C compressor is bad. I never had to go that far, though.