Broken A/C -- where to start

[Jay 535i]

The A/C in my car is completely broken, and has been for as long as I've known the car. I don't have automatic climate control; just the slider HVAC controls. Pressing the snowflake button does nothing. No sounds or movement anywhere, including under the hood, and no change in air pressure or temperature.

Where do I start? Is it a major nightmare?

[Kalevera]

Where do I start? Is it a major nightmare?

Yeah.

I thought about putting my system back together, but by the time I got around to it, summer was....well...where it is now...

The condensor's the weak point, usually. Pull the fan shroud, pop off the two radiator clips and push it back...see if there are any blatant oil spots on the condensor.

Beyond that, the process is one of adding dye to the system and having it vacuumed to find the leak(s).

One thing to remember is that refilling a system that hasn't been pressurized in a while usually results in a domino effect: replace the condensor, works for a week or two, then the compressor goes. Replace that, two weeks later a line goes. Replace that, two weeks later the evaporator is out. And the latter rarely goes unless the system has been neglected for a while.

Hence, as my boss likes to say, reparing an E32 or E34 A/C system is a $2000 bill for the customer. Might as well pull it out and save the weight in fuel economy.

best, whit

[632 Regal]

have the pressure tested before you do anything...could be a sensor or simply low on pressure.

[Jay 535i]

Thanks for those tips.

A $2000 repair bill is roughly what I expected. I just hope it can't go too high above that. I figure, though, that ice cold air has got to add at least $1000 to the resale value of the car, so you gotta factor that in. No?

[SRR2]

You have an E34? Those compressors are R134a compatible so this might be an opportune time to make the switch. Any competent A/C shop should be able to do this within appropriate legal requirements. But I agree, you need to check the charge first, it might be below the pressure limit to enable the compressor clutch. If that's the case, you will probably have a repair on your hands anyway, so I'd still recommend the R134a conversion rather than refilling an unknown system with R12, whose price is approaching gold.

[Jay 535i]

It's starting to sound like taking this to someone with experience is the only way to go. It's been at least three years since the A/C has worked.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

A good shop can detect the leak, and save an expensive A/C goose chase.

Sometimes you'll luck out and only need something easy to fix like an O ring.

Or

You'll end up like me having to replace the compressor and drier.

[Jay 535i]

A good shop can detect the leak, and save an expensive A/C goose chase.

Sometimes you'll luck out and only need something easy to fix like an O ring.

Or

You'll end up like me having to replace the compressor and drier.

And what did that cost, parts + labor? Is teh A/C working well now?

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

The shop charges $50.00 to check for leaks.

I paid $340.00 for a compressor, drier and set of O rings.

A case of Heineken (paid to myself) for labor.

and another $50.00 to evacuate and recharge.

[Kalevera]

Thanks for those tips.

A $2000 repair bill is roughly what I expected. I just hope it can't go too high above that. I figure, though, that ice cold air has got to add at least $1000 to the resale value of the car, so you gotta factor that in. No?
:) $1000 for working A/C? Ah dunnows, brother.

I recently came into contact with a nasty 5 speed 535...rust through, dents, smoker.

Albeit the car was worth $500, to my amazement, the A/C worked very well...even with a seized aux fan. Hmm....no wonder it was overheating when stopped ;) I don't think the A/C would do much of anything to ameliorate the value of this particular car, especially in a northern climate. I'll venture the guess that *most* people buying E34s these days don't care (or don't have the luxury to care) so much about the status of the A/C.

best, whit

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

it's a labor of love....or insanity

Only fix the A/C for you own comfort....

cause you'll never see those $$$ agian

[Jay 535i]

Fair enough. It is worth maybe CDN$2000 for my own comfort, but not much more than that.

Maybe I'll re-visit the issue next year. It's getting cooler every day now.

Cheers for the input.

[JonE]

Didn't see a description on what car you have, R12 or R134a, but my AC (with R12) wasn't working when I got my car (snowflake didn't light up), took it to an indy who, discovered it low on freon and, at my urging, filled the system with a couple pounds of R12 for about $75. R12 might run a bit more than that now...AC has been very cold since and no problems (about a year now). I also make sure that I run the AC for about 5 minutes at least once a month, even in the winter to keep the seals from totally drying out and leaking gas. I have also done this with my R12 filled '89 325iC with good results.
It is a crap shoot if the freon is low, but, in my case, worth the risk. If they had leaked, I probably would've then looked into the leaks and converted to the newer refridgerant.
Anyway, if you are low and get it filled and it seems to be fine, I would recommend running the AC regularly to keep the seals pliant.
Good luck.

[Jay 535i]

Didn't see a description on what car you have, R12 or R134a, but my AC (with R12) wasn't working when I got my car (snowflake didn't light up), took it to an indy who, discovered it low on freon and, at my urging, filled the system with a couple pounds of R12 for about $75. R12 might run a bit more than that now...AC has been very cold since and no problems (about a year now). I also make sure that I run the AC for about 5 minutes at least once a month, even in the winter to keep the seals from totally drying out and leaking gas. I have also done this with my R12 filled '89 325iC with good results.
It is a crap shoot if the freon is low, but, in my case, worth the risk. If they had leaked, I probably would've then looked into the leaks and converted to the newer refridgerant.
Anyway, if you are low and get it filled and it seems to be fine, I would recommend running the AC regularly to keep the seals pliant.
Good luck.

Thanks.

I don't know much about this stuff, but I fear that I'm looking at bigger problems than that. Even if that's why the AC stopped working to begin with, after 3+ years of disuse I'm sure there's more than that wrong with it now.